In October, DeMar DeRozan will kick off his 15th season in the NBA. Over his fourteen-year career, DeRozan has made three All-NBA Teams, six All-Star games, and seven playoffs. He also sits comfortably as one of the top-50 players all time in points scored. And by the looks of it, he’s not done yet. What will become of DeMar DeRozan’s legacy and what can he do to maximize the rest of his NBA career?
DeMar DeRozan’s Legacy and What His Future May Hold
DeRozan came into the NBA in 2009 with a Michael Jordan-esque skillset that improved with every season that he played. He went from averaging 8.6 points his rookie year steadily up to 22.7 points his fifth year. In the 2016-17 season, DeRozan had a career year, averaging 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. For five straight seasons, Toronto was consistently one of the best teams in the East, with DeRozan at the forefront.
The Three-Point Revolution
Toronto selected DeRozan just two picks after Stephen Curry in the 2009 NBA Draft. In just a handful of years after, the NBA would see a drastic shift in the game’s style and pace. Thanks to the greatness of Curry and the Warriors’ offense, the three-point revolution swept over the NBA. When DeRozan and Curry entered the NBA in 2009, the league average of three-pointers attempted per game was 18.1. Last season, the league average was 34.2.
DeRozan falls into the category of players who have struggled to adapt to the three-point-heavy game. Historically, DeMar is one of the best midrange shooters of all time. He remains a productive scorer despite not having a consistent three-point shot. Drop him in the 80s or 90s and he would most likely be an unstoppable force.
But what if he had progressed with the times and become a true three-level scorer? I can’t help but think his career would be completely different. Look at Kevin Durant, for example. When you talk about elite three-level scorers, Durant is at the top of the list. And he’s won at the highest level. Despite some controversy surrounding his career, he’ll go down as an all-time great and a bona fide winner. The lack of a consistent three-pointer may end up as one of the primary reasons for a lower ceiling on DeMar DeRozan’s legacy.
The LeBronto Years
DeRozan and the Raptors were consistently a formidable force in the East from 2014-2018. DeRozan and his running mate, Kyle Lowry, even led Toronto to the top seed in the East in 2018. However, for most of that run, the Raptors had one thing in their way of that coveted championship: LeBron James.
The Raptors faced and lost to James’ Cavaliers in three straight playoffs from 2016 to 2018. No matter how well-constructed DeRozan’s team was or how much his game advanced, getting past LeBron wasn’t happening.
Many believe if LeBron hadn’t been around, DeRozan would’ve led Toronto to the Finals at least once during that era. Unfortunately, in the same offseason that LeBron left the East, Toronto made a blockbuster trade for Kawhi Leonard, sending DeRozan to San Antonio in return. The very next season, the Raptors were NBA Champions, but without their longtime star player.
San Antonio and Chicago
DeMar would play three years in San Antonio, only making the playoffs once and losing in Round 1. However, during this time, DeRozan became a more efficient scorer, rebounder, and playmaker. He shot the best field goal percentage and averaged the most rebounds and assists in his career. DeRozan became a more all-around player as a Spur, and it paid immediate dividends when he made his way to Chicago in the 2021 offseason.
In his first season in Chicago, DeRozan had arguably the best year of his career, averaging nearly 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. While he still wasn’t a consistent three-point shooter (only averaging 1.9 attempts this season), he still shot a decent 35% from deep and 50% from the field. The Bulls went on several winning streaks and were often saved by clutch game-winners from DeMar. At season’s end, DeRozan was selected to be an All-Star and to the All-NBA second team. The Bulls spent several weeks at the top of the East but ultimately ended the season as the sixth seed.
Next to his running mates Zach Lavine and Nikola Vucevic, DeRozan led Chicago to the 2022 playoffs, eventually losing to Milwaukee in Round 1.
Last season, DeRozan saw a dip in his stats in a disappointing year for the Bulls. Chicago finished in 10th place in the East, losing in the play-in tournament to the Miami Heat.
Making the Most Out of His Career’s Twilight
At 34 years old and on the last year of his deal with Chicago, DeRozan faces some big decisions. An extension is a likely possibility, but would remaining in Chicago be the best way to ensure late-career success? Or should he join a contending team in need of a dependable veteran scorer? We’ve seen players like Ray Allen and Jason Kidd go from being primary options to supporting roles on championship teams and rewrite the narrative of their careers.
Staying in Chicago
In the first option, DeRozan would undoubtedly be “the guy” in Chicago for at least one or two more years, or until Zach Lavine goes to another level offensively. DeRozan hasn’t slowed down enough to where he couldn’t be the best player on a middling team. But as of right now, that’s what Chicago looks like they will be: a team destined to compete for a low playoff seed at best. The current talent around DeRozan isn’t enough for him to propel the team further than that.
Chasing the Ring
If DeMar were to sign with a contending team, like the Memphis Grizzlies or either of the teams in Los Angeles, he could have a real shot at putting a championship ring on his finger. Teams like the Grizzlies, Clippers, and Lakers with established defensive presence and reliable three-point shooters would be the perfect fit for DeRozan, who would thrive in a role where all he’s asked to do is score. A wing-trio of Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and DeMar DeRozan sounds like an offensive and defensive nightmare for an opposing team.
DeRozan’s still a productive enough scorer to demand the attention of the best defenders on the opposing team. Putting him on a team with players who complement his weaknesses as a three-point shooter and defender could be the key to success for DeRozan and his team.
The lack of a three-point shot and constant threat of LeBron in the East may leave an asterisk on DeMar DeRozan’s legacy. But his career’s not over yet, and there’s still hope for a rewriting of the narrative. Regardless of what happens, DeRozan should go down as one of the game’s most exciting clutch players and gifted scorers.
