The loyalty aspect of DeRozan’s decision to stay can’t be under-stated because it is central to who he is as a man. Basketball minutia aside, it is an admirable trait. He is in, completely.
Fans should be beyond the ‘Hey, they like us, they really, really like us!’ stage with NBA players because the Toronto Raptors have been a consistently good team for years, two victories away from winning the Eastern Conference title last month, a relatively young team anchored by an all-star Olympic-bound backcourt and an attractive destination.