DeMar DeRozan Bio
DeMar Darnell DeRozan is an American professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed “Deebo,” he is widely regarded as one of the most prolific scorers and elite mid-range shooters in NBA history. DeRozan was selected ninth overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 2009 NBA draft after playing one season at the University of Southern California. Over his career spanning from 2009 to present, he has established himself as a six-time NBA All-Star and a three-time All-NBA Team member. He currently ranks among the top 20 scorers in NBA history and is sixth among all active players on the all-time scoring list.
Early Life and Background
DeMar Darnell DeRozan was born on August 7, 1989, in Compton, California, to Frank and Diane DeRozan. His father Frank DeRozan passed away in February 2021 after battling several health issues. DeRozan’s mother was diagnosed with lupus when he was young, and one of his motivations for entering the NBA early was to help take better care of her. Growing up in Compton, DeRozan developed his basketball skills at a young age and showed tremendous promise as a student-athlete.
High School Career
DeRozan attended Compton High School, where he became one of the top college recruits in the nation from the class of 2008. He was ranked No. 3 nationally by Rivals.com and No. 6 by Scout.com. As a freshman, he averaged 26.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Throughout his four years on varsity, he consistently posted impressive numbers, averaging 22.6 points as a sophomore, 22.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 3.2 steals as a junior.
As a senior, DeRozan averaged 29.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game while leading Compton High School to a 26-6 record and a second consecutive Moore League championship. He earned Moore League MVP honors and was named to the California All-State team. His outstanding performance earned him spots on the 2008 McDonald’s All-American Team, the Jordan Brand Classic at Madison Square Garden, and the Nike Hoop Summit. He won the 2008 McDonald’s All-American Slam Dunk Competition and earned first-team Parade All-American honors. USC recruited him over Arizona and North Carolina, and he signed his letter of intent in November 2007.
College Career at USC
DeRozan played one season for the USC Trojans from 2008 to 2009. In his college debut, he scored a team-high 21 points with seven rebounds in an exhibition game against Azusa Pacific. He started all 35 games that season, scoring in double figures 28 times and posting four double-doubles. He ranked third on the team in scoring at 13.9 points per game, second in rebounds at 5.7 per game, and second in field-goal percentage at .523, which ranked eighth in the conference.
His best performance came during the Pac-10 Tournament, where he scored a career-high 22 points in the championship game against Arizona State to lead USC to a 61-49 victory. He earned Pac-10 Tournament MVP honors and First Team Pac-10 All-Freshman honors. His 485 points rank third all-time and his 201 rebounds rank fourth all-time for a USC freshman. The Trojans received a 10th seed in the 2009 NCAA Tournament but lost in the second round to Michigan State. USC retired DeRozan’s number 10 jersey. On April 8, 2009, he announced his decision to enter the NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.
DeMar DeRozan Career
Toronto Raptors (2009-2018)
On June 25, 2009, DeRozan was selected ninth overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 2009 NBA draft. He signed his rookie scale contract on July 9, 2009. During his rookie season, he participated in the 2010 Sprite Slam Dunk Competition as the fourth contestant but lost in the final round to three-time champion Nate Robinson with a 51% to 49% vote. He returned to the Slam Dunk Competition in 2011 as a replacement for an injured Brandon Jennings and finished in third place.
DeRozan’s third season saw him score a then career-high 37 points against the Houston Rockets on December 31, 2010. He matched that career high twice more over the next three years. The 2013-14 season marked his breakout year. He scored a then career-high 40 points against the Dallas Mavericks on January 22, 2014, and was selected to his first NBA All-Star Game as an Eastern Conference reserve. He led the Raptors to a 48-34 record and a third-seed finish in the Eastern Conference, averaging career highs of 22.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.
Toronto Raptors Breakthrough (2014-2018)
DeRozan continued to elevate his game in subsequent seasons. On March 30, 2015, he scored a career-high 42 points against the Houston Rockets. On April 24, 2015, in Game 3 of the playoffs against the Washington Wizards, he scored a playoff career-high 32 points while setting a franchise playoff record with 20 points in the first quarter, surpassing Vince Carter’s previous record of 19. The 2015-16 season saw him earn Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the first time in his career and selected to his second All-Star Game. He set an NBA record with 24 consecutive free throws made in one game on March 4, 2016.
The 2016-17 season was exceptional as DeRozan scored a career-high 43 points against the Boston Celtics on February 24, 2017. He registered back-to-back 40-point games for the first time in his career and finished the season with a career-high 2,020 points, becoming the second player in franchise history to achieve a 2,000-point season. He earned his third consecutive All-Star selection and was named to the All-NBA Third Team. In the 2017-18 season, he set a franchise record with 52 points against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 1, 2018, becoming the first player in NBA history to score 50 or more points on New Year’s Day. He earned his fourth All-Star selection as a starter and was named to the All-NBA Second Team. He finished as the franchise leader in numerous categories including regular season games played, wins, total minutes, field goals, and free throws.
San Antonio Spurs Era (2018-2021)
On July 18, 2018, DeRozan was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in a blockbuster deal that sent Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green to Toronto. The trade was controversial as DeRozan was a beloved figure in Toronto and had not been consulted about the move. In his Spurs debut on October 17, 2018, he scored 28 points in a 112-108 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He recorded his first career triple-double with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists against his former team, the Toronto Raptors, on January 3, 2019.
During the 2019-20 season, the NBA suspended play in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Spurs participated in the NBA Bubble but finished with a 32-39 record and failed to qualify for the playoffs, marking the first time since 2013 that DeRozan’s team did not reach the postseason. In the 2020-21 season, DeRozan scored a season-high 37 points against the Washington Wizards on April 26, 2021. The Spurs qualified for the play-in tournament but suffered a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, eliminating them from playoff contention for the second straight season.
Chicago Bulls (2021-2024)
On August 11, 2021, DeRozan signed with the Chicago Bulls on a three-year, $85 million contract in a sign-and-trade deal. He made his Bulls debut on October 20, 2021, scoring 17 points in a 94-88 win over the Detroit Pistons. The 2021-22 season became one of his finest. He became the first player in NBA history with a game-winning buzzer-beater on consecutive days, hitting clutch shots against the Indiana Pacers on December 31, 2021, and the Washington Wizards on January 1, 2022.
DeRozan broke Michael Jordan’s franchise record by scoring 35 or more points in six consecutive games while shooting at least 50 percent from the field. He then extended this streak to seven games, becoming the first player in NBA history to score 35 or more points and shoot 50 percent or better in seven consecutive games. He scored a season-high 50 points against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 31, 2022, with 27 of those points coming in the fourth quarter and overtime. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for February and earned his fifth All-Star selection. In Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks, he scored a career playoff-high 41 points, though the Bulls lost the series in five games.
During the 2022-23 season, DeRozan became just the 50th player in NBA history to achieve 20,000 career points. He scored a then season-high 46 points against the Boston Celtics on November 4, 2022. On March 17, 2023, he posted season highs of 49 points and 14 rebounds in a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, combining with Zach LaVine for 88 points, the most ever scored by a duo in Bulls history. In the 2023-24 season, he passed several all-time scorers and finished as the runner-up for the Clutch Player of the Year award.
Sacramento Kings Era (2024-Present)
On July 8, 2024, DeRozan signed with the Sacramento Kings on a three-year, $74 million contract in a sign-and-trade deal that also involved the San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls. In his first season with the Kings during the 2024-25 campaign, he scored a season-high 42 points against the Dallas Mavericks on February 10, 2025. On March 20, 2025, he became the 27th player in NBA history to achieve 25,000 career points. By the end of the season, he moved past Reggie Miller into 25th place on the NBA All-Time Scoring List and became just the sixth player in NBA history to average 20 or more points per game in 12 or more straight seasons.
The 2025-26 season brought continued production. On January 14, 2026, he passed Kevin Garnett to move into 22nd place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. On February 26, 2026, he surpassed John Havlicek and Paul Pierce to reach 20th place during a win over the Dallas Mavericks. On March 15, 2026, he scored a season-high 41 points with 11 assists against the Utah Jazz, becoming the oldest player in NBA history to record a 40-point, 10-assist game. On April 5, 2026, he surpassed Oscar Robertson to move into 16th place on the all-time scoring list.
Driving Style and Strengths
DeRozan is renowned for his exceptional mid-range shooting ability and high-volume scoring. His signature fadeaway jumper from mid-range has become one of the most unstoppable moves in modern basketball. He excels at drawing fouls and converting at the free-throw line, maintaining outstanding efficiency throughout his career. His footwork in the post and ability to score over defenders of all sizes make him a versatile offensive weapon. DeRozan’s bank shot creativity and body control allow him to finish through contact. His mid-range shooting percentage consistently ranks among the league’s best, and he has expanded his three-point shooting in recent seasons while maintaining his offensive efficiency.
Notable Events and Milestones
Throughout his career, DeRozan has accumulated numerous milestones. He became the Toronto Raptors’ all-time leading scorer during his nine seasons with the franchise. His 52-point performance against Milwaukee in 2018 set a Raptors franchise record. He won gold medals with the United States national team at the 2014 FIBA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. In Chicago, his consecutive game-winning buzzer-beaters in January 2022 made NBA history. His consecutive 35-point games while shooting 50 percent or better broke Michael Jordan’s franchise record. He reached 20,000 career points as a member of the Bulls and 25,000 career points with the Kings.
DeMar DeRozan Career Wins
DeRozan has amassed impressive statistics throughout his NBA career spanning from 2009 to present. He has scored over 25,000 career points and ranks among the top 20 scorers in NBA history. His career averages consistently exceed 20 points per game, making him one of the most reliable scorers in league history. He has led his teams to multiple playoff appearances and playoff victories throughout his career with the Raptors, Spurs, Bulls, and Kings.
NBA Highlights
DeRozan has been selected to six NBA All-Star Games (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023), earning starting positions three times. His All-NBA honors include Second Team selections in 2018 and 2022, as well as a Third Team selection in 2017. He led the Toronto Raptors to their first-ever Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2016. His playoff career-high of 41 points came twice, first with the Bulls against Milwaukee in 2022 and again with the Kings against Utah in 2026. He won Olympic gold with Team USA in 2016 and FIBA World Cup gold in 2014.
International and College Achievements
DeRozan’s international career includes gold medal performances at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, both with the United States national team. At the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, he averaged 6.6 points per game in seven games. At the 2014 World Cup in Spain, he averaged 4.8 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game across nine contests. In college, he earned Pac-10 Tournament MVP honors in 2009 and was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team. USC retired his number 10 jersey in recognition of his accomplishments. In high school, he was a McDonald’s All-American and first-team Parade All-American in 2008.
DeMar DeRozan Family
Family Background
DeRozan is the son of Frank DeRozan and Diane DeRozan. His mother has lived with lupus since DeRozan was a child, and he has been open about the impact this had on his family. DeRozan’s father, Frank, passed away on February 19, 2021, after battling health issues for several years. DeRozan maintained a close relationship with his father, regularly flying from wherever he was playing to visit him during his final months.
Personal Life
DeRozan has a daughter named Diar, born in 2013. Diar gained national attention during the Bulls’ 2023 play-in tournament game against the Toronto Raptors when her consistent shrieking during free throws reportedly affected Toronto’s shooting, with the Raptors making just 18 of 36 free throws. The Bulls won the game 109-105, and Raptors forward Scottie Barnes admitted the screaming had an impact. DeRozan has been open about his struggles with depression and has become an advocate for mental health awareness. Along with fellow NBA player Kevin Love, he helped prompt the NBA to require teams to have at least one full-time licensed mental health professional on staff. In 2024, DeRozan published a book titled “Above the Noise: My Story of Chasing Calm” with Harmony Books, describing his experiences with depression and his journey toward healing.
DeRozan received the nickname “Deebo” after the character from the 1995 film “Friday.” He earned the name as a sixth-grader when he defeated an eighth-grader during a basketball game at school. The nickname originated from his Compton neighborhood and eventually followed him into the NBA. In May 2024, DeRozan was referenced in “Not Like Us,” a diss track by fellow Compton native Kendrick Lamar during his public feud with Drake. DeRozan appeared on stage during the “The Pop Out: Ken & Friends” concert on Juneteenth and had a cameo in the music video for “Not Like Us,” which won the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Music Video.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 season marked DeRozan’s first full season with the Sacramento Kings. After signing in July 2024, he seamlessly integrated into the Kings’ offensive system alongside All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox and center Domantas Sabonis. His scoring ability provided additional depth to a Kings team that had been building toward playoff contention in the Western Conference.
DeRozan showcased his consistent excellence throughout the season, scoring in double figures in nearly every game. His 42-point performance against the Dallas Mavericks on February 10, 2025, demonstrated his ability to take over games when needed. The milestone of reaching 25,000 career points on March 20, 2025, solidified his place among the NBA’s all-time greatest scorers. By season’s end, he moved past Reggie Miller into 25th place on the all-time scoring list and joined an elite group of players to average 20 or more points per game in 12 or more consecutive seasons.
The Kings benefited from DeRozan’s mid-range mastery and veteran leadership as they pursued a playoff berth in the competitive Western Conference. His ability to score in isolation situations and execute in late-game scenarios made him a valuable closer for the team. The partnership between DeRozan and the Kings’ core players showed promise for continued success in future seasons, with the team looking to build around his scoring prowess and playoff experience.