It’s no secret that DeMar DeRozan is a massive fan of Kobe Bryant. A fan of the Los Angeles Lakers growing up, the Compton-born DeRozan has often talked about how he grew up idolizing the Lakers guard, studying the way he played the game and taking cues from the Mamba for his own game. Bryant’s retirement in 2016 left his sneaker line with Nike void of an active flagship player to promote the line.
Enter DeRozan.
DeRozan has been wearing Kobe’s going back to his high school days in Compton, through 9 seasons in Toronto, and up to the present in San Antonio.