The rapper has publicly shared his disdain for the NBA star over the past several months.
DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls talks with Drake after their NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on February 3, 2022 in Toronto, Canada.
Cole Burston/Getty Images
Drake is standing firm in his beef against DeMar DeRozan. During a recent show, the 38-year-old slammed a DeRozan jersey on the ground after it was seemingly tossed to him on stage.
While jumping up and down performing “Rich Flex,” the rapper unfolded the jersey, clarified it was that of DeRozan, balled it back up in disgust, and threw it off the stage. Akademiks shared a clip of the moment on social media.
According to Complex, the video comes from Drake’s first Sydney show as he kicked off his Anita Max Wynn Tour.
Drake’s feud with DeMar DeRozan stems from his ongoing beef with rapper Kendrick Lamar. Although the Canadian musician and the NBA star were once close friends, DeRozan’s support of K. Dot drew a line in the sand. After appearing on stage with Kendrick Lamar at his 2024 Juneteenth concert dancing to the Grammy Award-winning diss “Not Like Us,” the Sacramento Kings forward also appeared in the acclaimed music video.
DeRozan is also referenced in the song with Kendrick Lamar rhyming, “I’m glad DeRoz’ came home, y’all didn’t deserve him neither.”
“[I] Love Drake, always can play him. [But] Kendrick been a friend of mine—Damn near family, we both from the same city. Grew up damn near in the same neighborhood, but it’s always been there, it hasn’t been always publicized, but that’s basically family,” shared the athlete in response to the moment.
The Compton NBA star continued to elaborate that standing by Kendrick was bigger than rap, referencing the unity in their shared hometown adding “Everybody was coming together in a peaceful manner and that was the beauty out of those moments.”
Still, Drake took his allegiance personally, staring DeRozan down during a Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings matchup in November 2024. “If you ever put up a DeRozan banner, I’ll go up there and pull it down myself,” the “One Dance” singer declared.
Outside of the beef, Carmelo Anthony added his opinion on the entire ordeal saying, “You gotta pull up on DeMar if you feel that way before you go on camera. Drake did a lot when he said I’ma go up there and take it down. That part is a lot.”
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