DeMar DeRozan expressed confidence that the Toronto Raptors would have won an NBA championship without Kawhi Leonard.
During his appearance on First Take, DeRozan shared his thoughts on the Raptors’ potential success after LeBron James left the Eastern Conference.
When asked by Stephen A. Smith if he believed the Raptors could have captured a title without Leonard, DeRozan didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, never to discredit those guys––they won it, they deserve it. I finally had gotten to a point where I was happy for them. But for sure, I definitely feel like that,” he said, via HoopsHype.
DeRozan pointed out that the Raptors struggled to beat James, who had consistently eliminated them from the playoffs during his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, with James moving to the Western Conference to join the Los Angeles Lakers, DeRozan felt that Toronto was poised for a breakthrough.
“The only person we couldn’t beat was LeBron, that’s just what it was,” DeRozan said. He further explained that the 2018-19 season could have been different without James in the picture. According to DeRozan, the Raptors were one piece away from winning, and with LeBron no longer in the East, they were ready to succeed.
DeRozan acknowledged that Kawhi Leonard played a significant role in the Raptors’ 2019 championship win, but he remains confident that the team could have achieved the same result without Leonard. “I have no doubt in my mind the same outcome would have happened,” DeRozan concluded.
DeRozan’s departure from Toronto came in a blockbuster trade that sent him to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Leonard. The trade ultimately led to the Raptors winning their first-ever NBA title, as Leonard delivered a Finals MVP performance.
Despite being traded, DeRozan has expressed pride in the Raptors’ success and holds no ill will towards his former teammates. He admitted that it took time for him to process their victory, but he is now happy for the organization. “I finally had gotten to a point where I was happy for them,” DeRozan said, recognizing the team’s achievement while maintaining his belief in what could have been.
DeRozan’s comments reignite the debate over whether the Raptors could have won without Leonard, whose leadership and playoff heroics, including the iconic buzzer-beater in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers, were key to Toronto’s championship run.
