DeMar DeRozan shared insights into his relationship with Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs, as well as the possibility of reuniting with the franchise during the Victor Wembanyama era, in a recent interview with Sam Amick of The New York Times.
“Yeah, just shows the character of not just Pop, but the whole Spurs organization. Everything about that place — it’s hard to even find words to put it into detail. They treated me like I was Tim Duncan.”
“And that’s just the amount of respect, love and admiration I’m gonna forever have toward Pop and that whole organization. There’s a lot of things they didn’t have to do for me, and there’s a lot of things I didn’t even ask for.”
“You’ve got to give them all the credit, because they’re definitely special people. I mean, I’ll never forget the first conversation I had with him. It was “I didn’t trade you. I traded for you.”
“That kind of stuck, and from there on out, he just challenged me to be an even better player than what I was in ways that I never could have expected. And it was such a necessity for me for my career, for longevity, understanding and the knowledge that he really gave to me.”
“It meant a lot, on and off the court. That’s what makes it so special, and that’s why I had to have him do the foreword for the book.”
DeRozan, who spent three seasons with the Spurs from 2018 to 2021 after being traded from the Toronto Raptors in a blockbuster deal for Kawhi Leonard, spoke highly of his time under Popovich’s leadership. The veteran forward went on to describe how Popovich challenged him to improve in ways he hadn’t anticipated.
This admiration was mutual, as Gregg Popovich reportedly wanted DeRozan to return to San Antonio for the Victor Wembanyama era. According to league sources, the Spurs expressed interest in bringing DeRozan back to aid in the development of their young roster, specifically with the addition of the generational talent Wembanyama.
The French phenom, widely considered the most hyped NBA prospect since LeBron James, could have benefited from DeRozan’s veteran presence and leadership on the court.
However, the Spurs also made it clear that they were willing to help DeRozan land with the team of his choice, facilitating a three-team trade to send him to the Sacramento Kings, where he ultimately ended up. In that deal, Harrison Barnes was moved to the Spurs, and Chris Duarte, along with two second-round picks, went to the Chicago Bulls.
While the reunion with the San Antonio Spurs did not materialize, DeRozan’s experience with the Spurs clearly left a lasting impact. The bond between him and Popovich continues to be one of respect and gratitude, and the possibility of his return to the team highlights the high regard the organization still holds for him.
DeMar DeRozan’s impact on the Spurs during his time there and the prospect of his mentorship for Wembanyama reflect his value as a leader both on and off the court.
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