DeMar DeRozan has always been trying to find new elements to include in his play style.
After playing 14 seasons in the NBA, DeRozan has a lot of options in his skill set. This includes a fake move that tricks experienced defenders, a shimmy move to create space for his midrange jumper, and a sneaky steal tactic.
However, DeRozan understands that the game is evolving, and he is evolving along with it, especially in his third season with the Chicago Bulls. He has discovered new ways to adjust himself. He is adapting to a team that has shifted its focus to point guard Coby White.
As a six-time All-Star, DeRozan approaches any change to his role with a flexibility that he believes has supported and defined his career.
DeRozan, 34, said, "I try to approach everything with an open mind. I never try to confuse myself or get caught up in thinking, 'Oh, I have to change this, I have to do that.' If I approach things with an open mind, I can figure it out."
It’s not a new DeRozan — maybe just a slightly updated version.
He still leads the team in scoring by a small margin, but his 22 points per game in Saturday’s 125-96 victory against the Memphis Grizzlies is the lowest since he came to Chicago. He is attempting only 6.7 shots from inside the arc, his fewest since the 2014-15 season in Toronto. While he will never give up the midrange game that made him stand out, he is taking the highest number of shots behind the arc — 2.8 per game — of his career.
This change has allowed DeRozan to find and assist teammates more often, with his highest rate of assists (5.3 per game) since joining the Bulls. This has helped to enhance the high-assist, high-movement offense the Bulls hope to succeed with.
“He’ll always be DeMar, but you can see that he’s trying to play a little differently,” center Nikola Vučević said. “He’s not just another scorer. This year especially, he’s been letting some of the other guys lead the way and taking over later. Him being the leader that he is and having that experience and confidence in himself, he’s able to build that same experience and confidence in others.”
DeRozan believes it’s important to approach the game with a simple principle: He always has more to learn.
This is especially important for players as they advance in their career, losing the athleticism that might have fueled their early success, particularly in the air around the rim.
For DeRozan, this mindset was most crucial when he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, where he took on more of a lead-guard role under coach Gregg Popovich. In Chicago, DeRozan’s growth has been more subtle.
“By the time I got here, I was 12 years in the league,” DeRozan said. “By the time I came here, I was just fine tuning on and off the court, as a professional, as a basketball player. I’m just completely rounding out my whole game, personality, understanding and IQ.”
DeRozan isn’t alone in this transition. Vučević similarly had to adapt his game from a primary scorer to a distributor with a high-shot volume while taking two fewer 3-point attempts per game than he did with the Orlando Magic.
Vučević took nearly 18 months to accept and adjust to the new role. But it's been clear this season that the center is helping the Bulls offensively.
Vučević said, "You value it more as you get older. You understand how hard it is to change when you're older and have been doing something the same way for a long time. You have to step out of your comfort zone."
On paper, this hasn't been a standout season for DeRozan: He isn't scoring as much as usual and might not be named an All-Star for the first time in two years. However, his role has been crucial in helping White have a great season while keeping the Bulls going without LaVine.
And as he considers whether to stay in Chicago on an extension , DeRozan believes it's important to have this mindset to set a standard with the team. He's comfortable adjusting and improving his game as long as it results in wins., DeRozan thinks it's important to set a standard with the team by being comfortable adapting and developing his game to help the team win.
DeRozan said, "In my career, I try to do whatever is asked of me to the best of my ability. It's not just about me, it's about the team. Whatever the team asks of me to make us better and improve the guys, I'm all for it."
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