MY ACCOUNT
DeMar DeRozan vowed to remain grounded after breaking a 60-year NBA record held by Wilt Chamberlain in the Chicago Bulls’ win against the Sacramento Kings.
The five-time All-Star scored a game-high 38 points in Wednesday’s 125-118 victory at United Center as the Bulls won for a fifth game running to go 38-21 for the season.
In doing so, DeRozan became the first player to score 35 points or more and shoot 50 per cent or better in seven straight games.
That is a record previously held by legendary figure Chamberlain, who achieved the feat on separate occasions in 1960-61 and in 1962-63.
After writing his name in the NBA record books, DeRozan struggled to sum up his feelings.
“I can’t. I’ll be honest with you, I can’t. I can’t describe it,” he said. “It’s one of those things where I’m completely locked in as soon as I come to work.”
DeRozan’s run of at least 30 points in eight straight games is also the longest streak by a Bulls player since Michael Jordan in 1996.
“As a kid, as a fan of the history of the game, being in the league as long as I’ve been in this league – things like that continue to make me even more humble,” he said.
“Being an NBA player and being able to have the privilege to be able to play this long and have these opportunities, it’s something I never take for granted.
“And the crazy thing is I felt like I missed eight easy shots [against Sacramento] I normally would have made.”
DeRozan is level with the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid for the longest streak of 30 or more points by a player this season.
He leads the Bulls this season with 1,547 points at an average of 28.1 through 55 games, which is the fourth-best tally of any player in NBA behind LeBron James (29.1), Embiid (29.3) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (29.4).
The Bulls are now guaranteed at least a share of first place in the Eastern Conference heading into the All-Star break, with the Miami Heat able to draw level when they face the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.
While DeRozan has played a vital role in what has been an impressive campaign to date, head coach Billy Donovan has been pleased with the input from every player.
“I’m just really appreciative of this group of guys from top to bottom,” Donovan said.
“The way they come to work every day, how professional they are, how they try to keep themselves ready, how it’s all about the team, all about winning and what each individual can do to impact and help in winning.”
