DeMar DeRozan explains the key factors that made him choose Sacramento

The newest Sacramento Kings member, DeMar DeRozan, spoke exclusively with Sactown Sports 1140 following his introductory press conference.

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Jul 9, 2024, 4:50 PM Updated: 5:09 pm

Follow on Google News

Watch: What does Keegan need to become for you to feel good about his new contract? | 49 seconds

The newest member of the Sacramento Kings franchise, DeMar DeRozan spoke with the media in Golden 1 Center on Tuesday afternoon about his decision to come to California’s capital, the impact De’Aaron Fox and assistant coach Jay Triano had throughout his free agency, his desire to light the beam, and plenty more.

“It’s beyond an honor to be able to be a part of such an uprising franchise,” DeRozan said to start the press conference. “The want that they showed going into free agency was amazing. It always feels good to be wanted somewhere and from day one, they showed that. So, it’s an honor to be able to represent this organization and build on what this organization has been doing over the last couple of years.

“It’s something special,” he continued. “I definitely want to be a part of it and I want to be one of those guys that hits the beam that lights up at night.”

The full press conference can be heard using the above YouTube link.

After speaking to the media as a whole, DeMar DeRozan spoke to Sactown Sports’s Brenden Nunes exclusively.

Jay Triano seems to be a very loud personality and you had him for your first two years. How does having him around help with this process and your decision of coming over to Sacramento?

DeMar DeRozan: “It helped a lot. He will always hold a special place with me because he was my first NBA coach. He was the first person. I was the only rookie on the team my first year and I started all those veterans. There were times where he pushed me, he challenged me. All those moments I will never forget because it was my first. So, for it to come full circle and to be right back with him, me trusting his word, him seeing how much I’ve evolved over my career, everything just goes hand in hand. So, I know he wouldn’t tell me nothing wrong. He wouldn’t allow me to put myself in any type of position that wasn’t beneficial. So, his words definitely went a long way.”

And Anthony Carter (Sacramento rookie Devin Carter’s dad) was your vet in Toronto?

DeRozan: “Yeah, he was my vet. I played with him my second or third year in the league.”

What’s it like for it to be kind of full circle with Devin on the team now? Do you get to kind of swap roles here?

DeRozan: “It’s definitely crazy man. It just shows you where the game will take you. That moment just shows me how far the game has took me, to be able to play with someone’s father and now with someone’s son, that’s the beauty in it and you’ve got to enjoy it.”

More on the basketball side, it’s a very equal-opportunity offense. You’re a guy who seems, like you’ve said, like water can blend into everything, how much do you look at that as a fun system to play in?

DeRozan: “It’s not predictable. It’s not something you could key on and when it’s that way all your offensive capabilities are going to be able to take over even easier. Especially having so many dynamic players on the team, I don’t see how you could guard a team like that and that’s something you want to be a part of. So, that was a big reason why I chose here.”

What about the pace? I think early when Lonzo [Ball] was there in Chicago you guys ran, but for the most part you’ve played on slower teams. Was the pace appealing to you here?

DeRozan: “The pace was definitely appealing. That’s where the game is kind of going to these days. You’ve got to be able to keep up, you’ve got to be able to play, and there’s going to be times where you’ve got to be able to know how to slow it down and play as well and I think I can bring both of those facets into play.”