The NBA player’s use of a different religious term in a post left fans confused and fueled curiosity about DeMar DeRozan’s religion and beliefs.
DeMar allegedly follows a different religion despite growing up in an American country where Christianity is predominantly practiced.
Rarely active on Instagram, basketball shooting guard DeRozan sparked speculation about a change in religion after he randomly used a Muslim greeting term.
DeMar DeRozan, born to Frank DeRozan and Diane DeRozan on August 7, 1989, is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the NBA.
Attending Compton High School, DeRozan earned recognition as one of the top college recruits in the nation from the class of 2008.
On the court in his senior year, DeRozan’s achievements led to him receiving first-team Parade All-American honors and First-Team Best in the West honors.
In November 2007, DeRozan committed to play at USC over Arizona State and North Carolina.
During his professional years, he showcased his talent with teams such as the Toronto Raptors and the San Antonio Spurs, emerging as an NBA rising star.
Since 2021, he has been playing for the Bulls after the team acquired him in a sign-and-trade deal.
DeMar DeRozan Religion
DeRozan comes from an African-American ethnic background, and his family practiced Christianity.
However, it appears that DeMar DeRozan has embraced Islam, aligning with its teachings on hard work and discipline.
Media and fans first learned about DeMar being a Muslim from his Instagram post, where he captioned it with “As-salamu Alaykum.”
This triggered a compelling discourse on whether the NBA star had embraced Islam.
Muslims commonly use the greeting “As-salamu alaykum,” which translates to “Peace be upon you” in English. It’s a traditional way to wish peace and blessings.
Following his update, many Muslim fans expressed respect by greeting him back, while some were baffled about his decision.
However, the post has since been deleted, and DeMar has yet to address this issue publicly.
DeRozan Family: Parents, Siblings And Marriage
When he was little, DeRozan’s mother, Diane, was diagnosed with lupus. Following this, the NBA star actively contributes to raising awareness and educating Canadians about lupus.
DeRozan shared a very friendly bond with his father. While playing in the NBA, he regularly flew between states to be with his father.
Unfortunately, he lost his father in 2021 after a prolonged battle with several health issues.
Besides his parents, DeMar has an elder brother, Jermaine DeRozan, who has been coaching youngsters in LA for more than 10 years.
Moreover, DeMar DeRozan is a family man. He is married to his long-term girlfriend, Kiara Morrison, who is the daughter of NBA player Keith Morrison.
Their initial meeting was in 2009 during the hooper’s only season at the University of Southern California.
DeMar and his wife, Kiara, are proud parents of their four daughters. Their first child, Diar, was born on May 13, 2013, followed by their second child, Mari, in 2016. In contrast, the names of the other two daughters remain unknown.
In 2023, Diar garnered national attention for consistently shrieking during free throws in the Bulls’ play-in tournament game against the Raptors.