To date, 17 active players have played at least 15 seasons in the league. Among them, we find DeMar DeRozanalways so happy at the idea of being able to live from his passion and play at this level, at this stage of his career…
“ It’s incredible, just thinking about the longevity, being able to play for so long, still loving the game, still having the motivation, the passion, all that… “, welcomes thus the winger of Bulls. “ I don’t look at it and think that I feel old, but rather it’s a blessing to continue playing. »
As he approaches his 15th year in the NBA, does DeMar DeRozan have a clear memory of his very first career game, played on October 28, 2009 against the Cavaliers of LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal (8 points , 5 rebounds and victory)?
“I couldn’t believe I was playing against Shaq”
“ I was terrified, no lie “, he recalls. “ I’ll never forget it: I walked onto the floor and I really felt like I was in a dream. I remember walking on the field and I couldn’t believe I was playing against Shaq. As a kid from Los Angeles, I watched Shaq my whole life, so to be able to share the court with him, it was surreal, it was a dream come true. I even think I managed to block his shot that evening [dans le premier quart-temps, ndlr] ! Anyway, I remember being terrified, I couldn’t believe it had come to this. »
Fourteen years later, DeMar DeRozan has established himself among the best forwards of his generation, in Toronto, San Antonio and now Chicago. In Illinois, he will remain one of the leaders of the franchise alongside Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic, for what will constitute a pivotal season.
An extension coming soon?
The Bulls’ 2023/24 adventure will begin against the Thunder next night, and this inaugural match should serve to lay the foundations for an exercise that they hope to succeed collectively.
“ It’s always exciting, it’s the first day of the journey that we are about to experience: there will be ups, downs, good times, bad times, disappointments, victories, defeats, lessons… », Lists the one who could shortly extend to Chicago. “ We must show resilience, we must not show bad body language when a quarter or an action does not go our way. We have to be one of those resilient teams both home and away. »
| DeMar DeRozan | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | 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 |
| Total | 1031 | 34 | 46.8 | 29.1 | 84.0 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 21.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
