NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bulls didn’t deserve DeMar DeRozan.
Joining the organization in 2021-22, DeRozan left as arguably the Bulls’ best free-agent signing ever. While the team’s success may not have followed in the way many hoped, DeRozan made an All-NBA Team and two All-Star appearances during his three years with the franchise. He averaged 25.5 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.7 rebounds in his 229 games, leaving behind a legacy of absurdly clutch shots and respectable leadership.
Nevertheless, considering the Bulls’ back-to-back losing seasons, letting DeRozan go in free agency was the obvious choice. The organization wasn’t in a place to recommit to the 35-year-old forward. But that doesn’t mean it was easy for anyone to see his time in Chicago come to an end.
The now-Sacramento Kings forward joined Paul George on a recent episode of his podcast and reflected on his three seasons in Chicago. DeRozan did nothing but speak highly of his time wearing a Bulls uniform, emphasizing just how hard he tried to work.
“Me being 34, I think I missed three games, I led the league in minutes played by far. Those just show the hard work, dedication, the love of the game that had. And just the will that I tried to have to put the Bulls back on top. Make the Bulls a respectable team,” DeRozan said on Podcast P.
“I gave them my all through the ups and downs, the good, the bad, the ugly. But one thing that I really appreciated about my time in Chicago was definitely my teammates. From Coby White to Pat Williams to Vooch, Zach, Lonzo. All those guys that I played with. It was a special time. I gained a different kind of bond with most those guys that was there for sure.”
No lies detected!
To be sure, I can understand why some may question the true bond of this roster, but the Bulls’ off-court relationships were never a real concern. Even through all the drama regarding the LaVine-DeRozan fit, all indications were that they remained relatively tight.
DeRozan even commented on his relationship with LaVine during the interview. Paul George asked him about breaking the news that he would be headed elsewhere to his fellow All-Star. According to DeRozan, there was already a mutual understanding between that something could happen this summer.
“Me and Zach used to have a lot of those conversations on the plane, in the locker room, especially he was going through a lot this season with injuries and everything he was going through with rumors … it was a constant communication of everything along the way,” DeRozan said. “The ifs, the possibilities. So when it came to making a decision, it wasn’t a surprise or shock or anything. It was more-so, go be happy, go win. You deserve to win because it was always that constant communication, especially with me and Zach.”
Look, do I think LaVine and DeRozan’s relationship was perfect? No. I would guess that at least some of the on-court struggles led to a little awkwardness behind the scenes. I would also guess that both want the best for each other and simply saw the writing on the wall in Chicago. Heck, they may have even seen it before the front office did!
Again speaking about the bonds he built with the young players, DeRozan said he knew it could all come to an end if the Bulls didn’t put together a strong season.
“I was so close with all of the guys like Ayo Dosunmu, that I wanted to be a part of their success as well as their growth,” DeRozan said. “I watch how hard these dudes work … I didn’t want to see it go. I wanted to be a part of these young guys, who work so hard, success. It was like ‘come on, man, we got to do this because if it goes the other way, from the top, they got to make a decision. And when they make a decision, it’s going to go down a whole route that may prolong you [not] seeing success.”
Stop making my heart hurt, DeMar!
As far as veteran leaders go, it’s hard to get much better than DeRozan in today’s NBA. From the moment he stepped on the floor in Chicago, he seemed like someone who genuinely cared about helping the organization in all facets. The way he continued to take young players under his wing felt like it made a real difference, particularly in the development of Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu.
This is arguably what makes DeRozan’s departure sting the most. As the Bulls finally begin to stockpile young talent, DeRozan would have been a perfect personality to have in the locker room. At the same time, this is not the primary role the six-time All-Star should be asked to fill. He showed in Chicago that he has a lot of good basketball left. Someone with his impressive 16-year-long resume deserves a chance to impact winning.
Fortunately for him, he’ll have a chance to do that in Sacramento.
“I think I was just looking for an opportunity to win at a high level, wherever that was going to be,” DeRozan said of joining the Kings. “I think coming out of last season that was kind of my view and approach for this upcoming season. So once this season ended, I kind of just took a seat back and everybody kind of knew I was in a place where I wanted to win.”
I’m sorry the Bulls couldn’t give you that, DeMar. Thanks for giving them you’re all anyway.
You can listen to DeRozan’s full interview with Paul George on YouTube here.
