If there's going to be the lowest-key player among all the NBA superstars, it's DeMar DeRozan. If it weren't for the recent Chicago Bulls' record, I am afraid that many fans would not have thought of this team, let alone DeMar DeRozan in this team.
If you open DeRozan's resume, you'll see that his resume isn't all that appealing. In 2009, he entered the league with superstars such as Blake Griffin, Stephen Curry, James Harden, etc., but the first three players were in front of him, Griffin was picked by the Clippers with a title, and formed a league-wide empty city with players such as Chris Paul and Jordan Jr.; Stephen Curry has won 3 NBA championships so far and has become the absolute core of the Golden State Warriors; James Harden has joined Durant after entering the league. The Thunder Three Youngsters, composed of Wei Shao, also achieved a good story in the alliance. And only DeRozan, who has been obscure.
Throughout his career, two All-Team Players, four All-Stars, and three Player of the Month and 11 Player of the Week honors are enough to prove that DeRozan is a very good basketball player. However, in his 12-year career, he has never touched that trophy, the championship trophy that best proves the color of the stars.
During the Raptors era, the Raptors he led had a very good record in the regular season, but in the playoffs, the Cavaliers led by LeBron James were always helpless. Doubts have risen since then, and in the summer of 2018, a big deal sent him to the San Antonio Spurs, and coincidentally, the Raptors won the championship that season. One might say that deRozan would have led the team to the championship even without the deal, but who remembers so much, and people will always remember Leonard, the hero who led the Raptors to the championship, not DeMar DeRozan, who never led the Raptors out of the East.
In his three seasons with the Spurs, he played in 206 games for the team, averaging 21.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, but the team only made the playoffs once. Perhaps it was dissatisfaction with the team's record, or perhaps it was the pursuit of the championship, DeRozan chose to come to Chicago in the offseason, where there is a group of young players, full of energy. In the 11 games so far this season, DeRozan has averaged 35 minutes per game, can contribute 26 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists, shooting 48.8% from the field and 34.6% from three-point range, it can be said that after coming to Chicago, his data has improved, DeRozan not only integrates into his new lineup almost perfectly in offense, but he has also become the best player for the Bulls this season. Before the season began, he was angry with people who questioned whether he was a good fit for Chicago, and now he's using his strength to break everyone's doubts.
"I've known from the moment I came here that everyone in the team has that responsibility and doesn't give up lightly, that's why I'm here, and I feel that in my conversations with management. I'm aware of that, I understand that, as a competitor, that's what I want to be a part of. Teammates have the same mentality, so for me, it's more than words can describe. Everyone is willing to put it into action, understanding that nothing is perfect, but everyone wants to win. ”
DeMar DeRozan is working wonders with a group of underprivileged youth. Zach Lavin, 26, was named an All-Star and hasn't made a splash in the playoffs; Nikola Vucevic, a two-time All-Star who spent most of his 10-year career with the mediocre Orlando Magic; Lonzo Ball, recently the No. 2 no. 2 show, has played for a third team since 2019. It's one such team that has a record of 8 wins and 3 losses in 11 games, tied for first place in the East alongside the Washington Wizards.
DeRozan was never an MVP, but he's been improving, working his own system and sticking to his stuff in the NBA. He has ambitions to climb upwards, but he is not disgusted with failure, he always insists on his middle distance, and finally wins the respect of the world.