Toronto Basketball’s Newest Drama: Drake Takes Shots at DeRozan During Jersey Retirement Ceremony

Toronto’s Basketball Drama: Drake vs. DeRozan?

So, here we are in Toronto, where not only do the fans cheer for the Raptors, but they also keep an eye on the superstar that’s part of the furniture at Scotiabank Arena—yes, we’re talking about Drake. This past Saturday night was a special occasion, as the Raptors were retiring the jersey of none other than Vince Carter. But instead of just celebrating basketball nostalgia, Drake decided to stir the pot a little by taking some shots at former Raptor and current Sacramento King, DeMar DeRozan.

Drake’s Bold Claims on the Broadcast

While appearing on the Raptors broadcast, Drake casually dropped the bomb, saying, “If you ever put up a DeRozan banner, I’ll go up there and pull it down myself.” Oof! That’s a hefty claim coming from one of music’s biggest names. Drake didn’t stop there; he even called DeRozan a “goof” during another chat. You could almost hear the collective gasp from the fans watching at home!

The DeRozan Effect

Now let’s roll back a bit—DeRozan is not just any player; he spent a solid nine seasons with the Raptors and holds the title of the team’s all-time leading scorer. Fans were heartbroken when he was traded in 2018 for Kawhi Leonard. Sure, it led the Raptors to their glorious NBA Championship win in 2019, but it still left a mark on many supporters who loved DeRozan.

After the game, DeRozan was asked about Drake’s comments, and he had the crowd chuckling when he replied, “He gonna have a long way to climb to take it down.” This statement showed that even though there’s a bit of tension in the air, DeRozan is ready to laugh it off. It was a perfect reminder that sometimes sports rivalries mix with friendships, and not everything needs to be taken too seriously.

A Friendship Turned Competitive

It’s interesting to note the backstory here. DeRozan and Drake used to be friends back when DeRozan played for the Raptors, but then Kendrick Lamar entered the frame. The rap rivalry between Drake and Lamar took center stage when Lamar dropped a track that called out Drake and his crew. In the song “Not Like Us,” he even said, “I’m glad DeRoz’ came home, y’all didn’t deserve him neither,” acknowledging DeRozan’s return to his roots in L.A.

DeRozan even made an appearance in the music video for the song, and there he was on stage during Lamar’s “Pop Out” concert alongside big names like LeBron James and James Harden. At one point, DeRozan expressed that he would always have love for Drake. But it seems Drake didn’t reciprocate those feelings as openly.

Challenges on the Horizon

As this little feud heats up, it leaves fans wondering what’s next. Will we see more jabs thrown on social media? Will DeRozan take up the challenge and find a way to hang a jersey banner in the Raptors’ arena? One thing is for sure: Toronto basketball is as much about the personalities and friendships as it is about the game itself, and this latest chapter is a reminder of that.

Final Thoughts

So, as Toronto embraces this ongoing drama, it’ll be fun to see how it unfolds. Will Drake lay low, or will he drop more provocations? Will DeRozan take the high road, or will he fight back? For now, we just sit back and watch this reality show play out on the hardwood. Basketball and rap—two worlds colliding, and it’s definitely entertaining!