DeMar DeRozan admitted he did not watch the Toronto Raptors' ring ceremony, where many of his former teammates like Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and Pascal Siakam were recognized as NBA champions. The San Antonio Spurs guard however noted he reached out to his former teammates to congratulate them.
“I just didn’t want to. I seen highlights though,” said DeRozan, explaining his choice not to watch the live ceremony, according to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. “The night before I talked to all the guys I played with, congratulating them.”
It stands to reason why DeRozan wouldn't watch the ceremony — it's hard enough for players to watch the entirety of the playoffs after falling short of making the cut or after being eliminated, bringing a year's work to culmination.
The competitor in DeRozan knows he had a large part in building the culture that is now a staple in The North, but his trade for Kawhi Leonard was what ultimately helped push the team from a potential contender into a real one.
The 6-foot-6 guard now has a full season of work to focus on. The 30-year-old scored a meek 13 points along with four rebounds and four assists, but ultimately got a 120-111 win against the New York Knicks, starting his season off the right foot.
DeRozan is also in the midst of contract negotiations with the Spurs, hoping to lock up his future as one of the best wing options that could be available in the upcoming free agency slate.