DeMar DeRozan may not be as good or as flashy as some of the NBA’s highest-tier superstars, but his impact on the Bulls this season has been unmistakable.
With a certain skillset and swagger to his game, DeRozan has been a key player for the team all season long and he proved that again on Sunday.
Against the Lakers, he dropped 38 points, which included going 7-of-11 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.
“He doesn’t get rattled,” Donovan said, via ‘670 The Score.’ “I think he’s been in so many of these moments throughout his life in his career, I think things slow down for him. I think he knows exactly what he has to get done, what needs to get done. And then he finds ways to stay totally locked in. It’s really an incredible gift that he has and I’m sure it’s something he’s worked on over the years that he’s developed. But I think there’s a real calmness there. The ball is in his hands, and you know what? He’s going to make the right play. He’s going to get to his spot, and he’s going to generate a good shot for himself or he’s going to find the open man. That’s the way he plays.”
DeRozan, 32, is having one of the best seasons of his career. With averages of 26.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game on 49% shooting, it’s clear he plays a prominent role for his squad and it often puts him in situations where he’s the one being called on to lead with the game on the line.
“I love it,” DeRozan said. “I love it. Just growing up as a kid and having that imagination, trying to recreate your favorite players’ moments, for me, it’s big. It’s an honor to be trusted in those moments. I never take it for granted. It’s an adrenaline rush that you can’t duplicated. So you try to make the most of it every time you’re put in that position. So for me, I love it. There’s nothing like it. It’s fun. You got to take the good with the bad, and I’m willing to take both.”
Best of all, the Bulls are thriving for the first time in years, They’re 18-10, 2nd in the East, and are among the biggest threats to the Nets superteam in Brooklyn.
Even if the Bulls don’t win it this season, they have a solid foundation to build from and it should keep them competitive for a long time.
