DeMar DeRozan on joining the Kings & what inspired him to write his new book

Oct 1, 2024, 7:41 AM | Updated: 7:41 am

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 30: DeMar DeRozan during a media day photo shoot at Sacramento K...

(Photo by John Todd/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

A new era of Sacramento Kings basketball is officially underway as DeMar DeRozan enters his first season in purple and black.

DeRozan, a six-time NBA All-Star, donned his new uniform for the first time on Monday as the Kings went through their Media Day for the upcoming 2024-25 season.

The talented scorer sat down with Carmichael Dave and Jason Ross to share what inspired him to write his new book, shed some light on what he wants to bring to the Kings, and much more.

Be sure to check out the full interview with Kings forward DeMar DeRozan on the Sactown Sports 1140 YouTube page.

Listen to The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross from 6 – 10 a.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

Click here for full episodes of The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross.

More on Kings forward DeMar DeRozan

The Kings and DeRozan came to an agreement on a three-year, $76 million deal (third year is partially guaranteed at $10 million) on July 8th.

DeRozan has been one of the NBA’s top scorers over the past decade, averaging 23.5 points per game since the start of the 2013-14 season. The 6’6 wing is coming off an impressive 2023-24 campaign that saw him average 24.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game on 48/33/85 shooting splits.

The veteran is a gifted scorer in the mid-range, knocking down nearly 50 percent of his jumpers from 10-to-16 feet. DeRozan is also reliable in crunch time, posting top-three finishes in Clutch Player of the Year voting over the past two seasons.

Getting to the foul line is an art form for DeRozan, as the newest member of the Kings ranked second among all NBA leaders in made free throws, third in attempts, and fifth in attempts per game (7.7).

DeRozan is one of 15 NBA players to average 25+ points and 5+ assists per game over the past three seasons–joining potential future teammate De’Aaron Fox–while ranking fifth in Win Shares among the talented group.

Adding DeRozan’s scoring and playmaking abilities to Sacramento’s core is a clear upgrade for a roster that has been in need of a facelift, and the newest member of the Kings will soon be in action as the October 9th preseason opener quickly approaches.

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?

The Kings will go through a week of practice and full-contact workouts before opening up the preseason portion of their 2024-25 schedule at home against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, October 9th.

Be sure to catch all of the action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM with Kings vs. Warriors set to tip off at 7:00 PM PDT.