NBA Hoops

Why 2021-22 was the ‘perfect’ season for DeMar DeRozan

Why 2021-22 was the ‘perfect’ season for DeMar DeRozan

The regular season DeMar DeRozan delivered in 2021-2022 was one of the most exciting campaigns in recent NBA history. Though his Chicago Bulls did not advance beyond the first round of the playoffs, DeRozan’s individual accomplishments and accolades can not be neither ignored nor forgotten.

The long-time Raptor and short-term Spur joined Chicago in the summer of 2021, as part of a rag-tag effort to re-energize the stagnant Bulls. DeRozan’s steady leadership was just what the doctor order, and his Herculean offense helped the Bulls return to relevance. DeRozan called it a “perfect” season.

DeRozan won’t win the MVP award, and the Bulls decidedly did not win the title. That doesn’t mean DeMar DeRozan’s 2021-22 regular season stats aren’t worth celebrating. Let’s take a look at the former USC Trojan’s epic year:

The numbers

With thirteen years of service in the NBA, we’ve long known DeRozan is a certified offensive weapon. This year he took his game to new heights.

DeMar averaged 27.9 points per game, the best mark of his career, with a 52.1 eFG%, the second best mark of his career. He also shot the three pretty well and played a key role in sharing the ball and crashing the glass.

In February, however, DeRozan went positively nuclear. On Feb 5 the former All-Star went for 45 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. He was just getting started, and over the course of the next seven games, DeMar was unstoppable.

DeMar DeRozan scored 35 points or more on 50% shooting or better for eight straight games. The only other player to perform at such a high clip in league history is Wilt Chamberlain, who managed this feat for six games. (He did do it twice, however.)

It was an unbelievable stretch, and deservedly put DeRozan squarely in the MVP conversation. And though he and the Bulls cooled off a little down the stretch, he ended the year as statistically one of the league’s most dominant offensive powers.

The moments

DeMar DeRozan has hit a…

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