DeMar DeRozan played three seasons for the Chicago Bulls, posting averages of 25.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists on 49.6 percent shooting from the field. He was a constant, reliable, All-Star-level presence in the lineup.
DeRozan did make two All-Star teams in Chicago and was a member of the All-NBA Second Team in his first season with the franchise. He played 76, 74 and 79 games across his three seasons. He revived his career in The Windy City after watching it fade during his time with the San Antonio Spurs.
As Chicago began to transition from a (delusional) championship hopeful to a younger roster, DeRozan was let go and traded to the Sacramento Kings in a three-way deal that landed the Bulls Chris Duarte and a pair of second-round picks.
Even at 35 years old, the Compton, Calif. native has been productive and steady for the Kings just as he was for the Bulls—productive enough that he recently put himself among the elite scorers in NBA history.
Former Bull DeMar DeRozan scores 25,000 points in fitting fashion
DeRozan has started 64 games this season for the Kings, playing nearly 36 minutes per contest. He’s averaging 22.2 points on 48.6 percent shooting from the field. Those numbers are still better than his career averages even as he plays in his 16th NBA campaign.
On March 20, the USC alum became the 27th player in league history to score 25,000 points.
Fittingly, the bucket came on a turnaround fadeaway. From the mid-range. Against the Bulls. In a loss. It came during a contest in which DeRozan’s consistency was partnered with teammate Zach LaVine’s inefficient scoring performance.
It came in a game in which Coby White, Chicago’s chosen replacement for DeRozan and LaVine, scored a game-high 35 points to help spearhead another second-half comeback for the Bulls.
