NBA star DeMar DeRozan got into a physical altercation while waiting to eat at a sushi restaurant in Los Angeles.
One of the patrons recorded the episode after it popped off where DeRozan, a native of nearby Compton, had the man on the ground and looked as if he wanted to get some work in on him. But folks around the Kings star managed to pull him away and separate the men.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reportedly responded to the fight inside the Yume Sushi in Calabasas, a wealthy suburb of Los Angeles. The agency launched a probe into the episode, according to KCRA-Sacramento.
DeMar DeRozan may have already been in a bad mood
DeRozan was probably not in the best of moods on Friday, April 18. The Dallas Mavericks thoroughly defeated his Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night, 120-106, in the play-in tournament, which ended his season prematurely.
Evidence leads fans and social media users to conclude that the unknown man, who goes by the X handle “KISSMAYOO,” was looking for his viral moment and/or career boost.
First, the man recorded himself walking up to DeRozan’s walking through the restaurant.
He turned on the video light on his cell phone before walking up to DeRozan’s table. The NBA forward glanced at the man’s camera phone before slapping it away, thus sparking a brief melee inside the eatery.
After the man, seemingly unharmed, was transported into an ambulance and taken to the hospital, he recorded the trip.
Afterwards, the man posted this thought on his X account:
“I just Get Attacked & Body Slapped By DeMar DeRozan : Don’t Meet Your Hero’s Kids : I Don’t think @champagnepapi (Drake’s Instagram handle) will like this Behavior: I think Drake Won the Rap Battle #fyp #basketball #calabasas #sacramentokings #damarderozan @tmz_tv @abc7la @TheHoopCentral,” the man wrote in the captions.
The man also placed these underneath the original post which had fans looking askance at him.
DeMar DeRozan is also known for his Drake fallout
DeRozan, a former star for the Toronto Raptors, is also known for his famous fallout with global rap superstar Drake.
Drake was enraged that DeRozan (and LeBron James) would attend the pop-up concert of Drizzy’s enemy, Kendrick Lamar, in the summer of 2024. Drake was DeRozan’s biggest fan and they had confided in one another prior to that concert.
DeRozan discussed this on “The Breakfast Club” radio show recently.
Fans unload on the man for obviously clout-chasing
“You a weirdo.. disturbing somebody peace, now talking bout don’t meet your hero. Learn to respect people space and what makes you think that man owes you something,” said one person while a second user added, “Violence is not okay. Hope you’re okay.”
A third person opined that the man was trying to score an easy payday. “Playing his cards for that check I see lmao,” while a fourth person concurred with that sentiment, saying, “Derozan fell into the trap.”
A fifth person levied insults, saying, “Did he put them lumps on your head or is it like that?”
Another asked, “Why would you come mess with him if he want bothering you though? Yea meet the heroes who don’t want to be harsssed just because you screaming they name. Where it looked like he might get served dinner. Like yall make up ANYTHINGGGGGG.”
Lastly, a person summarized the sentiments of many when he said, “N–a clout chasing . Tf u putting ya phone in another grown man face for? Then expect nothing to happen . Play stupid games win stupid prizes.”
