STUMP STORY OF THE DAY
Carter to Carter: The DeMar DeRozan Experiment
Since DeMar entered the league in 2009 a lot has changed. The one constant? He’s still getting buckets.
For those of you who aren’t fully locked into the DeMar DeRozan section of the NBA, let me fill you in. DeMar was drafted in 2009 and has been a certified bucket pretty much since day 1. DeMar has been battling a losing battle, as the art of the three-pointer has become an extremely valued commodity in the NBA, DeMar has always been an unreal mid-range specialist, refusing to give in to modern trends.
This past season, DeMar finished No. 11 in total points scored and finished FIRST in total minutes played. DeMar turns 35 next month, but he’s still going strong.
So strong, I may add, that the Kings just signed him to a three-year, $76 million deal with the Sacramento Kings. Before we get into the Kings era of DeRozan’s career, let’s go back in time a little bit. Here’s where the “Carter” piece of the title comes into play…
Back in 2011-2012, a young DeMar DeRozan laced them up in 24 games with Anthony Carter. At the time, Carter was on his last stop of his NBA career with the Raptors at the ripe age of 36 years old. Carter was a 14-year NBA veteran known as a scrappy defender off the bench. He played for 6 different teams, his first and only season with the Raptors being his last.
His son, Devin Carter, was the 13th pick in the NBA Draft just a few short weeks ago. He was selected by DeRozan’s newest team, the Sacramento Kings. 12 years and a whole lot of buckets later, DeRozan is back playing with a Carter.
The younger Carter was a standout at Providence, flashing elite athleticism, rare defensive intensity, and an ability to score the basketball from just about anywhere on the court.
Since DeMar played with the father Carter, he has played for 4 different teams, made 6 All-Star Teams, and hasn’t given up on keeping the mid-range game alive. DeRozan is a unique player in todays game, getting bucket after bucket in a less modern and conventional way. He’s an ironman, a star who has never played less than 60 games in a season in his career, including an average of over 77 games per season during his last three years in Chicago.
You don’t see many like DeMar anymore, one of the last few holding onto a style and mentality of early 2000’s basketball. The kind of game that made Jordan and Kobe so dangerous in their time. DeMar is probably going to finish his career the way that he started it, with a Carter.
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