DeRozan joins historic NBA club in Kings win over Spurs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Greatness can happen on any given night.
The Kings celebrated star guard DeMar DeRozan becoming the 30th player in NBA history to reach 24,000 career points with a much-needed 140-113 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday at Frost Bank Center.
Sacramento’s 140 points are a season-high and, in a way, also serve as a fitting tribute to one of the league’s all-time leading scorers.
“It’s just an absurd number,” Kings coach Mike Brown told reporters. “But when you’re around him, you can see how he got there.
“His ability to get to his spots, and I think everyone on that list had a few spots, and when they got there, it was a game-changer. So being near DeMar, for the short time I’ve been there, it makes sense for him to be on the list. But it’s just an absurd amount of points that can be scored for anyone.”
Four of the Kings’ five starters finished the night with at least 20 points, with DeRozan recording a team-high 23 points. But as much as Brown and Co. Also flourishing thanks to the starter’s production, Kevin Huerter made a significant impact off the bench, scoring 16 points and making all four of his three-point attempts.
Keon Ellis, on the other hand, returned to Brown’s rotation after recording two straight DNPs. He finished with three points, four steals and three assists.
Early in the second quarter, after hitting a free throw, DeRozan became the sixth active player to reach the milestone, joining current NBA stars LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
More than 24,000 points later, the six-time NBA All-Star is humbled to be part of such an elite list of players.
“It’s always amazing whatever milestone you can achieve,” DeRozan said. “Just thinking about the history of the league, being in the top 30 of all time in scoring and still having the opportunity to add to that, is not humbling.
“I never thought this would come to the league: to be up there among the best players to ever play this game. For me it’s definitely humiliating. It says a lot about my career.”
Sacramento’s first win of the season against San Antonio, which was without center Victor Wembanyama, comes after a series of disappointing losses, including Thursday night’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
With DeRozan part of the 24,000-point club and a high-scoring win under his belt, Brown and Co. certainly approach Sunday’s home game against the Utah Jazz with more optimism.
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