Why DeRozan believes ‘sky’s the limit’ for Kings in Stacked West originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SACRAMENTO – It’s been a busy summer for DeMar DeRozan.
In addition to joining a new team, he ventured on a cross-country book tour to promote “Above the Noise: My Story of Chasing Calm” – a remarkable memoir chronicling his struggles with depression and mental health.
Still, there was time to support his new Kings teammate Domantas Sabonis at the premiere of Netflix’s ‘Starting 5’ series. And dinner with young Kings forward and mentee Keegan Murray. And workouts with rising USC women’s basketball star JuJu Watkins.
One thing he hasn’t had time to do, however, is settle into his new home in Sacramento. But for him, that’s the easy part.
And now he’s ready for the real fun.
“Yes, it is quite overwhelming. I can’t wait to go home today [and] rest up because I’m just looking forward to going to camp tomorrow,” DeRozan said Monday at Kings Media Day. “I can’t wait to get among the fans. I feel the energy a little more.
“But first and foremost, I’m looking forward to getting on the field with these guys.”
DeRozan already got a head start with Sabonis, when the two met in Los Angeles for a few workouts this offseason.
Adjusting to new teammates and a new system may take some time, but it was all the non-basketball things that meant a lot more to DeRozan.
And from the start, the two Kings leaders were on the same page.
“I think it was special off the field,” DeRozan said of meeting Sabonis this summer. “The communication we had was immediately being on the same page, talking about the same feeling, understanding how we could help each other, but also about helping other guys. What was missing last year? What was needed? How could we fill this void? It was just crazy how quickly we solved problems along the way.
“Training on the field was obviously the easy part. That was fun. But the resulting communication made me even more enthusiastic. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
And on Monday, for the first time ever, DeRozan, Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox were all in the same building and wearing the same jersey at the same time.
A new trio has formed in Sacramento – and they’re excited to compete with the West’s best.
DeRozan, a 15-year NBA veteran, has played most of his career in the Eastern Conference. His first nine years in Toronto were followed by three seasons out West with the San Antonio Spurs. He played his most recent three seasons in Chicago and now returns to a stacked Western Conference where the competition excites him.
“To me, that’s what you want as a competitor,” DeRozan said. “You want to be in the toughest competition, that will get the best out of you. I’m looking forward to that. These guys are extremely talented. They want to win from top to bottom. From the fan base to everyone.
“When you see something like that, you want to be part of it. And I look forward to performing it every night.”
DeRozan added that he believes the West has become even more fraught this season, stating that a path to the NBA playoffs is fair game for 14 of the 15 teams — a bigger reason why he believes “you can’t take evenings off.” That was a hard lesson learned last season by the Kings, who took far too many nights off against short-handed teams, sub-.500 teams and, more often than not, the free-throw line.
But the six-time NBA All-Star and his veteran presence could be exactly what this young and inexperienced team needs if the goal of “climbing together” is to be more than just a new philosophy.
And that leadership role isn’t just something DeRozan will fill as a 35-year vet, it’s something he welcomes.
“That’s always been my job,” he said. “Try to set a good example. Sometimes I’m not the most talkative. But I’m the one who knows every day what you’re going to get from me, in every way. And that is the good example. And thus risking everything, competing at the highest level – I am a dog in that regard.
“I just want to win.”
But how is that possible? this team, with DeRozan, with his other offseason additions and losses, win?
Two seasons ago, the Kings thrived on a fast-paced, historically dynamic offense. Last season the emphasis was on defense and physicality.
This year, with the addition of DeRozan, the focus should be on offense again (still with steady defensive progress). Kings coach Mike Brown and his staff will have to figure out how DeRozan fits into the offensive scheme with Fox, Sabonis, Murray and Keon Ellis or Malik Monk.
“I mean, you’ve seen it over the years with what this team could do,” DeRozan said of Sacramento’s offense. “The level they reached last year, apart from the injuries, they were a top team.
“Sky is the limit. That was something that made me want to even want to come here. I know how great this team already was and how well coached they were already. And the boys who come in. Man, as a competitor you want to be a part of that.”
And for those concerned that there would be too many mouths to feed the Kings with just one spoon, DeRozan explained why that shouldn’t be considered a bad thing.
“When I hear people say things like that, it shows me how much they know nothing about basketball,” he said. “You just saw Boston win with all the talent they have and they made it work. You gotta have talent in this league. It’s more than just one guy could do it, two guys could go out there.” there and do it. It takes a collective effort from guys who are able to compete every night.
“And you just can’t always rely on two guys to be the saviors of that. It’s a team effort. And when you look at this team, you have that talent from top to bottom – on the bench, starting, whatever it is “Maybe. That’s what you need now if you really want to win at a high level.”
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