Basketball

DeMar DeRozan relishing next chapter and mission with Bulls: ‘He’s mastered the game’


DeMar DeRozan spotted his long-lost teammate across the United Center court and flung himself into his friend’s never-ending arms. The smile DeRozan wore while suspended in the air for a quick twirl exuded unbridled joy that belied a reality Jonas Valančiūnas later found hard to believe.

“It’s his 13th season?” Valančiūnas marveled. “Goddammit, he’s old.”

DeRozan, 32, sheepishly conceded. But on only two occasions.

“The music some of these kids listen to,” he said of his teammates. “That makes me feel old. Even sometimes just bringing up old scenarios that I didn’t think was a long time ago, you realize some of them were 3 years old or 5 years old. Just talking like that makes me feel old.”

Any other time, the Bulls’ prized free-agent acquisition struggles processing he’s in his 13th season.

“It’s an honor just to make it that far playing in the league,” he said. “Not to try to age myself, but you’re just at a point now where you’ve just got to enjoy everything that comes with it. I think at this point in my career and my life, it’s just enjoying it. Because you only get to do this for so long.”

This is DeRozan’s next chapter. He’s navigating life on his third franchise after spending the first nine seasons of his storied career in Toronto and the past three with San Antonio. He’s a four-time All-Star, an Olympic gold medalist and well respected personally and professionally in every corner of the basketball world. He’s been the face of a franchise, averaged 20.2 points per game, turned losing teams into winners and journeyed deep into the playoffs.





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