Former Chicago Bulls star and Toronto Raptors legend DeMar DeRozan recently shed light on his relationships with rappers Drake and Kendrick Lamar.

DeMar DeRozan in Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” video 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ku9dge2Vr2

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During his nine-year tenure with the Raptors, DeRozan developed a close bond with Drake, who serves as the team’s ambassador and is often seen courtside at games and hosting fan events. DeRozan’s association with Drake made it surprising to some when he appeared in Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” video, a track many consider the culmination of the ongoing feud between Drake and Kendrick.

DeRozan’s past statements about his loyalty to Drake resurfaced following his appearance in Kendrick’s video. However, what many fans might not know is that DeRozan and Kendrick share a deep-rooted connection from their upbringing in Los Angeles. In a recent interview with Fox40 News, DeRozan clarified this relationship.

Asked DeMar DeRozan about his appearance in Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” video and if that signaled the end of playing Drake inside Golden 1 Center. pic.twitter.com/0cRtBImfQm

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“Love Drake,” DeRozan said. “We always can play him. Kendrick has been a friend of mine, damn near family. For a long time, for a while. We’re from the same city, grew up damn near in the same neighborhood. So it’s always been there… That’s basically family.”

While DeRozan spent nearly a decade in Toronto, his roots in Los Angeles explain his strong bond with Kendrick Lamar. Now, after being traded from the Chicago Bulls to the Sacramento Kings, DeRozan finds himself back in California.