DeMar DeRozan revealed it was hard for him to forego the opportunity of playing for his favorite team growing up the Los Angeles Lakers, yet the itch of creating his own legacy in Toronto eventually prevailed.
Interview with Marc J. Spears of the Undefeated, DeRozan admitted that he was tempted to sign with the Lakers during free-agency, but the Raptors' max offer meant a lot for him in the end.
"Yeah, of course. At the end of the day, the Lakers are the Lakers. I grew up a Lakers fan. Kobe [Bryant] was my favorite player growing up. I didn't miss a game as a kid. Just to have the opportunity was amazing."
"I watched one of my favorite players create a legacy of his own and leave his mark there. He left his own mark there. It will always be there. I want to leave my own mark in Toronto."
DeRozan, who signed a five-year, $130M deal with the Raptors, has been on a tear offensively this season, as he averaged 30.5 points per game after 15 games. The Lakers did consider as one of their prime free-agency target this offseason, but they ultimately decided to build the team up by developing young talents.
-D'Angelo Russell received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his left knee and will miss the next two weeks.
"PRP injections are used to stimulate the flow of blood and help with healing in areas with decreased blood flow, explains Mike Bresnahan of Spectrum SportsNet (Twitter link). The minimally invasive procedure was performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Steve Yoon."
The second-year playmaker has been one of the key cogs for the up=and[-coming Lakers, averaging 16.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. After struggling to play against the Spurs, the Lakers decided to shut down Russell in the next two games before their decision to place a two-week timetable on his recovery.
