For 15 seasons, DeRozan’s been as sturdy as they arrive. He’s appeared in 1,110 of 1,193 regular-season video games, an eye-popping 93 % of his group’s contests. Since he joined the Bulls within the 2021 offseason, DeRozan has missed solely 17 of a doable 246 video games. Even after a bodily grueling, time beyond regulation battle in opposition to the Knicks to shut the common season, DeRozan couldn’t provide you with a single grievance about his minutes depend. If he had his manner, he’d play extra. “I love it. I want to play,” DeRozan said. “I tell Billy all the time, ‘Don’t take me out. I want to play.’ I want to be out there with the guys. I want to feel that challenge. Especially when you realize I’m not going to play for another 15 years, another 10 years. So while I’m here, I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. I don’t want to shortchange anybody: myself, my teammates, people who come to see me. “I simply need to be on the market and play as a lot as I can. And I’m going to handle myself as finest as I can so I can try this.” -via The Athletic / April 14, 2024