DeMar DeRozan & Dwane Casey Reunite For First Time Since Raptors Departure

TheSportster

By Thomas Hall

Published Jan 9, 2019

DeMar DeRozan and Dwane Casey were both blamed for the Raptor's lack of success, but now, on two different teams, the two reunited.

San Antonio Spurs guard, DeMar DeRozan, was reunited with his former coach, Dwane Casey, for the first time since both were apart of the Toronto Raptors.

DeRozan was able to reconnect with his former head coach before they faced off against each other on Monday night. The Spurs were in Detroit to take on the Pistons, which gave the duo some time to chat before the game.

This was the first time that the two have been seen on a court together since their departure from the Raptors last off-season. DeRozan was traded away to the Spurs while coach Casey was fired after his team was swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs.

Casey was likely not too happy after the performance that the four-time All-Star put up in their first match-up against one another. DeRozan produced 26 points, nine assists along with seven rebounds in 34 minutes of action.

His performance is what helped the Spurs defeat the Pistons by a score of 119 to 107. This game was yet another one where the Spurs relied on DeRozan to be the focal point of their team. He treated this as just another game, just like he did when he produced a triple-double when he faced his former team for the first time.

It became very clear that both Casey and DeRozan knew that once the game started, it was all business from there on. The trade from the Raptors clearly hasn't phased DeRozan's gameplay that much. He is producing the same numbers as he has over the past six seasons.

The same can't be said for Casey, however, this season has been much more challenging for the 61-year-old compared to the last few with the Raptors. Mainly because he just doesn't have the same roster of players he had back in Toronto.

However, his team does currently sit one game back of the Brooklyn Nets for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. He has also been able to coach his Pistons to a 17-21 record, which puts them just four games under from a .500 winning percentage.

The relationship between Casey and DeRozan was seen to be still intact despite the two not being apart of the same organization anymore. Which the duo will be able to share more memories like this on Feb. 27, 2019, when Casey brings his team to San Antonio to take on DeRozan once again.

What This Means

The moment that DeRozan and Casey shared before their game was something special that definitely warmed the hearts of fans across the NBA. They spent seven seasons together which they were able to share so many memories over the years with each other.

It will likely be the same sort of scene when they face off against each other again next month. Just like it will be when DeRozan makes his return to Toronto on Feb. 22, 2019, which will likely have the eyes of most NBA fans watching it.