DeMar DeRozan recently reflected on one of the most emotional games of his career: Kawhi Leonard’s return to San Antonio.
The game, held on January 3, 2019, saw Leonard make his first appearance back in San Antonio after being traded to the Toronto Raptors for DeRozan.
The tension in the air was palpable as fans eagerly awaited Leonard’s return to the AT&T Center.
“Teammates who’d been there for the Kawhi drama really wanted to win,” DeRozan said, highlighting the emotions within the Spurs locker room.
Leonard, once the face of the franchise for the Spurs, received a mixed reception from the crowd. Fans filled the arena with boos and chants of “traitor” every time Leonard touched the ball.
“You’d think we were entering the Colosseum for battle, the way fans were,” DeRozan remarked, comparing the intensity to an ancient gladiator contest.
Before the game, the Spurs organization aired a tribute video for Leonard and his former teammate, Danny Green, both of whom were instrumental in San Antonio’s 2014 NBA Championship.
While Green received applause, the crowd’s reaction to Leonard was far less forgiving.
Despite the mixed emotions from fans, the game held personal significance for DeRozan. In a career-best performance, he recorded his only triple-double, finishing with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists.
“I [had] the only triple-double of my career. We crushed ’em,” DeRozan said, proud of how he and his Spurs teammates performed under pressure.
The Spurs ultimately dominated Leonard and the Raptors, securing a 125-107 victory that night.
For Leonard, the game was challenging, as he struggled to find his rhythm amid the hostile environment. Leonard ended the night with 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, shooting just 7-18 from the field.
The victory was particularly sweet for DeRozan, who had been traded from the Raptors after spending nine seasons with the team.
“I wanted to help get it done,” DeRozan said, reflecting on his motivation to prove himself against his former team.
