All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan, recently acquired by the San Antonio Spurs from the Toronto Raptors, and he reportedly isn’t taking the trade very well. According to ESPN’s Chris Haynes, DeRozan is withdrawing from Basketball Without Borders and the NBA Africa Game in order to “get his affairs in order:”
San Antonio Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan has withdrawn from participating in Basketball Without Borders and the NBA Africa game, sources close to DeRozan told ESPN.
The four-time All-Star, sources say, will use the time to get his affairs in order following the blockbuster trade to San Antonio that also sent forward Kawhi Leonard to Toronto.
It would have been DeRozan’s first visit to Africa.
Raptors president Masai Ujiri is an ambassador of Basketball Without Borders. DeRozan was obviously hurt by the trade, and Ujiri’s connection to BWB could have had an impact on his decision. In an exclusive interview with ESPN, DeRozan called Ujiri’s reason for trading him “BS.”
The Raptors traded DeRozan, along with Jakob Poeltl and a top-20-protected 2019 first-round draft pick, for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green.
The NBA Africa Game will take place in the South African capital of Pretoria on Aug. 4.
