Drake is trying to start a beef with a Compton native. We’ll see if this one goes any better.
The multi-platinum rapper appeared on Saturday’s Toronto Raptors broadcast, which was a special game thanks to Vince Carter’s jersey retirement. Drake went off to slam former Raptors All-Star DeMar DeRozan.
“If you ever put up a DeRozan banner, I’ll go over there myself and pull it down,” Drake said.
DeRozan played the first nine seasons of his NBA career with the Raptors and remains the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. He was traded away for Kawhi Leonard in 2018, a move that saddened some fans but proved to be crucial to the 2019 NBA championship that followed.
Now a member of the Sacramento Kings, DeRozan was asked about the comment after the game and drew laughs noting “He’s going to have a long way to climb to take it down.”
DeMar DeRozan on his reaction to Drake saying he would pull his jersey banner down if it went up:
“He’s going to have a long way to climb to take it down.” pic.twitter.com/jaUcjtG4lV
– Libaan Osman (@libaanstar1) November 3, 2024
The story here is that DeRozan used to have a friendship with Drake when he was on his favorite NBA team and then, well, Kendrick Lamar happened.
One of the most followed beefs in rap history ended as a near unanimous victory for Lamar, who managed to turn a song directly accusing Drake and his crew of being pedophiles, “Not Like Us,” into a No. 1 hit that is. still getting play, especially in Los Angeles.
DeRozan played a role in that production, first in the lyrics where Lamar says “I’m glad DeRoz came home, y’all didn’t deserve him either.” DeRozan, who once said Drake would “forever have a friend [him],” went on to appear in the song’s music video and on stage at Lamar’s “Pop Out” concert in June, alongside Russell Westbrook. LeBron James and James Harden were also in attendance.
DeRozan then said he still had love for Drake, but the feeling is apparently not mutual.
