NBA star DeMar DeRozan reportedly involved in physical altercation at California sushi spot

Sacramento Kings’ DeMar DeRozan was involved in a physical fight in a restaurant in Calabasas on April 18.

As per TMZ, eyewitnesses reported that NBA’s DeRozan was dining at Yume Sushi on Friday night when a man approached him and shone his phone’s torchlight into the basketball player’s face. According to the report, DeRozan then flung the man’s phone out of his hand, following which he got into the alleged altercation with the man.

TMZ also released a small clip of the altercation, in which a man was seen on the floor with DeRozan being held away by another individual. The man involved in the altercation with DeRozan can be seen getting up and demanding the NBA star hand over his phone, while a woman who was accompanying DeRozan is seen holding the two apart. DeRozan eventually headed to another area of the restaurant. TMZ reported that the unidentified man was taken into an ambulance after the fight.

The police are investigating the matter, as per People magazine.

The man involved in a fight with DeMar DeRozan responded to the encounter

Sports Illustrated identified the man involved in the altercation with DeMar DeRozan as Denzel Kismayoo, a fan of the athlete.

Kismayoo posted his version of the incident on X. He wrote:

“I just Get Attacked & Body Slapped By DeMar DeRozan : Don’t Meet Your Hero’s Kids”

Kismayoo had also posted a video documenting the encounter. He could be seen approaching DeRozan who looked shocked to be suddenly confronted with a camera. DeRozan is seen saying:

"Come on, man, don’t walk up on me”

The phone appeared to be knocked out of Kismayo’s hand, after which the screen goes black. After a cut, Kismayoo is seen in an ambulance where he is accompanied by another individual who appears to be a paramedic. The clip ends when Kismayoo enters what appears to be a hospital.

As of the publishing of this article, DeRozan hasn’t spoken out publicly about the incident.

DeMar DeRozan's mental health advocacy

Outside of the basktball court, DeMar DeRozan has been involved in mental health advocacy. Previously, DeRozan, has been an outspoken advocate for seeking help for mental health issues, and has been open about his own struggles with depression.

In 2018, Andscape reported that the Kings’ forward along with fellow basketball star, Kevin Love, appeared in a public service announcement released by NBA, spreading awareness about mental health and encouraging people to not let stigma stop them from asking for help. In the campaign, DeRozan said:

"Never be ashamed of wanting to be a better you, period.”

As per My San Antonio, DeRozan spoke about the stigma associated with mental health in another tweet. The athlete wrote:

“There should be zero shame or stigma for anyone working to make their mental health a priority.”

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The NBA star has also written a memoir, Above the Noise My Story of Chasing Calm, which tells the story of his childhood and chronicles his struggles with depression.

Presently, DeRozan runs a conversation series around mental health, called Dinners With DeMar, where he invites guests to share insights. He had recently invited his first female guest, Malika Andrews, an ESPN journalist.

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