DeMar DeRozan Opens Up on Emotional Return to Toronto for Bulls Play in Game

• DeMar DeRozan has described his return to Toronto for Chicago Bulls' win-or-go-home play-in game vs Raptors as a "full circle moment"
• DeRozan remains a beloved figure in Toronto as he spent his first nine seasons in the NBA with the Raptors
• The Bulls face the Raptors, and DeRozan will be looking to break their hearts on Wednesday night

Chicago Bulls All-Star Demar DeRozan is excited about returning to his "home" in Toronto for his team's win-or-go-home play-in clash.

DeRozan spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Raptors, making them one of the best teams in the NBA, but he fell short, many times in the playoffs.

Although he did not bring the NBA title to Toronto, DeRozan won plenty of hearts in Canada. It was a bittersweet moment in 2018 when the Raptors traded DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard.

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Leonard led the Raptors to the NBA championship in 2019.

The Bulls star remains the franchise’s leading scorer (13,296 points) and a treasured figure among Raptors fans, who watched him blossom into an All-Star while making the team a force in the Eastern Conference, per Toronto Star.

DeRozan on returning to Toronto

The 33-year-old could break Toronto's hearts if the Bulls beat the Raptors in the play-in tournament. The Bulls had a difficult season where they finished 10th in the East with a 40-42 record.

A career-threatening injury to Lonzo Ball has affected their team. The point guard last played in January 2022. Still, making the play-in is commendable, considering their problems.

He still has a lot of affection for the city of Toronto, per the Athletic, calling his return a "full circle moment."

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“That was home for me. It was everything for me,” DeRozan said. “The way they embraced me, everything. Even if I tried to, it’s nothing I could ever possibly say was wrong with Canada — other than getting double-taxed.”

He added that the atmosphere inside Scotiabank Arena will be tough.

“The atmosphere is going to feel like it’s an Eastern Conference finals game in a Play-In game. So it’s definitely going to be crazy. Driving to the arena, walking through the arena, you’re definitely going to feel it. That’s the beauty of that place, those fans. And any competitor would want to be a part of that.”

DeRozan and his Bulls teammate will have to step up away from home in a must-win game.

How Bryant inspired DeRozan

Sports Brief also reported on how Bryant inspired Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan, who said without the late great, he wouldn't be playing basketball.

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The guard said the late Laker star laid the foundation for him and everything DeRozan did in the sport was because of Bryant paving the way.

“My imagination and my foundation started from Kobe. Just watching him give me that imagination as a kid to want to shoot a fadeaway. To want to learn to pull up. To want to rock a ’fro. It started from that."