DeMar DeRozan’s legacy in Toronto is one of the most emotionally charged and debated chapters in recent Raptors history. Drafted ninth overall in 2009, DeRozan didn’t just play for the Raptors - he became the Raptors.
Over nearly a decade, he grew from a raw athletic wing into a four-time All-Star and the face of a franchise that had long struggled to find its identity. He helped lead Toronto to its first-ever Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2016, a milestone that marked a turning point for the organization and its fan base.
But not everyone sees DeRozan’s time in Toronto through the same lens.
Phoenix Suns guard Dillon Brooks stirred the pot Thursday during a livestream with AMP streamer Agent, offering a blunt and controversial take on DeRozan’s Raptors tenure. Brooks didn’t mince words, calling DeRozan’s time in Toronto a disappointment.
“I’ll be real for the city, bro. DeRozan was not holding his weight out there.
He couldn’t win,” Brooks said. “He made the playoffs every year.
One time a 1 seed. One time a 5 seed.
He run into LeBron, can’t do nothing.”
It’s a harsh assessment, and one that cuts deep given how much DeRozan meant to the franchise and the city. Brooks continued, referencing DeRozan’s struggles against LeBron James-led Cavaliers teams in the playoffs - a recurring roadblock during the Raptors’ mid-2010s postseason runs. “You can choke,” Brooks added, “but you can’t go to media and say, like, ‘Can’t do nothing without LeBron.’”
The Raptors ultimately made a franchise-altering decision in 2018, trading DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs in a blockbuster deal that brought Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green to Toronto. That move, while painful for many fans, paid off in the most tangible way possible: a championship. Toronto captured its first NBA title in the 2018-19 season, with Leonard delivering a postseason for the ages.
Brooks didn’t shy away from drawing a direct line between that title run and DeRozan’s departure. “Yeah, you know why?
It’s because they got DeRozan out of there. He wasn’t pulling his own weight.
It was his fault. I’m just keeping it real,” he said.
It’s a take that will no doubt fuel debate, especially considering DeRozan’s own belief that the Raptors could’ve won a title without the trade. That sentiment has been echoed by some fans and analysts who point to the continuity and chemistry that DeRozan helped build over the years - a foundation that may have eventually broken through, even without Leonard.
Since the trade, DeRozan has carved out a solid post-Raptors career. He spent three seasons with the Spurs, then another three with the Chicago Bulls, where he continued to produce at a high level. In 2024, he joined the Sacramento Kings, adding veteran leadership to a young and promising squad.
As for Leonard, his time in Toronto was brief but unforgettable. He left for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019, just one season after delivering the city its long-awaited championship.
At the end of the day, DeRozan’s time in Toronto is complicated - a blend of personal excellence, playoff heartbreak, and what-ifs. He may not have brought a title to the city himself, but he helped elevate the Raptors from league afterthought to perennial contender.
Whether that’s viewed as a failure or a foundation depends on your perspective. But one thing is clear: his impact on the franchise is undeniable, no matter what the box score - or Dillon Brooks - says.