DeMar DeRozan admits he was hurt after he saw the Raptors win a title immediately after he left: "Not to be part of those guys was frustrating"

DeMar DeRozan admits he was hurt after he saw the Raptors win a title immediately after he left: “Not to be part of those guys was frustrating” originally appeared on Basketball Network.

Ever since the Toronto Raptors used the ninth pick in the 2009 NBA Draft to select a quiet, wiry 19-year-old out of USC, DeMar DeRozan became more than just a basketball player in Canada; he became part of the country’s basketball identity.

“Deebo” gave the franchise everything he had. He became a three-time All-Star in Toronto, earned All-NBA Second and Third Team honors, and helped take the Raptors from league afterthought to perennial playoff squad. But despite all the accolades, he couldn’t give the city what it wanted the most — the Larry O’Brien trophy.

And in the coldest twist of fate, the Raptors finally got it right after he was shipped away.

Mixed emotions for DeMar

In the summer of 2018, the Raptors made the toughest call in franchise history. They sent DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. It was a high-risk move on paper — Kawhi was a proven two-time Defensive Player of the Year and Finals MVP, but his relationship with Gregg Popovich and the Spurs front office had hit a wall, and there were serious concerns about his health and willingness to stay long term.

Toronto bet it all on one year of “The Klaw,” and the front office hit the jackpot.

The Raptors won their first-ever championship in 2019, with the San Diego State product delivering a postseason for the ages — capped off with that unforgettable Game 7 buzzer-beater against the Sixers and a dominant showing in the Finals against the Warriors. The entire country erupted in joy, and for the first time, Toronto stood on top of the basketball world. But for “Deebo,” watching it all unfold from a distance brought complicated emotions.

“Yeah, it was a little bit of both, because all those guys that was there that I played with, staff that I grew up during that time… They were like family to me,” the USC product said in his appearance on the “Run Your Race” podcast.

“I was happy for them to accomplish something that we set up trying to do every single time and it just sucks that I couldn’t been there for them, to fill it. But I was happy for them. I talked to every single one of those guys… For me it hurt more so, because you want to be out there with your brothers. I know what it’s like every single day in that gym, on the road, on that plane, on the bus… Our ultimate goal is winning it all. Not to be a part of that with those guys, that was frustrating part,” the now Sacramento Kings wing added.

Finishing what DeRozan started

Kawhi only stayed in Toronto for a year, but it ended up being the most successful season in franchise history. He left in free agency and signed with his hometown team, the Los Angeles Clippers, but not before delivering on the very promise DeRozan spent a decade chasing.

For DeMar, it was validation and heartbreak wrapped into one. He had helped lay the foundation and turned the Raptors into a serious contender for many seasons. However, when the time to lift the trophy came, the “Mr. I Am Toronto” wasn’t there. All he could do was watch from home.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.

DeMar DeRozan admits he was hurt after he saw the Raptors win a title immediately after he left: “Not to be part of those guys was frustrating”

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