One team in the NBA that has been flying under the radar but playing better of late is the Chicago Bulls. While you can debate whether their decision to not sell ahead of the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline was the right one, they have started playing more competitively on the court.
At 30-32, the Bulls are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. Moving up in the standings will be challenging given the hole they were in earlier in the season, but they are almost assuredly a lock for at least a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
The improved play of younger players such as Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu has certainly helped get Chicago on track. But, it is the steady performance of veteran DeMar DeRozan that helps steer this ship.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan & Chicago Bulls Updates
In Year 15 and at 34 years old, DeRozan remains a highly productive player. He is averaging 23 points, 5.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals while playing a league-high 37.8 minutes per game. DeRozan remains efficient from the field as well, making 47.1 percent of his shots overall, 34.3 percent of his 3-pointers and 86.2 percent of his free throws.
His game is aging like a fine wine and is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. Where he has been shining the most recently is in crunch time during the fourth quarter. The Bulls have picked up impressive road wins over the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings in large part because of DeRozan’s heroics.
Against the Kings, he poured in 19 points in the fourth quarter and against the Jazz he had 17. According to OptaSTATS, DeRozan is the only player in the NBA in the last 25 years to score 17+ points in the fourth quarter of back-to-back road games without a game in between.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: DeMar DeRozan & Chicago Bulls Updates
Getting the job done at home is one thing; going on the road and silencing an opponent’s crowd is another. What DeRozan has accomplished is quite an impressive feat, especially considering the kind of scorers we have seen in the NBA over the last 25 years.
To be in a category all by yourself is quite an accomplishment. Heading into free agency this offseason, it will be interesting to see what kind of offers DeRozan receives as he will be 35 years old when the 2024-25 NBA season tips off.
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