DeMar DeRozan's season opener puts him in company with Michael Jordan

As far as Bulls' season-opening scoring performances go, no one did it better than DeRozan and MJ

In the Chicago Bulls' season-opening win over the Miami Heat, DeMar DeRozan put on historic performance. He posted 37 points in their 116-108 road win, joining Michael Jordan as the only player in team history to drop 37 or more in a season-opener.

Spectacular start to the season

With his usual running mates Lonzo Ball and Zach LaVine sidelined due to injuries, DeRozan took it upon himself to deliver the goods for the Bulls on the road. And he did it efficiently, shooting 14-of-22 from the field.

Lest you think all the Compton native did was score buckets, you'd be sorely mistaken as he also made plays for his teammates, racking up nine assists along with six rebounds, two steals, and a block.

DeRozan's offensive explosion on Wednesday surpassed the 36 points that Guy Rodgers tallied in the franchise's first-ever NBA game. The veteran wingman got off to a sluggish start but bounced back in the second half, scoring 28 points in that stretch to lead the Bulls to an impressive victory over a Heat squad many pegged to be one of the beasts in the East.

Good company

Anytime you're mentioned in the same breath as His Airness, you know you're doing something right. DeRozan's 37-point performance was the highest scoring output by a Bulls player in a season-opener in 26 years. Right above DeRozan's tally on Wednesday is Jordan's 42-point-masterpiece in Chicago's season-opener in 1996.

Eager for retribution after getting ousted by the Orlando Magic in the 1994-1995 NBA Playoffs, Jordan and the Bulls started the '95-'96 season on a mission. In their first game of the season, they took out their frustrations on the Charlotte Hornets, winning 105-91, with Jordan scoring 42 points on 16-of-29 shooting.