NBA All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan will enter his sixteenth NBA season and his first with the Sacramento Kings.
The Kings will probably be DeRozan’s fourth workforce in his league, and whereas he is had a lot success in his earlier stops, he won’t ever match his play and expertise than when he was with the Toronto Raptors.
DeRozan appeared on the JD Bunkis Podcast on Sportsnet 590 The Fan, and DeRozan was requested if he wish to end his profession as a Raptor. The 35-year-old did not mince any phrases and mentioned it might be a ‘poetic ending.’
Photograph by Mark Blinch/Getty Photographs
“You all the time desire a poetic ending (in) that approach,” he said. “Granted, most individuals do not get to jot down their very own ending. However what a greater ending than having the ability to finish the place you begin. Not simply finish, by simply placing up the jersey. It needs to be in a way of me nonetheless being myself.
“I would not wish to come again and be (Hakeem) Olajuwon (who completed his Corridor of Fame profession as a Raptor for one season with massively diminished numbers). It has to simply make sense. You type of wish to exit such as you got here in. That is what folks type of bear in mind you as.”
The Raptors traded DeRozan in the summertime of 2018 after 9 seasons in Canada. He, together with Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round draft choose, went to the San Antonio Spurs in alternate for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Inexperienced.
He spent the subsequent three seasons in Texas, the place he averaged 21.6 factors per recreation, 5.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.0 steals whereas taking pictures 50.1 p.c from the sector and 22.7 p.c from three over 206 video games.
DeRozan left a legacy in Toronto, and though it has been seven seasons since he was traded, he nonetheless retains Toronto near his coronary heart. As a Raptor, he reached heights no different Raptor has, apart from profitable a title.
DeRozan was the Raptors’ first-round draft choose in 2009, deciding on him with the No. 9 total choose. In 675 video games and 663 begins, DeRozan averaged 19.7 factors per recreation, 4.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.0 steals whereas taking pictures 44.8 p.c from the sector and 28.8 p.c from three.
The six-time All-Star is about to enter the primary yr of his three-year deal price $76.7 million with the Kings. If he desires to finish his profession in Toronto, it’s positively doable, however he will probably be in his age 38 season.
It is unclear how a lot DeRozan has left within the tank, however contemplating his age, it may very well be sooner fairly than later.
Extra information: DeMar DeRozan Reveals Lakers Chose Russell Westbrook Over Him in 2021 Offseason
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