DeMar DeRozan is a throwback type of player. In an era dominated by the three-pointer, the six-time All-Star wingman has stayed true to what he knows best, which is dominating inside the arc. Whether pulling up for midrange jumpers or slashing down the lane for a powerful dunk, Deebo has made a career out of getting buckets from areas where he's most comfortable and eschewing the development of his three-point shot.
In a conversation with fellow All-Star and close friend Paul George, DeMar shared how he took inspiration from Michael Jordan 's game late in his career. Despite being nearly 40 years old when he played for the Washington Wizards in his final two seasons in the league, "His Airness" was still an assassin, relying on his mastery of the midrange game to lead his team in scoring.
DeRozan has followed suit, refusing to conform to the modern NBA's love affair with the three-point shot and instead perfecting his craft in the midrange.
DeMar says MJ was remarkable even at 40
Many were skeptical when MJ announced he was returning to the NBA for the third time in 2001. But as always, Jordan proved the doubters wrong and showed that age is just a number when it comes to talent and skill.
Mike averaged 21.2 points per game in his final two seasons, shooting over 44 percent from the field. And most impressively, he did this without relying heavily on his athleticism. Instead, Jordan relied on his footwork, body control, and deadly midrange jumper to dominate opponents.
DeRozan has noted this and has also made the midrange game a cornerstone of his offensive arsenal. While many teams in today's NBA are focused on shooting threes at an unprecedented rate, the Compton native has stayed true to his strengths.
"If you sit and just watch Wizards Jordan and see how incredible he was from 38 to 40 years old, the way he scored the ball, the way he was able to create his shots from the post, from the elbow, off one dribble, off two dribbles, stop, pull up. How physical he was in the post, how he was able to create contact and still get to the basket," Deebo told PG.
At the height of his powers, Jordan overpowered defenders with his unique blend of skill, strength, and athleticism. He often bullied opponents in the post or soared over them for acrobatic layups and dunks. However, as Father Time took its toll on "Air Jordan's" body, he relied more on his footwork, shooting touch, and overall basketball IQ to continue dominating the game.
"He wasn't athletic like he was, but still being able to, you know, finish over guys. It was so incredible because it was such a master of art, how simple he just made the game. It's just playing off jab steps, pump fakes," the three-time All-NBA Team member gushed.
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A unicorn in a league filled with Broncos
DeRozan attacked the rim aggressively during his younger days, finishing with thunderous slam dunks or acrobatic layups. However, as he gained more experience in the league, he realized the need to refine his game if he wanted to play for a long time. During that time, he stumbled upon footage of MJ's games with the Wizards.
"I used to watch every bit of Wizards Jordan because it was like, if he doing this at this age, let me figure out how to master these things that he doing because you don't see everybody doing it. Everybody want to do the dribble, dribble, dribble, dribble, double step back, all that," he stated.
"And it's like, nah, let me make the game simple and kill these spots and angles, and using my body on the fadeaways, either shoulder. So that's one thing that I took from Wizards Mike because he was incredible. If you really watch him, he was incredible, man, on a bad knee," DeRozan continued.
While style points give you plenty of clout among fans, the game's ultimate goal is to put the ball inside the basket and score points for your team. DeMar continues to be elite in this regard, employing the lessons he learned from watching and studying greats like Mr. Air.
Related: "I ain't get the ball no more. Coach call every play for bro" - Teague talks about how DeRozan stole his thunder in ABCD camp
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