DeRozan was at Toronto’s Future Shop near Yonge-Dundas Square to sign autographs for the throng of Raptors fans clamouring to catch sight of the team’s leading scorer.
The Raptors are tied for third in the Eastern Conference with the Chicago Bulls ahead of the playoffs to begin later this month.
In a video interview, I asked DeRozan about a range of interests, from his love of hip-hop to what he’s doing on defense to help his team.
When asked about boosting his D this year, DeRozan said, “Mainly, for me, it’s one-on-one…I don’t rely on team defense as much, and that’s beneficial for everybody.”
In the Rockets game earlier this week, DeRozan took a key charge with under 3 minutes left in the game, so I wondered if he was taking a page out of teammate Kyle Lowry’s playbook (the NBA leader in taking charges).
“Once you know personnel, once you know guys who like to drive, sometimes they can’t slow down,” DeRozan said. “It’s about being a student of the game, and being in right place in the right time.”
When it comes to the music that pumps him out before a game, DeRozan enjoys the latest hip-hop artists, and has seen live shows by Jay-Z, Drake and Rihanna, among others. When asked if he wanted to check out a concert by an artist he’s “dying to see,” he paused, reflected for a few moments, and then said he might want to see hip-hop legend Nas live at some point.
DeRozan and his Raptors take on Indiana tonight and then Milwaukee tomorrow.
