DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry faced each other with neither one in a Raptors jersey for the first time ever on Saturday night.
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DeRozan and Lowry experienced a lot together as teammates in Toronto - they led the team to a record 56 victories and the franchise’s first appearance in the Eastern Conference finals in 2015-16.
They were both All-Stars together in that same season when the All-Star game was held in Toronto. They helped take the Toronto Raptors franchise to a new level.
More importantly, they became the closest of friends.
"With DeMar, me and him, we clicked... It wasn't a role with us, Lowry said on the Pull-Up podcast with C.J. McCollum. "We just became brothers. And we fed off each other."
Brothers.@DeMar_DeRozan x @Klow7 pic.twitter.com/YWFAYnzkJv
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 28, 2021
On Saturday, though, neither one was in a Raptors jersey for the first time during their NBA careers. DeRozan went to Chicago in the off-season in a sign-and-trade after three seasons in San Antonio.
Lowry signed with Miami, also in a sign-and-trade, for a three-year, $85 million contract, after helping Toronto win their first NBA title in 2019.
Gettin' a little dusty in here watching Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan together 🥺@MiamiHEAT | #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/gD7fQPczEx
— Bally Sports Sun: HEAT (@BallyHEAT) November 28, 2021
DeRozan got the better of the individual match-up, finishing with 28 points and 7 rebounds, but Lowry, who had 19 points and 6 assists, got the win. After the game, DeRozan spoke about his bond with his former teammate.
"If my mom had another son, it'd be Kyle," DeRozan said. "If his mom had another son, it'd be me. That's how close we are. He's like a big brother to me, vice-versa, I'm like a big brother to him even though he's older. That's my man."
LIVE: Postgame Media Availability following tonight's game vs Miami. https://t.co/wxv4I6eZNu
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 28, 2021
The two have taken playful jabs at each other in the past.
When DeRozan made his first return to Toronto while a Spur, it was Lowry who forced a late-game turnover from DeRozan, ensuring the Raps win. Afterward, DeRozan joked that "obviously Kyle's fat ass knows how to guard me."
Now, in the same conference once for the first time since 2019, these great buddies will play against one another three more times - Dec. 11, Feb. 28 and Apr. 2.
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