DeMar DeRozan: ‘I Can Go Down the List of Just Being Counted Out, Being Looked Over’

On Tuesday night, the Bulls notched their second-consecutive win in the Staples Center, defeating the Lakers 121-103. Chicago was led by forward DeMar DeRozan, who scored a season-high 38 points. This marks his fifth time scoring at least 30 points in the past nine games.

So far this season, DeRozan has been a vital piece in the team’s 10-4 start to the season, as he’s averaging 26.9 points per game along with 5.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and shooting 51 percent from the field. As of right now, he’s ranked third in the League in scoring so far this season.

According to Jamal Collier of ESPN, DeRozan is aware of the naysayers calling him “washed” and questioning his capability:

“I can go down the list of just being counted out, being looked over,” DeRozan says, per ESPN. “So many chips that’s on my shoulder that I carry. And just wanting to be a winner and wanting to enjoy this ride. We can’t play this game forever, so I want to get as much as I can out of it.”

At 32-years-old, DeRozan doesn’t view his age as an “issue” or a “limit” to how he can continue to contribute to the Bulls:

“I never looked at age as being an issue,” DeRozan added. “I never looked at it. People put the age limit on everything, and I never did. The way I worked, the way I take care of my body, the way I prepare, I knew what I was capable of doing. I just took different roads the last couple years of playing basketball, trying to do the right thing, figuring it out.

“This time, just knowing my ability was always there, I never lost confidence. I never thought I couldn’t be who I was before. Chicago allowed me to completely be myself.”