DeRozan: Kobe 'mad as a motherf-----' after I didn't wear his shoes vs. Lakers

Warning: Story and video contains coarse language

San Antonio Spurs forward DeMar DeRozan grew up in Compton, California, idolizing the late Kobe Bryant, and he regularly wore the Los Angeles Lakers legend's shoes during NBA games.

But DeRozan made a point of wearing different kicks whenever he squared off against Bryant.

The five-time NBA champ once took notice and made his feelings known to DeRozan, who was a member of the Toronto Raptors at the time.

"This one game we (were) playing the Lakers in Toronto, I said, 'Fuck that. He ain't about to kill us and I've got his shoes on,' and I'm guarding him, right?" DeRozan told former NBAer Nate Robinson during an Instagram Live session with Nice Kicks. "So I wear some Jordan 10s. As soon as he walked on the court, he was mad as a motherfucker."

DeRozan frequently played basketball with Bryant during the summer when the former was in high school, and they developed a close relationship as DeRozan's career progressed.