The mutual admiration that exists between DeMar DeRozan and Jose Calderon is deep and genuine.
Calderon was a mentor to a young DeRozan, always encouraging and guiding and teaching. It’s a time the Toronto Raptors all-star will never forget and always appreciate.
“I credit a lot of the player I am today to Jose,” DeRozan said Friday before the Raptors faced Calderon and the Los Angeles Lakers at the Air Canada Centre. “He gave me a lot of confidence early on, trusting me, giving me the ball, always telling me to shoot, never get down if you have a bad game.