Drake and DeMar DeRozan's feud heats up over Raptors' Banner plans

Canadian rapper Drake, known for his connection with the Toronto Raptors, appears to have reignited his feud with former Raptor DeMar DeRozan. During the Raptors' recent game against the Sacramento Kings-a tight matchup that ended in a 131-128 overtime win for Toronto-Drake was anything but subtle in his feelings toward DeRozan, with whom he's had a rocky relationship since DeRozan sided with rapper Kendrick Lamar in a past musical beef.

Drake, who has a minority stake in the Raptors and is a staple at their games, was vocal on-air about his intentions if the franchise ever honored DeRozan with a banner. "If you ever put a DeRozan banner up, I'll go up there and pull it down myself," he stated. This pointed comment left fans buzzing on social media, with many speculating on the origins and future of the tension between the two.

The origins of the Drake-DeRozan rift

The bad blood between Drake and DeRozan reportedly started after DeRozan publicly supported Kendrick Lamar, who was involved in a high-profile feud with Drake earlier this year. Kendrick's track "Not Like Us," which was seen by many as a direct response to Drake, became a national hit and seemed to solidify DeRozan's allegiance to Lamar. To make his stance clear, DeRozan even made a cameo in the music video for the song, further fueling the drama.

Lamar's lyrics, perceived as a nod to DeRozan's roots in Compton, California, included lines hinting that Toronto fans didn't fully appreciate the player's contributions, creating tension that resonated with both fans and Drake. Since then, Drake's resentment has seemingly grown, leading to his latest public outburst.

Fans divided over Drake's comments

Drake's comments have sparked debate among fans and sports analysts alike. While some Raptors fans stand by Drake, agreeing that DeRozan's loyalty was tarnished by his support for Lamar, others feel DeRozan's contributions to the Raptors shouldn't be overlooked. DeRozan, a fan favorite during his nine seasons with the Raptors, is still admired for helping lift Toronto to prominence in the NBA.

As of now, neither DeRozan nor Lamar has responded to Drake's latest remarks. But the situation has left fans wondering if Drake's influence over the Raptors could prevent a future tribute to DeRozan. With a fan base split and tensions running high, only time will tell if these two icons will reconcile or if the rift will continue.