DeMar DeRozan Explains Real Reason He Rejected Lakers

DeMar DeRozan was one of several big name players linked to the Los Angeles Lakers this summer.

Rather than going home to L.A. and joining up with the purple and gold, though – he wound up becoming a member of the Sacramento Kings.

Obviously everyone knows about the bad blood that has existed between DeRozan and the Lakers over the past few years, especially given how dirty they have done him, but there was still optimism that perhaps a middle ground could be reached.

It wasn’t.

This week, DeRozan appeared on Paul George’s podcast and gave the real reason why he opted not to become a Laker.

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“I was just looking for an opportunity to win at a high level wherever that was going to be,” he said.

“[The Kings] came about, and they were showing interest, like real interest. When I sat back and looked at it, and analyzed the team. Great players. Great coach. I just always remember the last couple years of always seeing them light this damn beam and winning and all that.

“For sure got a movement. That’s definitely one thing you always want to be a part of is a contagious culture of an organization that wants to win. When I looked at all that, I just felt like it fit.”

DeRozan admitted that he considered the Lakers, but ultimately opted to go in a different direction.

“Lakers was an option always,” he confirmed.

The Lakers struck out a lot this summer. DeRozan was just the latest example of that. Will Rob Pelinka and Co. rue the day they didn’t bring him home? Time will tell.

Carlos Garcia

A longtime Sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB Games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.