DeMar DeRozan, 32, is an American professional basketball player for the NBA’s Chicago Bulls. He played college basketball for the University of South Carolina and entered the 2009 NBA draft. The guard was picked 9th overall by the Toronto Raptors. DeMar spent nine seasons with the Raptors before heading west to play for the San Antonio Spurs. DeRozan had been playing there since 2018 and averaged 21.6 points,4.2 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game last season. A 4-time All-Star, DeRoZan recently signed a 3-year $85 million contract with legendary franchise Chicago Bulls as a free agent.
Toronto Raptors: The DeMar DeRozan Legacy
DeMar DeRozan signed his rookie scale contract with the Toronto Raptors on July 9, 2009. He participated in the 2010 Dunk Contest but lost to 3-time champ Nate Robinson in the finals round. No one knew that a rookie in 2009 would go on to leave a legacy in Toronto.
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DeRozan was also selected in the 2011 Dunk Contest to replace Brandon Jennings as the latter was injured and finished 3rd. He scored a then-career-high of 37 points against the Houston Rockets on 31st December 2010.
DeRozan had a breakout season in 2013-14, averaging career-highs of 22.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists. The Raptors had a 48–34 record and a third-seed finish in the Eastern Conference under DeRozan’s leadership. He became the first Raptor to score 30 points in back-to-back playoffs games against the Brooklyn Nets that year since Vince Carter. He was also selected as an All-Star reserve for the first time in his career.
All-Star Success
Early in the 2014-15 season, DeMar DeRozan was ruled out indefinitely on November 29, 2014, with a torn left adductor longus injury. He scored 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting in a 100–84 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in his return game. Two months later, he scored a career-high 42 points in a 99–96 win over the Houston Rockets. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for April, joining Kyle Lowry and Chris Bosh as the only players in team history to do so.
DeMar earned his spot on as an All-Star reserve for the second time this season. For January, DeRozan, and teammate Kyle Lowry were selected as co-winners for Eastern Conference Player of the Month. The duo recorded a franchise-record 11-game win streak. The Raptors recorded a 56–26 regular season as the second seed in the Eastern Conference. DeRozan had multiple 30-point games in rounds one and two of the playoffs and led the Raptors to the Conference finals. However, the Raptors faced a 4-2 defeat against LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in the finals.
DeMar DeRozan's career-high 43 PTS led the @Raptors to a big W. He earns the #SAPStatLineOfTheNight pic.twitter.com/DfQACWyx9p
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) February 25, 2017
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Final seasons with the Raptors
DeMar DeRozan re-signed with the Raptors to a five-year, $139 million contract. DeRozan scored 36 against Houston on 8th January 2017, setting a career-high 18th 30-plus-point game of the season. He became a starter for the 2017 All-Star game for the first time in his career. The Raptors made it to the playoffs as a 3rd seed. DeRozan scored 32 in his first-round playoffs winning against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Cavs swept the Raptors in the second round of the playoffs.
DeRozan scored a franchise-record 52 points to help the Raptors beat the Bucks on January 1, 2018. He became the 3rd player in Raptors history to have a 50+ point game. He got selected as an All-Star starter for the 2nd consecutive season. DeRozan had two 30-point games in a first-round playoffs win against the Washington Wizards. In the second round, the Raptors got swept by the Cavs for two consecutive seasons.
Masai Ujiri saw that Toronto needed to make a change to win a championship. It was heartbreaking to see DeMar DeRozan leave the Toronto Raptors. He had left behind a legacy for future Raptors and his best friend, Kyle Lowry to carry.
San Antonio Spurs
DeMar DeRozan went to the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard on July 18, 2018. DeMar was upset in the trade as he was not consulted with respect to this matter. The Raptors did this to acquire a strong playoff player and for bigger cap space. In his Spurs debut, he had a 28-point game in a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He scored at least 25 points in 7 of the first 8 games and is only the 2nd player to do so in franchise history. DeMar scored in double figures in all of his first 22 games for the Spurs and was the first to do this since David Robinson. DeRozan recorded his first career triple-double with the Spurs in a win over his former team Toronto Raptors.
I want to take the time to thank the Spurs organization and the fans in San Antonio for embracing me the way that they have over the past 3 seasons. The Spurs lived up to their reputation as one of the classiest organizations in the league during my time with the team… pic.twitter.com/o1hyj7TAZe
— DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan) August 3, 2021
The Bulls trade and future in Chicago
The Bulls officially acquired DeMar DeRozan from the Spurs this off-season via sign-and-trade. DeRozan confirmed his 3-year fully guaranteed $85 million deal with the Bulls. The Bulls also acquired guard Lonzo Ball on a 4-year $85 million deal from the New Orleans Pelicans. Both stars will be joining Chicago’s sensation Zach LaVine in the Bulls starting 5 next season. Based on recent events, it is sure that DeRozan has a bright future with the Bulls.
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