Raptors legend reveals he is hoping to return to Toronto

The Toronto Raptors are feeling very nostalgic at the moment.

As the team begins its 30th season in existence, discussions of the bright spots of history (and the painful ones) are popping up everywhere. The team recently announced it would be retiring Vince Carter's number, the first jersey to be retired by the franchise.

One of the bright spots of the team's history was the rise of perhaps the league's best backcourt, a gritty do-it-all point guard and a smooth high-scoring shooting guard. While they endured some painful playoff defeats, there is no denying that the backcourt pairing of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan was fun to root for.

The front office (rightfully) broke up the two in 2018, sending DeRozan to San Antonio in the Kawhi Leonard trade. That deal allowed Toronto to make a run all the way to the NBA Finals, defeating the dynastic Golden State Warriors (with their own potent backcourt) to win the franchise's first NBA Championship.

To his credit, DeRozan has thrived since leaving the Raptors. In San Antonio he developed as a passer and playmaker, then he went to Chicago and became the league's premier clutch shooter. Now 35, DeRozan will begin a new chapter playing in his hometown state of California for the Sacramento Kings.

DeMar DeRozan is open to a Toronto return

DeRozan spent nine seasons in Toronto and now is poised to play his seventh on other teams. Even as his miles accrue in other NBA cities, there is something special about the team that drafted and developed you, even if DeRozan didn't get to hoist the trophy with many of the teammates he had played alongside.

Reflecting that connection, DeRozan recently shared in an interview that he would love the possibility of returning to play in Toronto before he retired. He said "I'm not sure how much time I've got left but it would be very poetic to go out in a place where it all started from."

Those are comments that DeRozan has shared in a few different places now, including an interview with the Toronto Star. He genuinely seems to be reflecting on the end of his career by remembering the beginning, and the possibility of a full-circle moment appeals to him.

Kyle Lowry has previously discussed signing with the Raptors, however briefly, to retire with the team. Perhaps a final swansong of Lowry and DeRozan as the veteran backup backcourt could be in order?

Lowry is expected to play a rotation role on the Philadelphia 76ers this year competing for a title, while DeRozan is still playing at an extremely high level and years away from retirement.

When the end comes, however, it looks like one of the greatest scorers in franchise history may like to end where he began.