DeMar DeRozan has experienced a tumultuous relationship with LeBron James, stemming from their competitive history in the Eastern Conference. He initially sought to join the Lakers during his free agency spells in 2021 and again this summer, but chose to join the Kings instead, reflecting a missed opportunity for him to compete for a title with the Raptors, who won the championship in 2019 after he was traded. DeRozan acknowledges that during his time in Toronto, James was a significant obstacle to playoff success, emphasizing that he believed the Raptors were close to championship contention before his departure and could have benefited from one more key player to push them over the edge.