As veteran wingman DeMar DeRozan turns the page of his career to another chapter, this time with the Sacramento Kings, he fondly looked back on his three-season stint with the Chicago Bulls . The 15-year pro said he's grateful for the opportunity to revitalize his career in Chicago after spending three lethargic years with the San Antonio Spurs, where he missed the postseason in two straight seasons.
A resurgence in Chicago
The Bulls are undoubtedly one of the league's most glamorous franchises, thanks in large part to the efforts of the GOAT Michael Jordan, who won six NBA titles and elevated Chicago's profile to global heights. And so, as the former USC Trojan landed in the Windy City in a trade with the Spurs in August 2021, it didn't take long for him to feel the energy of a city longing for the Bulls to return to elite status.
"It definitely was a resurgence because, you know, playing in San Antonio, not that big of a market, I think it was just a complete down year for the world during my three years there. With the pandemic, going to the bubble, playing with no fans—it was a lot that went on during those three years in San Antonio," Deebo said on an episode of "Podcast P."
Playing with renewed vigor, the 6-foot-7 wingman almost instantly developed on-court chemistry with Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic to help the Bulls contend for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
"So going to Chicago, a major city, an iconic organization, especially with my first year there, having the year that I had—being an All-Star, being in the MVP race, everything—it was kind of like a dream come true, and a resurgence of a season," DeRozan said of his first season with the Bulls where he averaged 27.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game.
His efforts earned him berths on the All-Star and the All-NBA Second Team. Most importantly, the Bulls returned to the NBA Playoff for the first time since 2017. Chicago eventually lost in the first round to the Milwaukee Bucks.
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DeRozan gave his all for the Bulls
However, a severe knee injury to lead guard Ball in January 2022 changed the team's complexion as the former UCLA guard played a crucial role on both ends for the Bulls. The elite- two-way guard has not played a single game for the Bulls in the last two seasons, leaving most of the scoring and playmaking responsibilities to DeRozan.
Despite the challenges, DeMar stepped up as a leader for the Bulls. He embraced being his team's go-to scorer and facilitator, consistently putting up impressive numbers and making clutch plays in crucial moments.
"Playing with all those guys, and the next year being an All-Star again, even with a banged-up team, fighting against the odds and everything. Even to this last year, being 34, I think I missed three games. I led the league in minutes played by far. That just shows the hard work, the dedication, and the love of the game that I have, and the will to try to put the Bulls back on top and make them a respectable team," Deebo said.
"I gave it my all through the ups, downs, the good, the bad, the ugly," he concluded.
Even though the Bulls failed to reach the postseason in DeRozan's last two seasons, there was no doubt about his impact on the team. DeMar proved himself to be a leader on and off the court, guiding younger players like Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White and setting an example with his relentless work ethic and professionalism.
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