NBA

Shout it out: Daughter of ex-Raptors player DeRozan goes viral in Toronto play-in loss

The 9-year-old daughter of Chicago guard DeMar DeRozan stole the show at the play-in tournament on Wednesday night with shrieks from the stands that went viral and quite possibly played a role in helping the Bulls defeat the Toronto Raptors 109-105 in an Eastern Conference elimination game.

9-year-old daughter of Chicago guard steals the show at play-in tournament

A basketball player is seen about to hug a teammate in celebration.
Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan (11) celebrates with teammate Zach LaVine after helping Chicago defeat the Raptors 109-105 in Toronto on Wednesday in a play-in game. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)

Diar DeRozan wanted to skip a day of school. Her father grudgingly went along with the plan.

Turns out, the decision was worth shouting about.

The 9-year-old daughter of Chicago guard DeMar DeRozan stole the show at the play-in tournament on Wednesday night with shrieks from the stands that went viral and quite possibly played a role in helping the Bulls defeat the Toronto Raptors 109-105 in an Eastern Conference elimination game.

Her ear-splitting shouts would come when the Raptors — her dad's former team — were shooting free throws, and they were loud enough to even become a conversation point during the ESPN broadcast of the game. The Raptors finished 18 of 36 from the line in their season-ending loss.

"My daughter called me the other day when she was getting out of school and she just said, `Dad, can I come to the Toronto game?"' DeRozan said. "I remember her going to all the Toronto games when she was a kid and I almost said no because she's in school back home. But she kept asking. She was just adamant about coming to support and I said, `All right, you can miss one day of school and come to a game.'

"I'm glad I did," DeRozan said. "I owe her some money for sure."

WATCH l #TheMoment DeMar DeRozan's daughter screamed at every Raptors free throw:

#TheMoment DeMar DeRozan's daughter screamed at the Raptors

2 years ago
Duration 1:33
Former Raptor DeMar DeRozan's daughter stole the show at the team’s final game of the season with her hilarious screams. The nine-year-old’s ear-splitting shrieks came when the Raptors were shooting free throws. #TheMoment

The 18-for-36 showing was Toronto's worst of the season from the foul line.

"Not a great free throw night for us in general," Toronto's Pascal Siakam said.

The Bulls advanced to face Miami on Friday night in a win-or-go-home game, with a chance to make the playoffs and face No. 1 Milwaukee in Round 1 of the East playoffs starting Sunday.

Good news for the Heat: Diar's dad said she isn't going to Miami.

"No," DeRozan said. "She's got to go back to school."

WATCH l VanVleet hits buzzer-beater 3-pointer from half-court:

Raptors' VanVleet hits buzzer-beater from half-court against Bulls

2 years ago
Duration 0:43
With the first half about to expire, Fred VanVleet hits a 3-point shot from half-court during Toronto's play-in tournament game against Chicago.

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