The Toronto Raptors’ recent celebration of Vince Carter’s jersey retirement was overshadowed by escalating tensions between rapper Drake and former Raptors star DeMar DeRozan. Drake, the team’s global ambassador, publicly criticized DeRozan during the game against the Sacramento Kings, where DeRozan now plays. On the broadcast, Drake stated, “If you ever put a DeRozan banner up, I’ll go up there and pull it down myself.”

This discord stems from DeRozan’s involvement in Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” which targets Drake. DeRozan appeared in the music video and at Lamar’s Juneteenth concert, signaling support for Lamar amid his feud with Drake.

Despite Drake’s comments, DeRozan remains unfazed. When asked about Drake’s remarks, he responded, “He’s going to have a long way to climb to take it down; tell him good luck.”

Fans are divided over the feud. Some support Drake’s stance, feeling betrayed by DeRozan’s association with Lamar. Others argue that DeRozan’s contributions to the Raptors warrant jersey retirement, regardless of personal conflicts.

DeRozan, who spent nine seasons with the Raptors, is the franchise’s all-time leader in points and games played. His legacy in Toronto is significant, and many believe it should be honored. As the situation unfolds, the Raptors’ faithful are left navigating the complexities of this high-profile dispute.