One of the Toronto Raptors’ all-time greatest players is coming home, at least for a visit.
DeMar DeRozan announced that he will visit the city next Friday, September 13, to promote his book, Above the noise.
“You all know I couldn’t do a book tour without stopping in Toronto!” DeRozan shared on X Wednesday night.
The event will take place at Chapters Indigo in the lobby of The Well, located at 8 Spadina Avenue.
“As a mental health advocate, DeMar shares his story of struggle, strength, and ultimately, success,” the event description reads.
Tickets for the event are $59.99 and includes a signed copy of the book, published by HarperCollins, which will be available September 10.
DeRozan played 675 games with the franchise, after being drafted by the Raptors in the first round in 2009 before spending nearly a decade with the team.
In one of the most directly impactful trades in sports history, DeRozan was sent (along with Jakob Poeltl and a series of draft picks) to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green in the summer of 2018, less than a year before Toronto won the NBA title.
“It’s time to tell the whole story. Born and raised in Compton, DeRozan was no stranger to hardship: He grew up poor and lost friends to gang violence. Training in dilapidated school gyms and community centers, fueled by hunger and a desire to prove himself, he began to rise. But doubts followed.” the book description bed.
After two seasons in San Antonio, DeRozan then spent the last three seasons with the Chicago Bulls, where he notably defeated Toronto in the 2023 Eastern Conference play-in round. Last summer, he signed a contract to play in his home state for the first time, landing a deal with the Sacramento Kings.
- You might also like:
- Raptors launch new basketball partnerships in the Caribbean