Is Drake fighting with DeMar DeRozan?

Even on Vince Carter night, DeMar DeRozan didn't allow himself to think too far ahead.

Article content

Toronto rapper Drake seems to disagree.

Carter became the first Raptor to have his jersey retired when No. 15 was raised to the rafters Saturday night. DeRozan will likely get his day too, likely after Kyle Lowry.

But he can't understand that at the moment.

“Not yet. Because it's such an emotional thought,” DeRozan said before the game when asked about the Raptors' honor by TSN's Nikki Reyes.

“Especially in a place that has so much meaning for me. So it’s one of those things that I’m happy to see someone go up first.”

DeRozan told Postmedia that Carter “deserved it” and was pleased that many people in Toronto's opinion of Carter changed during DeRozan's early days as a Raptor after he was drafted in 2009.

Article content

“It’s come full circle, he deserves it and he needs all the love and appreciation because he certainly changed the game for Canadian basketball,” DeRozan said.

We're sorry, but this video failed to load.

Apparently more healing may be needed in raptor land as DeRozan's longtime friend Drake doesn't seem too happy with him after DeRozan appeared in Drake's dissident video “Not Like Us” to Drake's rival Kendrick Lamar.

Appearing on Saturday's Raptors broadcast, Drake – sitting in his usual courtside seat for the first time this season – said: “If you ever put up a DeRozan banner, I'll go over there and pull it down myself and shout out to Kyle.” .” ”

It was unclear if Drake was actually serious, but it sounded like he was serious.

DeRozan had a typically witty response: “Well, he’s going to have a pretty long road ahead of him,” DeRozan said.

Recommended by Editorial