Changing the scenery can be hard on an NBA player. And when you take into account that he spent nine seasons in The Great White North with the Toronto Raptors , it is clear that DeMar DeRozan did not have an easy time adjusting to life elsewhere.
However, the silver lining in all of this was the fact that, with his move to the San Antonio Spurs , Deebo received a noticeable bump in his earnings. And no, it was not because his contract was bigger or different for that matter, he was already on a max deal, but because the difference in taxes was so significant that DeRozan himself compared it to a robbery.
Same money on paper, but a completely different reality once the numbers hit his bank account.
DeRozan was the Raptors' ninth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, and after his rookie season, he showed that he was one of the most prolific wings in the entire league. He quickly became a fan favorite in Canada and led the franchise to multiple playoff appearances, establishing himself as the face of basketball north of the border. However, due to the lack of postseason success, Deebo was traded to the Spurs on July 18, 2018.
It was undoubtedly a shock for him, but, as he admits, legendary coach Gregg Popovich made the transition as smooth as possible.
"Pop took me in, not as a player, but as a man," DeRozan began his talk about the move in his appearance on the "Run Your Race" podcast ." It was the humility that brought with being a coach. That he established right away."
On top of the support he received within the organization and from Coach Pop himself, there was also a monetary benefit. Even though DeRozan was still on the same maximum five-year, $139M contract, he kept more of it than he did in Toronto. And that financial shift was significant, to say the least. Texas has no state income tax, unlike Ontario's heavy provincial tax rates , meaning DeRozan kept millions more in his pocket, an often overlooked advantage for players in tax-friendly NBA markets.
"That's the beauty of it. When I went to Texas and my first check that I got playing in Texas, I felt like I've been getting robbed for nine years of my life," Deebo added, like he was still in disbelief. "My first check in Texas, I was like, 'Oh my God!'"
It was one of those rare situations where a player could go through a difficult emotional transition, yet quietly benefit in ways many never consider.
With the Spurs, DeRozan continued to do what he did best: hoop. And although he battled some hidden off-the-court mental struggles, he never failed to show up when his team needed him.
DeRozan later had a three-year stint with the Chicago Bulls , where he once again reminded the basketball world of his elite midrange mastery, and he is currently in California with the Sacramento Kings , continuing to produce on a downward spiraling squad.
Little by little, Deebo has become a true veteran of the league, having played 17 seasons and over 1200 games. And while love for the game always comes first, DeRozan's experience showed that sometimes, where you play can make a significant monetary difference as well.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
