– ‣ Chicago Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan is on pace to break LeBron James’ record as the oldest player to lead the NBA in total minutes played in a season, a record James set during the 2017-18 season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
– ‣ DeRozan, at age 34, is leading the league this season in both total minutes played (2,072) and minutes per game (37.7), with 25 games remaining.
– ‣ Despite his age and the minutes he’s playing, DeRozan maintains a rigorous recovery routine that includes 5-hour naps, contributing to his performance and endurance throughout the season.
DeMar DeRozan has played more this season than any player in the NBA except for Coby White — 1,136 minutes to be exact.
He’s doing that at age 34 in year 15.
DeMar said it feels better than he expected — but he relies on a rigorous recovery routine that includes 5-hour naps.
— Julia Poe (@byjuliapoe)
Details
Chicago Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan is on a mission, folks. He’s eyeing LeBron James’ record for being the oldest player to top the league in total minutes played in a season. LeBron set this bar high with the Cavs back in the 2017-18 season. He was 32, about to hit 33, and clocked in a whopping 3,026 minutes across all 82 games. What a marathon, right?
Now, let’s talk about DeRozan’s odds. According to some NBA betting sites, he’s ranked fourth for the NBA Clutch Player of the Year. Seems like Stephen Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Damian Lillard are stealing the spotlight with better odds. But, DeRozan? He’s not far behind.
Here’s a fun fact from Twitter: DeRozan has been on the court more than any other NBA player this season, except for Coby White. We’re talking 1,136 minutes of game time. And guess what? He’s doing it at 34, in his 15th year. DeRozan himself said he’s feeling better than expected, thanks to a strict recovery routine that includes 5-hour naps. Yes, you heard it, 5-hour naps!
As of now, DeRozan’s leading the league with 2,072 total minutes played this season, averaging 37.7 minutes per game. And there are still 25 games left. Coby White, his teammate, is hot on his heels with 2,068 minutes. Then we have Scottie Barnes, Domantas Sabonis, Mikal Bridges, and Paolo Banchero trailing behind.
Rewind to 2012-13, a younger DeRozan played a then-career-high of 3,013 total minutes with the Toronto Raptors. He didn’t miss a single game that season. The next year? He outdid himself with 3,017 minutes in 79 games. At 24, he was averaging 38.2 minutes per game. Insane, right?
Let’s not forget LeBron James, though. At 39, he’s led the NBA in total minutes played three times during his 21-year career. And Wilt Chamberlain? He topped the charts eight times in his 14-year career. These guys set the bar high.
DeRozan’s current season stats are nothing to scoff at either. Through 55 games, all starts, he’s averaging 22.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. His shooting? 47% from the field, 33.8% from 3-point range, and 85.3% at the foul line.
In a recent game against the Orlando Magic, DeRozan played a season-high 44 minutes. Despite the Bulls’ 114-108 loss, he managed 28 points, four rebounds, and four assists. His shooting was solid, too, at 45.8% from the floor.
Lastly, the NBA sportsbooks have the Bulls with the ninth-best odds to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. The Indiana Pacers and Magic are apparently more favored. But hey, in the world of sports, anything can happen, right? Let’s keep an eye on DeRozan and see how this season unfolds.
