Drake and DeMar DeRozan have long been linked through basketball and music, but their relationship appears to have soured in recent years. Now, the Toronto-born rapper is once again at the center of NBA chatter after a rumored snippet of an unreleased track surfaced online, and it seems to take direct aim at the Sacramento Kings star. The short clip began to spread across social media on Sept. 13, 2025.
What Did Drake’s Rumored Diss Say About DeMar DeRozan?
While it remains unclear whether the snippet is authentic or even intended for Drake’s upcoming Iceman album, the timing and lyrics were enough to set off a frenzy of speculation.
In the snippet, Drake is rumored to rap:
“When you was a part of the team we used to be planning our Mexico trip in the spring […] spur of the moment. Why did we think you could get us a ring…”
The lines immediately had fans connecting the dots. With references to:
- “Spur” (DeRozan’s former team, the San Antonio Spurs),
- “King” (his current team, Sacramento Kings), and
- the play of words “cuz why” (that supposedly sounds like “Kawhi”)
Listeners believed Drake was cleverly reminding DeRozan of Toronto’s painful playoff shortcomings before Kawhi Leonard arrived and delivered the franchise’s first title.
Naturally, reactions from fans were bound to follow. One fan immediately caught this layered wordplay, connecting it to DeRozan’s career path and Toronto’s title history.
“King” “Spur” “Kawhi” this definitely a DeRozan diss very clever 😂
— Alpha Media Room (@Alphamediaroom) September 14, 2025
Another listener noted this is not the first time Drake has targeted DeRozan since their falling out, making this rumored diss feel intentional.
Still dissin Demar derozan pic.twitter.com/m2JWWafias
— Dre (@drearetas) September 13, 2025
Beyond the diss, some fans were simply hyped that Iceman is shaping up to be Drake’s most talked-about project in years.
All those iceman streams aren’t even songs off the album. Shits about to go crazyy
— Jack (@leafsnation944) September 13, 2025
The clever phonetic flip of “cuz why” into “Kawhi” highlights exactly how Toronto’s fortunes shifted after the DeRozan trade.
“Cuz why/kawhi did we think you could get us a ring”
Ok he talking filthy.
— Him Duncan (@EscoTheUnruly) September 13, 2025
Although some debate remains, most agree the bar fits too neatly with DeRozan’s Raptors years to be about anyone else.
This either for Derozan or LeBron 😂 leaning more towards Demar
— Calvin | Kiwi (@Kiwiuh) September 14, 2025
The potential diss adds another layer to what has become a surprisingly personal rift. Years ago, the two were close, with DeRozan publicly praising Drake for supporting him during difficult times in Toronto. However, their friendship fractured during Drake’s high-profile beef with Kendrick Lamar in 2024.
Why Does the Tension Between Drake and DeMar DeRozan Continue?
DeRozan, a Compton native like Lamar, appeared in the viral “Not Like Us” music video and joined Lamar’s Pop Out concert alongside LeBron James. From that point on, Drake began to send sharp jabs at his former friend.
During a Raptors broadcast, he called DeRozan a “goof.” He even vowed to pull down any banners raised in his honor and tossed aside a DeRozan jersey during a concert in Australia.
Video of DeMar DeRozan postgame reacting to Drake’s comments of ripping down his banner “he’s going to have a long way to climb to take it down…tell him good luck”.
Damn. pic.twitter.com/ep8W3sDJEW
— Faizal Khamisa (@FaizalKhamisa) November 3, 2024
This leaked snippet feels like a continuation of those digs. It is worth noting, however, that there is still no confirmation that the track is real or even officially tied to Iceman. Regardless, DeRozan’s tenure with the Raptors remains a sensitive subject. He gave the franchise nine seasons of loyalty but could not carry them past LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs.
Ultimately, the front office traded him for Kawhi Leonard in 2018, a gamble that brought Toronto its only NBA championship. As the Raptors’ unspoken ambassador, Drake lived every one of these heartbreaks and triumphs from the courtside.
For him, the contrast between the DeRozan era and the Leonard championship still lingers. So, whether or not this particular snippet makes it to the final album, it is clear the conversation will continue in both the hip-hop and NBA worlds.
