DeMar DeRozan had the chance to come back to familiar surroundings early this past offseason, but he didn’t entertain thoughts of signing with other teams, instead choosing to re-up with the Toronto Raptors in a massive five-year, $139 million deal.

The Compton native had drawn interest from the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers, amongst other suitors, but chose to remain a Raptor in an easy, painless transaction — but even he’ll admit there was some curiosity following the end of last season.

“Yeah, of course,” DeRozan told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. At the end of the day, the Lakers are the Lakers. I grew up a Lakers fan. Kobe [Bryant] was my favorite player growing up. I didn’t miss a game as a kid. Just to have the opportunity was amazing. I watched one of my favorite players create a legacy of his own and leave his mark there.” “He left his own mark there. It will always be there. I want to leave my own mark in Toronto.”

DeRozan’s extension was quiet and almost unperceived through the media, given that he did not visit any teams during his free agency stint, choosing instead to sign with the Raptors the first day possible.

“That’s just me,” he said. “If I knew where I wanted to be from the beginning… I didn’t want to waste anybody’s time and just hear somebody else talk or say something when I know in the back of my mind that I want to do something else. As long as that something else was mutual, there was no point of me doing anything else.” “I don’t want to waste anybody’s time. I didn’t want to give false hope if I knew what I felt inside was right. And that was me going back.”

The 6-foot-7 swingman even entertained the thought of being the greatest player to suit up for the franchise.

“Without a doubt. No question,” said DeRozan. “How many people get to say they hold one record for an organization, or were on the winningest team in Raptors history, or did this with one organization? All of those things last longer than your playing career.”

So far, the USC product is on a clear road to achieving his goals. He’s been on a tear to start the season, scoring at a 30.9 points per game clip and shooting 49 percent from the field in 37 minutes per contest.