The podcast “Podcast P with Paul George” was the scene of a meeting between two of the most coveted free agents of the summer. Big catch by the Sixers, Paul George has indeed welcomed DeMar DeRozanwho for his part opted for Sacramento after three difficult seasons in Chicago on a collective level.
The opportunity to revisit the thought process that led to DeMar DeRozan's choice to return to his native California, but not to join Los Angeles. The former Raptors' iconic player actually favored the Kings in order to give himself a chance to join a competitive squad that will be a force to be reckoned with in the West next season, in a conference that is still as tough. He also confided that he took his time, to be sure to make the right decision… and to see what Paul George, the other most-watched free agent of the summer, would do.
“I had to wait to find out what you were going to do first!” he launched. “I was just looking for an opportunity to win at the highest level, wherever that might be. Coming out of last season, that was kind of my approach going into this upcoming season. Everyone knew I just wanted a place where I could win.”
A question of dynamics
In the end, it was Sacramento who proved to be the most convincing and who won the big prize. Thanks to the quality of its squad but also by the momentum propelled since the arrival of Mike Brown, elected Coach Of The Year after putting an end to a series of 16 seasons without the playoffs.
“Sacramento came in and showed interest. So I took a step back and looked at all that, analyzed the team, great players, great coach. And then I remembered the games there the last few years, with that 'Light The Beam' thing, the wins and everything.”added DeMar DeRozan. “There’s definitely something going on, and that’s definitely the kind of thing you want to be a part of, a franchise that really wants to win. I looked at all of that, and I felt like it was a good fit. It was really a key piece, and I felt like I could bring a leadership perspective, a quality that could take us to the next level. I took my time signing because I wanted to make sure that the next move I made was one that gave me the best chance to win. I’m really looking forward to it.”
DeMar DeRozan thought about the Clippers, the Heat…
Paul George managed to unearth a little exclusive when he asked him what other teams DeMar DeRozan had in his sights. We find Philadelphia, Paul George's choice, undoubtedly with the same aim, namely to get involved in the fight for the title in a team on the rise, but also the Clippers, where DeMar DeRozan could have taken on the role of PG's successor… What a small world!
“I thought about Philly. Philly was definitely an option. The Lakers were an option, as always, the Clippers were an option. And then there was the Heat. Those were the teams that were real options for me, that I could consider.”
| DeMar DeRozan | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2009-10 | TOR | 77 | 22 | 49.8 | 25.0 | 76.3 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 8.6 |
| 2010-11 | TOR | 82 | 35 | 46.7 | 9.6 | 81.3 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 17.2 |
| 2011-12 | TOR | 63 | 35 | 42.2 | 26.1 | 81.0 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 16.7 |
| 2012-13 | TOR | 82 | 37 | 44.5 | 28.3 | 83.1 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 18.1 |
| 2013-14 | TOR | 79 | 38 | 42.9 | 30.5 | 82.4 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 22.7 |
| 2014-15 | TOR | 60 | 35 | 41.3 | 28.4 | 83.2 | 0.7 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 20.1 |
| 2015-16 | TOR | 78 | 36 | 44.6 | 33.8 | 85.0 | 0.8 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 23.5 |
| 2016-17 | TOR | 74 | 35 | 46.7 | 26.6 | 84.2 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 5.2 | 3.9 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 27.3 |
| 2017-18 | TOR | 80 | 34 | 45.6 | 31.0 | 82.5 | 0.7 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 5.2 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 23.0 |
| 2018-19 | SAN | 77 | 35 | 48.1 | 15.6 | 83.0 | 0.7 | 5.3 | 6.0 | 6.2 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 21.2 |
| 2019-20 | SAN | 68 | 34 | 53.1 | 25.7 | 84.5 | 0.7 | 4.9 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 22.1 |
| 2020-21 | SAN | 61 | 34 | 49.5 | 25.7 | 88.0 | 0.7 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 6.9 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 21.6 |
| 2021-22 | CHI | 76 | 36 | 50.4 | 35.2 | 87.7 | 0.7 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 27.9 |
| 2022-23 | CHI | 74 | 36 | 50.4 | 32.4 | 87.2 | 0.5 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 5.1 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 24.5 |
| 2023-24 | CHI | 79 | 38 | 48.0 | 33.3 | 85.3 | 0.5 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 5.3 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 24.0 |
| Total | 1110 | 35 | 46.9 | 29.6 | 84.1 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 21.3 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
