Trying to get to the essence of the DeMar DeRozan-Kyle Lowry relationship, to figure out what drives the Toronto Raptors bromance, is a difficult thing to do.
One’s born and raised in Compton, Calif., and has been touted as a basketball star since he was a teenager; the other is a tough-minded kid from Philadelphia who scraped, clawed and chafed at a couple of spots before finding his home in Toronto.
One thrived on athleticism, the other on grit and determination; the differences were stark.
So how have they blossomed? How have these wildly diverse young men seen their relationship grown to the point where they are inseparable off the court, and so complementary to each other on it?