"Is it just about you?"- 3x 6MOTY calls out Drake for 'selfish' comments on DeMar DeRozan's potential Raptors' jersey retirement
Three-time Sixth Man of the Year winner and former Toronto Raptors player Lou Williams called out Drake for his comments about DeMar DeRozan. Williams described the rapper as "selfish" for his stance on the Raptors possibly retiring DeRozan's jersey.
Speaking on the latest episode of Fan Duel TV's "Run It Back," the crew of Williams, Chandler Parsons and Michelle Beadle discussed Drake's comments during the broadcast of the Raptors-Kings game last Saturday.
"Lemon Pepper Lou" thought that it was selfish of Drake to say he would take down DeRozan's jersey banner if the Raptors retired it. The tension between the Canadian rapper and the former Raptors All-Star seemed to stem from Deebo's appearance at Kendrick Lamar's concert and "Not Like Us" music video.
"If I'm gonna speak candidly, I thought that was selfish of Drake," Williams said. "Drake, as well as the country of Canada, the city of Toronto, they know what DeMar DeRozan has contributed to the culture up there, and what he's contributed to the Toronto Raptors, and to that community."
"It goes way bigger than his personal relationship with Drake. It goes way bigger than his personal relationship with Kendrick Lamar. So for Drake to say, 'If you put up a banner and I'll personally pull it down,' it's like, is it just about you or is it about the Toronto Raptors?"
This year, one of the most significant beefs in the hip hop community erupted between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Lamar is largely viewed as the victor of the feud, with his song "Not Like Us" becoming a hit, and he held a concert in California this past June attended by several NBA players, including DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook, who danced on stage with Lamar and other West Coast rappers.
LeBron James, who Drake recently unfollowed on Instagram, was also in the crowd vibing to the music.
DeRozan and Westbrook are both from Los Angeles, with DeRozan originating from Compton.
Looking at DeMar DeRozan's career with the Raptors
DeMar DeRozan spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Toronto Raptors. DeRozan quickly became the team's franchise player and led the Raptors to five straight playoff appearances from 2014 to 2018, including a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2016.
DeRozan holds plenty of Raptors franchise records to this day, including for games played, minutes played, points, field goals made and free throws made. There's no arguing that he's one of the greatest players in franchise history along with Vince Carter, Kyle Lowry, Chris Bosh and Kawhi Leonard.
Carter became the first player to have his jersey retired at the Scotiabank Arena last Saturday. Lowry, DeRozan, Bosh and Leonard are likely getting the same honor in the future.
Leonard, who was traded to the Raptors in exchange for DeRozan, spent just one season in Toronto but led the team to its sole NBA championship in 2019.