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DeMar DeRozan Makes Very Controversial Statement on Kawhi Leonard's Toronto Raptors

Six-time NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan was asked about the 2019 Toronto Raptors

Joey Linn

San Antonio Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan (10) and Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) at Scotiabank Arena.
San Antonio Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan (10) and Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) at Scotiabank Arena. / Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
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Six-time NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan began his career with the Toronto Raptors where he spent nine seasons.

Making five postseason appearances with Toronto, DeRozan was unable to lead them to the NBA Finals. This was primarily due to LeBron James and his dominance with the Cleveland Cavaliers, which is why DeRozan believes that he could have led Toronto to a championship in 2019.

Traded to the San Antonio Spurs in the Kawhi Leonard deal, DeRozan had to watch his former team win a championship in his first season somewhere else. Asked about this by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, DeRozan said he believes the outcome in 2019 would have been the same even if he remained in Toronto.

“The only person we couldn’t beat was LeBron,” DeRozan said. “That’s just what it was. And I felt off the year we had before, we just needed one more piece to push us over the top. And that piece came to be LeBron going to the West. I didn’t get an opportunity to see what would have happened… I have no doubt in my mind the same outcome would have happened.”

While it is understandable why DeRozan would have confidence in himself and the team he spent nearly a decade with, Leonard’s performance that postseason was historic. 

Averaging 34.7 points and 9.9 rebounds on 53 percent shooting in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Leonard was able to carry Toronto to victory over a very good Philadelphia 76ers team. Had the Raptors not had Leonard, the likely get eliminated in the second round in 2019.

In the 2019 playoffs, Leonard finished with the third-most points (732) in any postseason run in NBA history, trailing only LeBron James and Michael Jordan.

Kawhi Leonard
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) celebrates with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after 2019 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. / Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Now with the LA Clippers, Leonard is still looking to get back to the NBA Finals.

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Joey Linn

JOEY LINN

Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation 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 during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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