DeMar DeRozan is one of just two former Chris Bosh teammates who are still around in Toronto since Bosh left for the Miami Heat back in 2010.
Despite almost a half-decade having passed, DeRozan still vividly remembers the tough love Bosh gave him during his rookie season and what it meant for his career going forward.
“He was tough on me from the standpoint, I think he knew how good I could be,” the talented Raptors guard told Basketball Insiders. “I was the starting guard with him, (Hedo) Turkoglu, (Andrea) Bargnani, Jose Calderon. I was the only rookie out there. A lot of mistakes I made, he would just be hard on me about it so I could be better. He was a good dude. He’s a good friend of mine.”
Even when Bosh delivered his message with an edge, DeRozan both listened to and appreciated what the veteran big man had to say.
“One game we were playing Miami in Miami and I wouldn’t shoot the ball,” DeRozan said. “He yelled at me, saying, ‘Shoot the ball! Shoot the ball!’ I just took from that have confidence in yourself."
"No matter if you miss it, continue to keep playing, continue to keep shooting.”
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