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DeMar DeRozan was named the NBA's Player of the Week
DeMar DeRozan’s fourth-quarter brilliance during their four-game road trip out west earned him the Eastern Conference Player of the Week plum. The 15-year veteran was magnificent in all but one game on that road trip, always coming up big down the stretch to help the Bulls take down formidable Western Conference opponents like the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, and the Utah Jazz.
Big-time numbers
Deebo averaged 29.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game to lead the Bulls to a 3-1 record. The only loss was to the Los Angeles Clippers in the last game of that grueling stretch. Making the feat more impressive are the 12 points that DeRozan averaged in the fourth quarters of those games.
The former USC Trojan was also efficient from the field, making 55 percent of his shot attempts, including an eyebrow-raising 41 percent from long distance. Deebo’s free-throw shooting was also immaculate, as he made 92.3 percent from the charity stripe.
Fourth Player of the Week citation with the Bulls
It was the fourth time DeRozan had won the prestigious weekly citation, putting him in third all-time in franchise history, alongside Ben Gordon and Jimmy Butler. However, DeRozan has a long way to go to catch up with the all-time leader, Michael Jordan, who has 23.
Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said DeRozan is a pro’s pro and expressed admiration for his overall game.
“His [midrange] game is as good as anyone in the world,” Kidd said before the Mavs took on the Bulls.
“He’s playing at a high level. He’s a vet. The things you heard about him in Toronto or San Antonio being a pro, that’s what you want and that’s what Chicago has.”
