There is no Raptor more closely associated with DeMar DeRozan than Kyle Lowry.

They talk, as best friends do, nearly every day, and the bond they created will never be broken.

They grew together from boys into men, saw their children grow as they did. Their families are tight, they will remain linked forever away from the game they play.

They have shared in the rise of the Raptors franchise from mediocrity to a berth in the NBA final and even though DeRozan was not here for the final steps in an improbable journey, his buddy knows he’s offering support from afar.

“One thing about him, there is no hate in his heart,” Lowry said of the now San Antonio Spurs guard. “He’s cheering for me and us more than anybody else.”

DeRozan and coach Dwane Casey, such a large part of the Raptors’ growth in the slog to get to this point, are not physically in Toronto for Game 1 of the series that begins Thursday at Scotiabank Arena and it’s unlikely they will cross the arena’s threshold at any time in the series.

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They are not, however, out of many minds because they were so integral to the team’s growth.

Casey coached during a couple of the darkest years, his insistence on “creating a culture” based on professionalism, respect and on-court defence was unwavering and important. DeRozan was for years the best player on a growing team, a four-time all-star who loved the team, the city and the country and never wanted to leave.

Leave they did.

DeRozan in the franchise-transforming trade for Kawhi Leonard and Casey when president Masai Ujiri saw the need for a coaching change because he felt the roster a year ago has reached its plateau.

“Give Dwane Casey credit, he prepared us for this, too,” Ujiri said when answering a question about Nurse at a Wednesday morning media availability.

“This is not something that started in one year. I don’t know that a team can just start in one year.

“So I think, I want to say that Dwane Casey and DeMar DeRozan are a part of this, they are part of our journey and how far this has come.”

The departure, particularly of DeRozan, stuck a knife into the relationship between Lowry and Ujiri that may never be fully healed.

“We have had our ups and downs, but I think this year there was a really good moment where we sat down and we really talked about what we wanted to accomplish, and it’s a tough conversation but these are conversations that you have to have,” Ujiri said. “I did understand how Kyle felt when obviously we made the trade and it was tough. DeMar is his best friend. I do understand that completely. That’s the toughest part of the business that we all talk about.”

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It was tough on DeRozan, it’s still tough on DeRozan but his best friend knows he’s going to be all right.

“He’s fine,” Lowry said. “One thing about him, he’s happy for the individual successes. He texts me, Freddy (VanVleet), Norm (Powell), Serge (Ibaka), all the guys that he has relationships with still.

“He’s still with us and cheering for us.”

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