The unassuming man walked into the gym without any hint he just agreed to the third largest contract in NBA history two days earlier.
DeMar DeRozan wore basic gym gear, including a T-shirt, shorts and sneakers. He arrived without any entourage to accentuate his importance. Some fans approached DeRozan, shook hands and talked. The interactions mirrored those of familiar friends instead of the usual dynamic between a reluctant celebrity and a star-struck fanbase.
None of this should seem surprising. DeRozan has become an established fixture at the Drew League, a summer pro-am league in South Central Los Angeles he has played for since his junior season at Compton High.