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Can DeMar DeRozan keep on fending off Father Time?
There are many questions surrounding All-Star wingman DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls heading to the 2023-2024 season.
The Compton native is playing in the final season of the three-year pact he signed in 2021, making him an unrestricted free agent, provided he and the Bulls do not agree to an extension. DeRozan is already 34 years old, and many wonder if he can keep up his impressive production as he ages into his mid-30s.
Can he still defy Father Time?
By all accounts, DeRozan has shown no signs of slowing down during his Bulls' tenure. Although his scoring dipped from 27.9 points to 24.5 last season, his playmaking skills became more profound as the proven isolation scorer dished out 5.1 assists per game.
Despite those robust stats, the Bulls still did not make the postseason in 2022-2023 and have just one win to show in Deebo's time in Chicago. This begs the question: How much does the veteran have left in the tank?
"With his 34th birthday behind him, can the scoring forward keep fending off Father Time? It's a legitimate question, even if DeRozan has given very little indication about feeling any ill effects of the aging process," Zach Buckley wrote in his piece for Bleacher Report.
Expand his game
This upcoming season holds a lot of significance for DeRozan. For one, he's playing for a brand-new contract—whether that's with Chicago or some other team. In addition, that said contract could be the last big payday of his decorated career. He must also prove that his robust numbers could translate to a winning team. To do that, he must expand his game and prove he still has levels left in his game.
"That's why his challenge goes beyond playing well this season. In order for him to hit the jackpot next summer, he needs to dominate in ways that suggest he has multiple seasons of high-level play still in front of him," Buckley wrote.
