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DeMar DeRozan's belief that the Raptors would still be champions if he had not been traded
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    DeMar DeRozan’s belief that the Raptors would still be champions if he had not been traded

    For DeMar DeRozan, a title in a Raptors uniform felt like a certainty before he was traded.

    The former Toronto superstar rehashed the trade to the Spurs in an appearance on ESPN’s First Take on Wednesday, saying without a doubt that the Raptors would still have won the NBA Championship in 2019 if his move had never happened.

    “I didn’t get an opportunity to see what would have happened,” DeRozan said. “The utmost confidence within myself, I have no doubt in my mind the same outcome would have happened.”

    More than six years removed from the franchise-altering move, the ripples are felt throughout the franchise and the city to this day.

    The move brought about a do-or-die mentality for the most successful era of Raptors basketball, putting the ‘We The North’ group on a deadline.

    They managed to fulfill that promise, hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy after an all-time series against the Golden State Warriors, but it came after years of faltering in the playoffs, constantly running into the roadblock that was LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

    Nine days before DeRozan was dealt on July 18, 2018, that roadblock suddenly cleared as James took his talents to Venice Beach to play for the Lakers, seemingly giving the Raptors an open runway to the NBA Finals.

    “I definitely feel like, you know, the only person we couldn’t beat was LeBron,” DeRozan said. “And I felt, off the year we had before, we just needed one more piece to kind of push us over the top. That piece came to be LeBron going to the West.”

    Instead, DeRozan had to join James out West, ending up with the San Antonio Spurs as part of the blockbuster deal for Kawhi Leonard.

    The six-time all-star still looks back on his time in Toronto fondly. On Paul George’s podcast ‘Podcast P’ he said that the city is the only stop that he’s felt an emotional connection toward.

    DeRozan left the Spurs in 2021, joining the Chicago Bulls and proving that, like James, some players seem to get better with age. He scored a career-high 27.9 points per game in his first season there in 2021-22 and earned his third all-NBA selection.

    Now as DeRozan gears up for his debut season with the Sacramento Kings, he’ll be closer to James than ever, set to take on the rival Lakers four times a year in the Pacific division.

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    DeMar DeRozan, the former Toronto Raptors star, recently made headlines with his bold statement that the Raptors would still be champions if he had not been traded. DeRozan, who was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Kawhi Leonard in 2018, has always been vocal about his love for the city of Toronto and his belief in the team’s potential.

    DeRozan’s comments have sparked a debate among basketball fans and analysts about the impact of his departure on the Raptors’ championship aspirations. Some argue that DeRozan was a key player for the Raptors and his absence has had a negative impact on the team’s performance. Others believe that Leonard’s arrival was the missing piece that propelled the Raptors to their first NBA championship in 2019.

    It is undeniable that DeRozan was a crucial player for the Raptors during his time with the team. He was a four-time All-Star and the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. His leadership on and off the court was instrumental in shaping the Raptors’ identity and culture. However, it is also important to acknowledge that basketball is a team sport and success is often dependent on the collective effort of all players.

    The trade that sent DeRozan to the Spurs was a controversial move at the time, but it ultimately paid off for the Raptors. Leonard’s impact on the team was immediate and undeniable. He led the Raptors to their first NBA championship, earning Finals MVP honors in the process. His defensive prowess, scoring ability, and clutch performances were instrumental in the team’s success.

    While DeRozan’s belief that the Raptors would still be champions if he had not been traded is understandable, it is impossible to know for sure what would have happened. Basketball is a game of uncertainties and variables, and it is impossible to predict how different scenarios would have played out.

    Ultimately, DeRozan’s comments highlight his love and loyalty to the city of Toronto and his belief in his former teammates. It is clear that he still holds a special place in his heart for the Raptors and their fans. Whether or not the Raptors would have been champions without DeRozan will remain a topic of debate among basketball fans for years to come.