kids encyclopedia robot

DeMar DeRozan facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
DeMar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan 2022.jpg
DeRozan at the 2022 NBA All-Star Game
No. 10 – Sacramento Kings
Small forward / shooting guard
Personal information
Born (1989-08-07) August 7, 1989 (age 35)
Compton, California, U.S.
High school Compton (Compton, California)
Listed height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight 220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
College USC (2008–2009)
NBA Draft 2009 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall
Selected by the Toronto Raptors
Pro career 2009–present
League NBA
Career history
2009–2018 Toronto Raptors
2018–2021 San Antonio Spurs
2021–2024 Chicago Bulls
2024–present Sacramento Kings
Career highlights and awards
  • 6× NBA All-Star (2014, 2016–2018, 2022, 2023)
  • 2× All-NBA Second Team (2018, 2022)
  • All-NBA Third Team (2017)
  • Pac-10 tournament MVP (2009)
  • Pac-10 All-Freshman Team (2009)
  • No. 10 retired by USC Trojans
  • First-team Parade All-American (2008)
  • McDonald's All-American (2008)
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team
World Cup
Gold 2014 Spain Team

DeMar Darnell DeRozan (born August 7, 1989) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Sacramento Kings in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before joining the NBA, he played college basketball for the USC Trojans.

DeMar was chosen ninth overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 2009 NBA draft. He is nicknamed “Deebo”. DeRozan has been an NBA All-Star six times. He has also been named to the All-NBA Team three times. He is currently one of the top active NBA players in career points scored.

DeRozan played for the Raptors for nine seasons. He became the team's all-time leading scorer. He helped the Raptors reach the playoffs five times. In 2018, he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs. Then, in 2021, he joined the Chicago Bulls. He was traded to the Sacramento Kings in the summer of 2024.

DeRozan has also won gold medals with the U.S. national team. He won at the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. Many people consider him one of the best scorers and midrange shooters in NBA history.

Early Life and Family

DeMar DeRozan was born on August 7, 1989, in Compton, California. His parents are Frank and Diane DeRozan. DeMar shared that his mother gave him "tough love" when he was young. He later understood and appreciated her for it.

His father helped him stay focused on basketball. He made sure DeMar was always on time for practices and games. His father also kept him away from gangs and street violence in Compton. DeMar believes his upbringing taught him strength and resilience.

High School Basketball Career

DeRozan went to Compton High School. He was considered one of the best young basketball players in the country. Experts like Rivals.com and Scout.com ranked him very highly. He played on the varsity basketball team all four years.

In his senior year, DeRozan led Compton High to a 26–6 record. They won their league championship for the second year in a row. He was named the Moore League Most Valuable Player. He also made the California All-State team.

DeRozan was part of the 2008 McDonald's All-American Team. He also won the 2008 McDonald's All-American Slam Dunk Competition. He was invited to play in other special games like the Jordan Brand Classic.

College Basketball Career

2009-0319-NCAAs-004-DeMarDeRozan10
DeRozan during a practice at the 2009 NCAA tournament

In November 2007, DeRozan decided to play basketball for USC. He chose USC over other big schools like Arizona State and North Carolina.

In his first regular season game for USC, DeRozan scored 14 points. He later scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds against UCLA. In the Pac-10 Tournament final, he scored 22 points. This helped his team win the championship.

DeRozan was named the Pac-10 Tournament MVP. He also made the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team. USC went to the 2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. They lost in the second round.

DeRozan started all 35 games for USC. He scored double figures in 28 of those games. He was third on his team in points per game (13.9). He was also second in rebounds (5.7).

Professional Basketball Career

Toronto Raptors (2009–2018)

Demar derozan 2009
DeRozan shooting over Jermaine O'Neal in a 2009 game

On April 8, 2009, DeRozan decided to enter the 2009 NBA draft. He left USC after only one year. He said he wanted to help take care of his mother, who has lupus.

The Toronto Raptors selected him ninth overall on June 25, 2009. He signed his first NBA contract on July 9, 2009.

Early Years and First All-Star Game

DeRozan competed in the NBA Slam Dunk Competition in 2010 and 2011. He finished second in 2010 and third in 2011. On December 31, 2010, he scored a career-high 37 points. He matched this score two more times in the next three years.

In January 2014, DeRozan scored a new career-high of 40 points. Later that month, he was chosen for his first 2014 NBA All-Star Game. He played 15 minutes and scored 8 points.

He helped the Raptors reach the playoffs in 2014 for the first time since 2008. He scored 30 points in the game that secured their playoff spot. DeRozan had a great 2013–14 season, averaging 22.7 points per game. The Raptors finished with a 48–34 record.

In his first playoff game, DeRozan scored 14 points. In Game 2, he bounced back with 30 points. He became the first Raptor to score 30 points in back-to-back playoff games since Vince Carter. The Raptors lost the series in seven games.

In the 2014–15 season, DeRozan had career-highs of 11 rebounds and six steals in one game. He later scored a career-high 42 points against the Houston Rockets. In April 2015, he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month.

In the 2015 playoffs, DeRozan scored a playoff career-high 32 points in Game 3. He set a franchise playoff record with 20 points in the first quarter.

Reaching the Conference Finals

On November 10, 2015, DeRozan scored 29 points. He was the first Raptor since Chris Bosh to score 15+ points in the first eight games of a season. In January 2016, he was named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve. This was his second All-Star selection.

DeRozan and teammate Kyle Lowry were named co-winners of Eastern Conference Player of the Month for January. They helped the Raptors win 11 games in a row, a team record. On February 22, he became the Raptors' winningest player.

On March 4, he scored a season-high 38 points. He also set an NBA record by making 24 free throws in a row in one game. On March 30, the Raptors won 50 games for the first time in team history. DeRozan scored 26 points in that game.

The Raptors finished the regular season as the second seed in the Eastern Conference. In the first round of the playoffs, they beat the Indiana Pacers in seven games. DeRozan scored 34 points in Game 5 and 30 points in Game 7. This was the first time the Raptors won a best-of-seven series.

They then faced the Miami Heat. DeRozan scored 34 points in Game 5. In Game 7, he scored 28 points. The Raptors advanced to the conference finals for the first time ever. They lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games.

All-NBA Selection and Final Year in Toronto

DeMar DeRozan Shooting Nov 2 2016
DeRozan shooting a jumpshot over Bradley Beal in 2016

On July 14, 2016, DeRozan signed a new five-year contract with the Raptors. In the first game of the 2016–17 season, he scored 40 points. He then had three straight 30-point games, a Raptors record. He even had five straight 30-point games, the best start to a season since Michael Jordan in 1986–87.

On December 28, he became Toronto's all-time leading scorer. He passed Chris Bosh's record. On January 10, 2017, he scored a season-high 41 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. On January 19, DeRozan was named an All-Star starter.

On February 24, he scored a career-high 43 points. He helped the Raptors come back from a 17-point deficit. He had back-to-back 40-point games for the first time in his career in March. He finished the season with 2,020 points, a career high.

In the 2017 playoffs, DeRozan scored 32 points in Game 6 against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Raptors won the series. However, they were swept by the Cavaliers in the next round. On May 18, 2017, DeRozan was named to the All-NBA Third Team.

DeMar DeRozan (25716541587)
DeRozan in 2018

In the 2017–18 season, DeRozan continued to shine. On December 21, 2017, he set a career high with 45 points. He also made six 3-pointers, a career best. On January 1, 2018, DeRozan scored a franchise-record 52 points. This helped the Raptors win in overtime. He was the first NBA player to score 50+ points on New Year's Day.

On January 18, 2018, DeRozan was chosen as an NBA All-Star starter for the second year in a row. This was his fourth All-Star selection overall. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for January.

In the 2018 playoffs, DeRozan scored 37 points in Game 2 against the Washington Wizards. The Raptors won the series. But they were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers again in the second round. DeRozan was named to the All-NBA Second Team for the season. He finished his time with the Raptors as the team leader in many categories. These included games played, minutes, points, and free throws.

San Antonio Spurs (2018–2021)

DeMar DeRozan Spurs (cropped)
DeRozan with the Spurs in 2019

On July 18, 2018, DeRozan was traded to the San Antonio Spurs. This trade was a big surprise to many fans in Toronto. In his first game for the Spurs, he scored 28 points. On October 22, he had 32 points and 14 assists.

On January 3, 2019, DeRozan achieved his first career triple-double. He had 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists against his old team, the Toronto Raptors. He played his first game in Toronto as a Spur on February 22.

In the 2019 playoffs, DeRozan scored 31 points in Game 2 against the Denver Nuggets. The Spurs lost the series in seven games. His former team, the Raptors, went on to win the NBA Finals that year.

In the 2019–20 season, DeRozan scored a season-high 38 points on January 29, 2020. He also had a season-high 12 assists on March 10. The NBA season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Spurs did not make the playoffs that year. This was the first time DeRozan's team missed the playoffs since 2013.

On April 26, 2021, DeRozan scored a season-high 37 points. He also had 10 assists. Four days later, he matched his career-high with 14 assists. The Spurs made the play-in tournament but lost to the Memphis Grizzlies. This meant they missed the playoffs for a second straight season.

Chicago Bulls (2021–2024)

All-NBA Selection and Record-Breaking Streak

On August 11, 2021, DeRozan signed with the Chicago Bulls. He chose to wear number 11 because his usual number 10 was retired by the Bulls. In his Bulls debut, he scored 17 points. On November 1, he scored a season-high 37 points. He helped the Bulls come back from a 19-point deficit.

On December 31, DeRozan hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer. The next day, January 1, 2022, he hit another game-winning shot at the buzzer. He became the first player in NBA history to do this on consecutive days.

On January 27, DeRozan was selected for his fifth NBA All-Star Game. This was his third time as a starter. On February 14, he scored 40 points against his former team, the San Antonio Spurs. This was his sixth straight game with at least 35 points. He broke Michael Jordan's Bulls franchise record.

On February 16, DeRozan scored 38 points. He became the first player in NBA history to score 35 or more points while shooting 50% or better in seven consecutive games. By the end of February, the Bulls were playing very well. DeRozan was even considered a candidate for MVP.

In the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, DeRozan was a starter. His team, led by LeBron James, won the game. On February 24, DeRozan scored 37 points, including the winning basket. He extended his record to eight consecutive games with at least 35 points and 50% shooting.

On March 3, DeRozan was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for February. On March 31, he scored a season-high 50 points. He scored 27 of those points in the fourth quarter and overtime. DeRozan led the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring that season.

In the 2022 playoffs, DeRozan scored a career playoff-high 41 points in Game 2. The Bulls won that game against the reigning champions, the Milwaukee Bucks. However, the Bulls lost the series in five games.

Reaching 20,000 Career Points

In the 2022–23 NBA season, DeRozan joined an exclusive group of players. He reached 20,000 points in his career. On October 19, he scored 37 points. He became one of only two Bulls players, along with Michael Jordan, to have at least 35 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a season opener.

On October 28, DeRozan scored 33 points against his former team, the San Antonio Spurs. He became the 50th player in NBA history to reach 20,000 career points. On November 4, he scored a season-high 46 points.

On December 28, DeRozan had 42 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. On January 2, 2023, he scored 44 points. On February 2, DeRozan was selected for his second straight All-Star Game as a Bull. On March 17, he scored a season-high 49 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. He and Zach LaVine combined for 88 points, a new Bulls record for a duo.

On December 12, 2023, DeRozan passed Clyde Drexler on the NBA All-Time Scoring List. On March 13, 2024, he scored a season-high 46 points. He also passed Elgin Baylor, Dwyane Wade, and Adrian Dantley on the all-time scoring list. He hit a fadeaway shot at the buzzer to send that game into overtime.

Sacramento Kings (2024–present)

On July 8, 2024, DeRozan signed a three-year contract with the Sacramento Kings. This was part of a trade that also involved the San Antonio Spurs. On February 10, 2025, DeRozan scored a season-high 42 points. He hit a game-winning shot with 2 seconds left in overtime.

On March 20, 2025, DeRozan scored 22 points. He became the 27th player in NBA history to reach 25,000 career points. On April 11, 2025, he moved past Reggie Miller on the NBA All-Time Scoring List. DeRozan finished the 2024–25 season averaging 22.2 points per game. He became only the sixth player in NBA history to average 20+ points for 12 or more straight seasons.

Career Statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2009–10 Toronto 77 65 21.6 .498 .250 .763 2.9 .7 .6 .2 8.6
2010–11 Toronto 82* 82* 34.8 .467 .096 .813 3.8 1.8 1.0 .4 17.2
2011–12 Toronto 63 63 35.0 .422 .261 .810 3.3 2.0 .8 .3 16.7
2012–13 Toronto 82* 82* 36.7 .445 .283 .831 3.9 2.5 .9 .3 18.1
2013–14 Toronto 79 79 38.2 .429 .305 .824 4.3 4.0 1.1 .4 22.7
2014–15 Toronto 60 60 35.0 .413 .284 .832 4.6 3.6 1.2 .2 20.1
2015–16 Toronto 78 78 35.9 .446 .338 .850 4.5 4.0 1.0 .3 23.5
2016–17 Toronto 74 74 35.4 .467 .266 .842 5.2 3.9 1.1 .2 27.3
2017–18 Toronto 80 80 33.9 .456 .310 .825 3.9 5.2 1.1 .3 23.0
2018–19 San Antonio 77 77 34.9 .481 .156 .830 6.0 6.2 1.1 .5 21.2
2019–20 San Antonio 68 68 34.1 .531 .257 .845 5.5 5.6 1.0 .3 22.1
2020–21 San Antonio 61 61 33.7 .495 .257 .880 4.2 6.9 .9 .2 21.6
2021–22 Chicago 76 76 36.1 .504 .352 .877 5.2 4.9 .9 .3 27.9
2022–23 Chicago 74 74 36.2 .504 .324 .872 4.6 5.1 1.1 .5 24.5
2023–24 Chicago 79 79 37.8* .480 .333 .853 4.3 5.3 1.1 .6 24.0
2024–25 Sacramento 77 77 35.9 .477 .328 .857 3.9 4.4 .8 .4 22.2
Career 1,187 1,175 34.7 .469 .300 .842 4.4 4.1 1.0 .3 21.3
All-Star 6 3 21.2 .563 .125 .800 4.2 3.7 .8 .0 13.5

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2014 Toronto 7 7 40.3 .385 .333 .899 4.1 3.6 1.1 .3 23.9
2015 Toronto 4 4 39.8 .400 .375 .824 6.3 5.8 1.5 .0 20.3
2016 Toronto 20 20 37.3 .394 .154 .813 4.2 2.7 1.1 .2 20.9
2017 Toronto 10 10 37.3 .434 .067 .888 4.9 3.4 1.4 .0 22.4
2018 Toronto 10 10 35.4 .437 .286 .811 3.6 4.0 .5 .6 22.7
2019 San Antonio 7 7 35.9 .487 .000 .864 6.7 4.6 1.1 .1 22.0
2022 Chicago 5 5 40.6 .411 .000 .867 5.4 4.8 1.8 .4 20.8
Career 63 63 37.6 .418 .214 .852 4.7 3.7 1.1 .2 21.8

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2008–09 USC 35 35 33.4 .523 .167 .646 5.7 1.5 .9 .4 13.9

NBA Career Records

Toronto Raptors Franchise Records

Regular Season Records

  • Most games played (675)
  • Most minutes played (22,986)
  • Most points scored (13,296)
  • Most field goals made (4,716)
  • Most 2-point field goals made (4,391)
  • Most free throws made (3,539)

Awards and Honors

High School and College Achievements

  • 2006 All-Moore League First Team
  • 2007 All-Moore League First Team
  • 2007 Named to the Los Angeles Times First Team
  • 2008 Parade Magazine All-America First Team
  • 2008 Long Beach Press-Telegram's Best in the West First Team
  • 2008 McDonald's High School All-American
  • 2008 Jordan Brand All-American Classic
  • 2008 Southern California Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association I-AA Player of the Year (tied)
  • 2008 All-State Team
  • 2009 Pac-10 Tournament Champion
  • 2009 Named Most Outstanding Player in Pac-10 Tournament
  • No. 10 retired by USC Trojans

NBA Achievements

  • All-NBA Second Team: 2018, 2022
  • All-NBA Third Team: 2017
  • NBA All-Star: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023
  • NBA All-Star Rising Star: 2011
  • NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month: April 2015, January 2016, January 2018, February 2022
  • NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week: December 7–13, 2015; November 7–13, 2016; December 12–18, 2016; January 9–15, 2017; March 20–26, 2017; November 13–19, 2017; December 18–24, 2017; January 1–7, 2018; February 26 – March 4, 2018; November 29 - December 5, 2021; December 27, 2021 - January 2, 2022; February 7–13, 2022; March 4–10, 2024
  • NBA Western Conference Player of the Week: January 6–12, 2020

National Team Career

20140814 World Basketball Festival DeMar DeRozan cropped
DeRozan with Team USA at the 2014 World Basketball Festival

DeRozan played for the U.S. national team. He won a gold medal at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. He averaged 4.8 points per game in nine games.

He also played for Team USA at the 2016 Summer Olympics. DeRozan averaged 6.6 points per game in seven games. He helped Team USA win the Olympic gold medal.

Personal Life

DeMar DeRozan's parents are Frank and Diane DeRozan. His mother was diagnosed with lupus when he was young. While playing for the Raptors, DeRozan helped raise awareness about lupus in Canada.

DeRozan's father, Frank, passed away on February 19, 2021. He had been battling health issues for a long time. DeMar often flew to Los Angeles to be with his father during his final days.

DeRozan has a daughter named Diar, born in 2013. In 2023, Diar became famous for screaming during free throws. This happened during a Bulls' play-in tournament game against the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors struggled with their free throws, and many said Diar helped the Bulls win.

DeRozan has openly shared his experiences with depression. He is a strong supporter for others dealing with mental health issues. After DeRozan and fellow NBA player Kevin Love spoke out, the NBA added a new rule. Teams now need to have a full-time licensed mental health professional on staff.

DeRozan's book, Above the Noise: My Story of Chasing Calm, was published in 2024. The book talks about his journey with depression and healing.

DeRozan's nickname is "Deebo." He got this name in sixth grade after a basketball game. He was surprised when the nickname followed him to the NBA.

See also

  • List of NBA career scoring leaders
  • List of NBA franchise career scoring leaders
  • List of NBA career minutes played leaders
kids search engine
DeMar DeRozan Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.