DeMar DeRozan is a six-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA team member, mid-range maestro, and now … an author!
The Chicago Bulls’ forward officially announced on Thursday that he is releasing a memoir titled “Above the Noise.” Dave Zarum is also listed as a contributor. Of course, the book will tell the story of DeRozan’s Compton roots and his rise to NBA fame, but there appears to be a special focus on the veteran’s role in becoming a mental health advocate.
Here’s a piece of description from Penguin Random House:
“Now it’s time to tell the full story in this groundbreaking and remarkable memoir. Born and raised in Compton, DeRozan was no stranger to hardship—living in poverty, losing friends to gang violence. In worn-out school gyms and community centers, fueled by hunger and a desire to prove himself, he started to rise, but doubts followed. In Above the Noise, DeRozan opens up about his proudest triumphs and the times he felt so weighed down he couldn’t get out of bed. He reflects on what it took to make a name for himself in a new country after getting drafted by the Toronto Raptors, the pressure of playing with veteran athletes as a twenty-year-old rookie, and the pain of losing role models.”
DeMar DeRozan shared the news over social media and also provided a snippet from the book:
“It wasn’t easy trying to be a kid in a place where making it through each day alive felt like an accomplishment,” the page read. “Today, I wear my upbringing like a badge of honor. The city, harsh as it was, is what made me. If it hadn’t been for everything I learned growing up in Compton, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. But back then? It made me angry.”
As DeRozan steps further and further into his NBA career, the soft-spoken celebrity has opened up more about his personal life. He continues to set a new standard for professional athletes, and this book sounds like the next step in that process. We also saw him recently unveil his “Dinners with DeMar” YouTube series, which featured in-depth conversations with fellow NBA stars about mental health.
If you’re interested in learning more about DeMar DeRozan’s past, pre-sale is open now here. It looks like the official release be on September 10, 2024, per Amazon.