“Toronto will always be No. 1, first of all,” DeRozan said, smiling. “But, I’ve got to put Chicago second because, mentally, of the space I was in after I got traded (to San Antonio). San Antonio helped my career so much. But, where I was with my joy mentally, I was going through so much stuff personally. “So, to kind of have a renewed ambition coming to Chicago … I remember the first meeting I had with (executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas) and (general manager) Marc (Eversley). They said, ‘Come here and just be you.’ For that to translate to me being an All-Star, to doing all the incredible things I did here, it just shows you that if you stay with something, it will repay you. It gave me a renewed ambition coming back here.”
Source: New York Times
Source: New York Times
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
DeMar DeRozan on young Bulls players like Patrick Williams and Coby White: “They’re still my sons.” – 6:36 PM
DeMar DeRozan on young Bulls players like Patrick Williams and Coby White: “They’re still my sons.” – 6:36 PM
KC Johnson @KCJHoop
DeMar DeRozan on video tribute: “It was cool to come back to a place where they loved you, appreciated you. My 3 years here felt like 10. I enjoyed my time here. It was fun. Stuff like that goes a long way. I’m always humbled by any type of appreciation they show.” – 6:25 PM
DeMar DeRozan on video tribute: “It was cool to come back to a place where they loved you, appreciated you. My 3 years here felt like 10. I enjoyed my time here. It was fun. Stuff like that goes a long way. I’m always humbled by any type of appreciation they show.” – 6:25 PM
KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Nikola Vucevic on DeMar DeRozan: “The response he received from the fans was more than well deserved. While he was here, the level he played at you’re obviously aware of. But the way he carried himself as teammate and way he tried to represent city, franchise was (huge).” – 6:24 PM
Nikola Vucevic on DeMar DeRozan: “The response he received from the fans was more than well deserved. While he was here, the level he played at you’re obviously aware of. But the way he carried himself as teammate and way he tried to represent city, franchise was (huge).” – 6:24 PM
Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
That’s game. Bulls drop a 124-119 loss to the Kings in their first reunion with DeMar DeRozan.
Zach LaVine scored 36 points in his sixth consecutive (!!!) game with 30+ points.
DeRozan had 21 points, 9 of which were in the fourth quarter. – 5:47 PM
That’s game. Bulls drop a 124-119 loss to the Kings in their first reunion with DeMar DeRozan.
Zach LaVine scored 36 points in his sixth consecutive (!!!) game with 30+ points.
DeRozan had 21 points, 9 of which were in the fourth quarter. – 5:47 PM
Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan going at it in the fourth quarter, this is very fun – 5:26 PM
Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan going at it in the fourth quarter, this is very fun – 5:26 PM
KC Johnson @KCJHoop
DeMar DeRozan heating up in the 4th quarter at the United Center. Hmmmmm. – 5:25 PM
DeMar DeRozan heating up in the 4th quarter at the United Center. Hmmmmm. – 5:25 PM
James Ham @James_HamNBA
Kings trail the Bulls 63-61 heading to the half. Malik Monk leads the way with 13 points. DeMar DeRozan has 10 points. Domantas Sabonis is looking for his 6th triple-double of the season, finishing the half with 9 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. – 4:38 PM
Kings trail the Bulls 63-61 heading to the half. Malik Monk leads the way with 13 points. DeMar DeRozan has 10 points. Domantas Sabonis is looking for his 6th triple-double of the season, finishing the half with 9 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. – 4:38 PM
Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Lonzo Ball got called for a foul attempting to smack the ball out of DeMar DeRozan’s hands. Immediately sprinted over to the referee to contest.
Lonzo and DeMar briefly cracked jokes over it as Billy Donovan challenged the call, DeMar pantomiming Lonzo’s angry little run. – 4:24 PM
Lonzo Ball got called for a foul attempting to smack the ball out of DeMar DeRozan’s hands. Immediately sprinted over to the referee to contest.
Lonzo and DeMar briefly cracked jokes over it as Billy Donovan challenged the call, DeMar pantomiming Lonzo’s angry little run. – 4:24 PM
Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Welcome back video package and round of applause for DeMar DeRozan at the first timeout pic.x.com/Ku8SEEmDI8 – 3:53 PM
Welcome back video package and round of applause for DeMar DeRozan at the first timeout pic.x.com/Ku8SEEmDI8 – 3:53 PM
KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic were watching the DeMar DeRozan tribute video and then gave him standing ovation along with United Center crowd – 3:52 PM
Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic were watching the DeMar DeRozan tribute video and then gave him standing ovation along with United Center crowd – 3:52 PM
Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Chicago fans excited to see DeMar DeRozan back at the United Center pic.x.com/BwJvU4D1N9 – 2:54 PM
Chicago fans excited to see DeMar DeRozan back at the United Center pic.x.com/BwJvU4D1N9 – 2:54 PM
Julia Poe @byjuliapoe
Patrick Williams says he will be guarding DeMar DeRozan today: “I wouldn’t let them give it to anyone else.” – 2:25 PM
Patrick Williams says he will be guarding DeMar DeRozan today: “I wouldn’t let them give it to anyone else.” – 2:25 PM
KC Johnson @KCJHoop
Tune into @CHSN__ pregame show for our 1-on-1 with the man of the hour, DeMar DeRozan pic.x.com/hBDAnzvup7 – 1:22 PM
Tune into @CHSN__ pregame show for our 1-on-1 with the man of the hour, DeMar DeRozan pic.x.com/hBDAnzvup7 – 1:22 PM
More on this storyline
The Bulls honored DeRozan with a video tribute during a first-quarter timeout Sunday to recognize the impact he made during his brief tenure. Fans cheered for DeRozan when he was introduced as a Kings starter and again following the video. “The first moment I came here, I tried to give my all to this organization, to this city. And I think it showed,” DeRozan said. “You can’t fake it when you’re genuinely putting everything into representing the Bulls. I embodied the culture of Chicago, everything. I think when people see that, you get the genuine reaction in return.” -via New York Times / January 13, 2025
Donatas Urbonas: Domantas Sabonis during the Kings’ 7-game winning streak– 19.9 PPG 17.3 RPG 7.0 APG 58.8 3P% “Doug changed the defense and gives more freedom on offense to me, Fox, and DeMar to play our game.” -via Twitter @Urbodo / January 12, 2025
KC Johnson: With Lonzo Ball finally back/playing at high level and Zach LaVine/Nikola Vucevic playing at All-Star levels, DeMar DeRozan was asked if he ever thinks about what might’ve been if Ball hadn’t gone down in 21-22: “For sure because that’s why we came here—to play together.” -via Twitter @KCJHoop / January 12, 2025