LeBron James is one of the greatest players to ever play the game, and many realize this. But it does not stop opponents from attempting to have a better outing than him.
Chicago Bulls DeMar DeRozan was successful last night, as he led his team with 38 points en route to a 115-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at United Center. Both teams were grossly understaffed last night due to injuries and covid-19, but the Bulls were victorious for the second time this season.
Despite winning the duel against LeBron, DeRozan shared his admiration and respect for the four-time NBA champ. According to Bulls insider K.C. Johnson, DeRozan said:
DeRozan on all his battles with LeBron: "He knows it. I’ve said it over and over. I got the utmost respect for LeBron. It’s definitely one of those situations that when I’m older I can say I played against that guy."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 20, 2021
“He knows it. I’ve said it over and over. I got the utmost respect for LeBron. It’s definitely one of those situations that when I’m older I can say I played against that guy.”
DeRozan has played against LeBron severally, especially during his time with the Toronto Raptors. LeBron dominated the Raptors in three consecutive postseasons with a 12-2 record, leading to the start of the monicker “LeBronto.”
Looking back at all that, this win over LeBron will mean a lot to DeRozan. The first time the Bulls defeated the Lakers, LeBron was not in the squad, but the Bulls made sure that the outcome was the same this time around.
The Bulls veteran forward has been the best player in the fourth quarter in the league this season. Despite the loss, Lakers Carmelo Anthony heaped praise on DeRozan, commending him for mastering the midrange game.
With the win, the Bulls now have an 18-10 record and maintain their second position on the Eastern Conference standings. The Bulls have completed the series sweep and will not be facing the Lakers in the regular season. The only chance of seeing a matchup between DeRozan and LeBron this season is if both teams reach the 2022 NBA Finals.
