Raptors president Masai Ujiri told DeMar DeRozan that he could have a Kobe Bryant-esque career with the Toronto Raptors.

ESPN’s Zach Lowe describes the mid-December meeting where Uriji explained his vision for DeRozan to define the franchise for DeRozan’s entire career.

It's OK to believe in the Raptors: on the transformation of a team, and a star, that has them soaring: https://t.co/NxTZDlhiuO — Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) March 13, 2018

Ujiri told DeRozan he could be Toronto’s Kobe — a lifetime player who defines a franchise and, maybe, brings it championship glory. […] “When everyone has that kind of confidence in you — that you can carry a franchise — it gives you that extra confidence,” DeRozan says. “For them to say I could be in [Kobe’s] position — it was an honor accepting that fully.”

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