Former Toronto Raptors superstar DeMar DeRozan believes he would have won an NBA Finals with the Raptors even if they hadn’t traded for Kawhi Leonard, according to First takeDeRozan was traded for Kawhi Leonard in 2018, and Kawhi helped Toronto win the Finals in the 2018-19 season.
“The only guy we couldn’t beat was LeBron,” DeRozan said. “After the year before, we just needed one more piece to push us over the top, and that piece happened to be LeBron coming out West… I’m confident the same outcome would have happened.”
DeRozan was a star with the Raptors, averaging 20 points, four rebounds and four assists. He was also a four-time All-Star with the team.
Would the same thing happen if Leonard were traded? No, probably not. That’s because while DeRozan is good, he’s not Leonard. Leonard had already won a championship and a Finals MVP, so he had the experience to win it all.
DeRozan will also face the Philadelphia 76ers, who have Joel Embiid and Jimmy Butler, and the Milwaukee Bucks, who have reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. And if they can beat all of those opponents, they’ll have to face the Golden State Warriors dynasty, which features Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and DeMarcus Cousins.
DeMar DeRozan believes he would have won a championship with the Raptors if the Kawhi Leonard trade never happened:
“I have no doubt that the same result would have occurred.”
[via @FirstTake ] pic.twitter.com/iRxW2OvdVc
— BASKETBALL ON ? (@BASKETBALLonX) September 11, 2024
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