[Old General Record] Imperfect Story: The Betrayed Raptor King!

"We wouldn't be here without DeRozan."

This is what Powell said at the Raptors' championship parade.

Imagine a scene where the crowds cheered in the championship parade, and the first word of thanks was not for the head coach, the general manager of the team, nor for the fans, but for a player who had left the team.

Demar DeRozan, his position in the Raptors, was different from the ordinary from the beginning.

In 2009, DeRozan was selected by the Raptors. At that time, no star player was willing to stay in Toronto for a long time to play. The Raptors once had stars like Carter, McGrady, and Bosh, but none of them chose to stay, and DeRozan was the first exception.

As he said:

"From the first day I was selected by the Raptors, I wanted to change the labels that were put on the team. They said no one would stay here, said superstars would not come to Canada to play. I want to prove they were wrong."

In the summer of 2016, DeRozan chose to renew the contract with the Raptors and did not contact any other team. From that year on, he was already a first-tier star in the league. After the Raptors contract expired, the 76ers, the Heat, and even the Lakers of his hometown team all sent him an olive branch.

The Lakers are his place of growth, the team he played for his lifelong idol Kobe, and their business opportunities and salary prices are more attractive. However, DeRozan still chose to stay and was even willing to take the initiative to cut his salary to help the team strengthen.

This is not only a commitment to the Raptors, but also a spiritual guide for Canadian basketball. Lead by example and let everyone know that Toronto is a place where players who are willing to play for a long time can be born.

When renewing the contract, DeRozan made a high-profile statement:

"I hope my career can prove that this is not empty talk."

But according to facts, he did do it. As the top Raptors, he not only shoulders heavy responsibilities on the court, but also shoulders the team's signature on the spiritual level. After the former Dragon King Bosh left the team, DeRozan took the initiative to carry the team's banner and set a benchmark for Canadian basketball. Such a spirit of perseverance, especially in the modern NBA embodiment, becomes increasingly scarce and precious.

However, midway through this beautiful story, fate played a sarcastic joke on them.

In the summer of 2018, Leonard came to trade and replaced DeRozan. Just two days before the transaction, DeRozan met with team general manager Ujri in private. When asked about the transaction rumors, he received the other party's answer: "There is absolutely nothing." In just two days, he was sent to the Spurs. This unprepared transaction is really sad and adds a hint of regret to the 2019 Raptors' championship trophy. Borrowing DeRozan's interview after the transaction, answered:

"Whether I like it or not, as long as you can tell me in advance, I will accept it. But don't mislead me and leave me unprepared."

And even so, DeRozan's contribution to Toronto is still undeniable. It is this loyalty that makes DeRozan the most special player in the history of the Raptors.

No matter how the team's record is refreshed in the future, and how many future generations are surpassed by the team's scores, appearances, etc., in the hearts of Raptors fans, DeRozan's status is absolutely irreplaceable.

As the largest commercial basketball league today, the NBA is quite cruel. Survival of the fittest and survival of the strong are the most basic principles. The spirit of a person who worked for a team for the rest of his life has gradually disappeared. But for DeRozan, even though his career achievements are not considered historical level, his sincerity has proved enough that this lost spirit is still flowing in him.

Reviewing DeRozan's career is like a microcosm of real society:

Loyal people may be betrayed, and betrayed people will often be rewarded. And this helplessness will not be illuminated by the spotlight, but it really exists in every corner of life. In the face of such a cruel reality, what we can learn may be how to stick to our original aspirations and how to maintain our own value in a complex world.

"I work harder than anyone else to represent the city. I can't wait to put on my jersey again and keep moving forward."

This is the words of DeRozan at the 2016 contract renewal press conference. Even though he did not lead the Raptors to the championship in the end, this loyalty and sense of responsibility have long been engraved in the team's history and deeply imprinted in the hearts of fans.

Although the 2019 championship trophy is glorious, looking back at the moment of being abandoned, if DeRozan could be respectfully informed of the transaction, then this story might be more fulfilling.

But even so, DeRozan has proved with his entire career that even if times change, these values ​​are still great enough.