Sacramento Kings star DeMar DeRozan is making the headlines during the NBA Playoffs, but not in the way he’d have hoped. TMZ obtained a video of DeRozan getting into a physical altercation with an individual at a sushi restaurant.
An eyewitness told TMZ that the individual shoved a phone with a bright light in DeRozan’s face. That angered the 35-year-old, who knocked the phone to the ground.
By the time the video starts, DeRozan appears to have knocked the individual to the floor as well. The six-time All-Star was grappling with him and only let go after a woman in a grey sweatsuit repeatedly pleaded with him to do so.
The individual then got up and demanded that his phone be handed back to him, which caused DeRozan to lunge at him again. The woman repeatedly told the NBA star, “he’s not worth it,” and he eventually walked away before the situation escalated even further. The eyewitness stated that the individual later entered an ambulance in order to get treatment for the injuries he suffered.
Police confirmed to TMZ that they responded to an incident involving DeRozan at Yume Sushi in Calabasas on Friday night. They are investigating it, and you wonder if any sort of punishment will be handed out.
While DeRozan hasn’t spoken about this fight, this individual has.
“I just Get Attacked & Body Slapped By DeMar DeRozan: Don’t Meet Your Hero’s Kids: I Don’t think [Drake] will like this Behavior: I think Drake Won the Rap Battle.”
https://twitter.com/watchhereat/status/1913506866338083109
In the video, you can see him approaching DeRozan, who was clearly taken aback by a stranger putting a phone in front of him. He knocked it down, and an altercation ensued. The individual was later seen in an ambulance and was being carried into a hospital.
While any sort of violent act is never acceptable, you do understand DeRozan freaking out a little bit there. Had this individual just asked for his permission beforehand, things wouldn’t have gotten out of hand. Sure, DeRozan might have refused to be recorded, but he wouldn’t have fought with him at least.
This has certainly not been a great week for DeRozan, who saw his 2024-25 season end on Wednesday when the Dallas Mavericks beat the Kings 120-106 in the Play-In Tournament. He had a game-high 33 points against the Mavericks, but it wasn’t enough.
DeRozan’s first season with the Kings certainly didn’t go according to plan. He put up solid averages of 22.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game, but the team finished ninth in the West with a 40-42 record. You wonder if this might end up being his first and last season with the Kings.
