Earlier this month, Drake ripped former Toronto Raptor and current Sacramento Kings star DeMar DeRozan — a Compton native who appeared in the “Not Like Us” video — and scoffed at the idea of the Raptors ever retiring his No. 10.
“If you ever put up a DeRozan banner, I’ll go up there and take it down myself,” Drake said on the broadcast the same night Vince Carter’s No. 15 went into the rafters.
Season two of 7PM in Brooklyn returned on Tuesday (Nov. 12) as The Kid Mero and Carmelo Anthony welcomed a new co-host for the episode with freshly retired NBA hooper Rudy Gay.
“I think Drake was hurt a little bit because of the relationship he built with DeMar in Toronto,” Melo said. “Representing the 6, Raptors — you know that was a lot of connection with those two. He’s a Raptor for life from a basketball standpoint. Yes, that jersey should be going up.”
Rudy Gay — who suited up for the Raptors in 2013 — chimed in: That’s wack, man. Drake is wack for that … You gotta pull up on DeMar if you feel that way before you go on camera.”
Melo agreed Drizzy’s comments may have been a bit over the top. “Drake did a lot when he said I’ma go up there and take it down. That part is a lot,” Anthony said before adding that he understood why Drake was upset. “Those are shots. You my man, we in the crib, we hanging, we building the 6 up. From that standpoint, that would f–k me up too.”
The former New York Knick and Gay believe Drake and DeRozan should have communicated before saying anything publicly on a broadcast to see if they could hash it out.
“I’m gonna feel a way no matter what, but yes, you do have a conversation. As a man, you have a conversation,” Melo continued.
Gay replied: “As a society we just get used to phones and cameras and all that stuff. If you got a problem, come at me. To see your man’s out there dancing with the enemy, that’s kinda crazy.”
DeRozan — who spent the first nine years of his career with Toronto — was asked about Drake’s comments regarding his potential jersey retirement following the Kings and Raptors game. “He’s going to have a long way to climb,” DeMar quipped.
Drake and DeRozan had a tight relationship, but things have since gone awry with DeMar appearing in Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” video and joining his fellow Compton native on stage at his Pop Out concert.
Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive came to DeRozan’s defense during the next Raptors and Kings matchup, and jabbed at Drake while rocking a “They Not Like Us” T-shirt when sitting courtside.
Watch the full conversation below.
