NBA: DeRozan didn't speak 'a word' to Lowry in first season

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Toronto, January 9: DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry form a dynamic partnership in the Toronto Raptors' backcourt, both earning All-Star nods the last two seasons, but it was not always easy sledding for the two guards.

Speaking on ESPN Insider Adrian Wojnarowski's podcast, DeRozan said his first year with Lowry in Toronto was a quiet one.

"My first year with Kyle, [we] didn't say a word to one another," DeRozan said. "We didn't speak. We didn't have a conversation. We didn't hang out. We didn't go eat. We didn't sit next to each other. I didn't have his phone number."

DeRozan, who has spent his entire career with the Raptors, and Lowry have been together since the 2012-13 season.

Their relationship improved so much from season one to two together that DeRozan said he almost asked for a trade when it looked like Lowry might be dealt in 2013-14.

"If you get traded, I'm going to ask for a trade too," DeRozan said he told Lowry.

"That whole season, the edge that we were playing with was incredible. It made it fun. It was a moment of us really standing tall and really fighting through all the adversity."

Source: OPTA