Book Review: DeMar DeRozan's 'Above the Noise' hits all the right notes

DeRozan's life and career deserved an in-depth look and his love for Toronto knows no bounds

"The truth was, I couldn’t stand the thought of seeing Davian in that casket. I just didn’t want it to be real. Why would they care about you? I had the phrase tattooed onto my right forearm. Every time I raise my shooting hand into form, I can read it.”

For those of us who have followed DeMar DeRozan from the beginning of his time in Toronto, we’ve had a fair idea of him having a difficult childhood growing up in Compton. Reading, in his own words, about that period of his life, it helps you appreciate that much more what he went through and how much of a miracle it is that he’s gone on to have the career and life he’s has.

His relationship with his parents, childhood friends, Kiara Morrison, and his children are the heart of the book, along with personal challenges he’s had to contend with and overcome throughout.

The book ‘Above the Noise’ is split into three parts, the first covering DeRozan’s childhood, the second on his tenure with the Raptors, and the third is on his life since being traded from Toronto. It’s really well written and kudos to my former Sportsnet colleague Dave Zarum for co-authoring the book.

It definitely took some time for DeRozan to grow on me as a player. He came in as an extremely athletic but raw guard. Seeing his lack of shot creation, shooting ability, and ball handling, it was hard to envision someone with true starting quality. What became impressive over time, to me, and I’m sure many who followed was a tireless work ethic to become the best player he could possibly be.

Off-season after off-season, we saw something new progressively added to his repertoire. His mid-range, his dribbling, the footwork, and eventually even playmaking. It was surprising to read DeRozan admit he thought he was going to get traded to Golden State shortly after the Rudy Gay trade and that “it was practically a done deal.”

The three-point shot never came around, nor the defence, and that was always going to leave a clear ceiling. Still, it was all good enough to help lead the franchise to five consecutive seasons of at least 48 wins and an Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2016. Of course, the evolution of DeRozan’s bromance with Kyle Lowry features prominently in this part of the timeline.

The easiest way to sum up DeRozan’s growth is that he went from a slasher and dunker to the centrepiece of a deal for 2019 Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. DeRozan shares everything about those days leading up to the trade and the emotions that came with eventually being dealt. It speaks volumes of who he is as a person that, despite his conflicting feelings, he texted people like Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and Pascal Siakam when the Raptors secured the title.

Beyond his time in Toronto, it was cool to read the way his relationship with Gregg Popovich evolved and him learning the “Spurs Way.” DeRozan also shared some interesting tidbits on his relationship with his idol Kobe Bryant right from the time he first met him until his passing. There’s also a bit of room made for his daughter Diar wrecking the Raptors at the free-throw line during the Play-In game against Chicago.

With Vince Carter set to see his name go up in the rafters on Nov. 2 against DeRozan’s Kings (I’ve already put together my thoughts on Carter as a Hall-of-Famer), it’s hard not to think of what DeRozan’s day would look like. The ovation when he made his first return to Toronto was absolutely spectacular and nothing less than he deserved.

In one way, it’s a bit strange to read a memoir about an athlete before their career is over. There’s a part of you that feels like the story isn’t over, what about the Sacramento Kings chapter of DeMar DeRozan’s career and whatever else may follow?

In perhaps the more important way, DeRozan’s voice has become steadily louder ever since becoming an inadvertent mental health advocate when he first tweeted about his struggles with depression. His journey from boyhood to a man of special depth and strength is as prevalent now as it’s ever going to be, and especially on the 30th anniversary of the Toronto Raptors, his story on helping orchestrate the most successful era in franchise history is perfectly timed.