DeMar DeRozan discusses his mental health journey with The Drive Guys

New Sacramento Kings star guard DeMar DeRozan discussed his mental health journey and authoring 'Above The Noise.'

Oct 10, 2024, 5:15 PM Updated: 7:07 pm

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New Sacramento Kings star guard DeMar DeRozan joined The Drive Guys on Thursday afternoon to discuss his mental health journey and authoring ‘Above The Noise.’

Fittingly, the conversation took place on Mental Health Day. The trio started their conversation by discussing DeRozan’s upbringing and how that shaped him into the person he is today.

The six-time All-Star shared that he doesn’t “want to be remembered just for basketball.”

“The things I’ve accomplished on the basketball court led me to become something bigger,” he continued. “That’s what it’s all about.”

His vulnerability and transparency are rare for someone in the public eye, particularly within the sports world.

The full interview is available on Sactown Sports’ YouTube page using the link above.

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?

Did somebody ask for another Kings vs. Warriors showdown?

Sacramento and Golden State will meet for another preseason matchup on Friday night at Chase Center to continue working towards the start of the regular season.

Be sure to catch all of the action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage starting at 2:00 PM PDT on The Drive Guys before action tips off at 7:00 PM PDT from downtown San Francisco.