DeRozan, on Popovich's assistance during his father's serious illness: "He told me to go home"

DeMar DeRozan has granted an interview to Brian Windhorst on ESPN's YouTube channel where he discussed various topics. The new player for the Sacramento Kings talked about his new book, in which he recounts the struggles in 2018 with the death of his father and how, for example, Gregg Popovich helped him during his time with the San Antonio Spurs.

Difficult Times

"In many ways, I was always crying out for help, even with the tweet back in 2018, that was me crying out for help. Everyone always thought I was okay, optimistic, as if everything was smooth with me all the time. And, you know, I think I had just reached my breaking point. I hit a wall. And that's what led me to where we are today. So, this book is very emotional and talks a lot about my childhood. I wanted to express that more than anything, especially still playing, showing real-life things in real-time because I'm still going through many things I went through when I wrote the book. There are still many things I'm going through and trying to understand and improve, but for the most part, I just wanted to be an open book."

Gregg Popovich

"It was a different moment when my father was really struggling. Many times, in certain games, Pop would come to ask me something and would say after the game, 'Go home. We have training in two days. You don't have to be at the shootaround; just prepare for the game.' There were many games in San Antonio where, between games, I wasn't there. I was taking care of my father. He allowed me to do it without distractions, without anything. He told me not to worry about the media. And it was the coolest thing because there were so many moments I cherished with my father during that time that Pop allowed me to do it without any issue."

His Childhood

"I remember when I received trophies as a kid. I was so excited to go home and put the trophy up, and he would say, 'No, this whole row has to be filled with trophies.' Enjoying that trophy made me feel like I had to do more. I have to work more. I have to be better. I have to be better because he never wanted me to have it in my subconscious: that I was doing enough. Not even in sports, but in life. I think that's why, to this day, I try to be very respectful to others. I try to be a positive light. I try to be all those things because my father taught me more than anything...".

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, DeRozan, sobre la ayuda de Popovich durante la grave enfermedad de su padre: "Me decía que me fuera a casa"