Ex-NBA Star Calls Out Drake for DeMar DeRozan Comments

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The Toronto Raptors recently honored franchise legend Vince Carter by lifting a No. 15 banner into the rafters at Scotiabank Arena. Carter spent seven seasons with the franchise where he helped define an era of Raptors basketball.
During the game, which was largely a celebration of Carter’s time in Toronto, the Raptors had Drake join the broadcast. Often seen courtside at Raptors games, Drake has been an ambassador for the organization for several years.
While on the broadcast, Drake took a shot at former Raptors star DeMar DeRozan, saying, “If you ever put a DeRozan banner up I’ll go up there and pull it down myself.”
"If you ever put a DeRozan banner up ill go up there and pull it down myself....shout out to Kyle". Drake, salty at DeMar DeRozan who was in the Not Like Us video with Kendrick Lamar. Damn. pic.twitter.com/KUN3ViL9E9
— Faizal Khamisa (@FaizalKhamisa) November 3, 2024
Drake feeling this way about DeRozan is due to the NBA star’s involvement in the rap beef between he Kendrick Lamar. Appearing in Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” music video, DeRozan was also on stage with him during his show at the Kia Forum in Inglewood.
From Los Angeles, DeRozan has a relationship with Kendrick that predates his time in Toronto.
DeMar DeRozan in Kendrick's "Not Like Us" video 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ku9dge2Vr2
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 4, 2024
Given this context, and what the night was supposed to be about, former NBA star Lou Williams called Drake out.
“If I’m gonna speak candidly, I thought that was selfish of Drake,” Williams said on FanDuel’s Run it Back show. “Drake, as well as the country of Canada, the city of Toronto, they know what DeMar DeRozan has contributed to the culture up there, and what he’s contributed to the Toronto Raptors and to that community.”
Former Raptors’ Lou Williams Calls Drake “Selfish” For His Comments On DeRozan 😭 pic.twitter.com/EUTfSsA1xH
— Real Toronto News (@RealTorontoNewz) November 5, 2024
Williams spent 17 years in the NBA, and one of those with the Raptors. Drake even made a song about Williams, releasing “6 Man” on his “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” album.
Spending his best years with the LA Clippers, Williams was only in Toronto briefly, but knows what DeRozan means to that city.
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Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA and WNBA for On SI. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined On SI to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts and in the classroom earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time, primarily serving as a Clippers beat writer.
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