DeMar DeRozan is one of the best players in the NBA, according to Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet. The Chicago Bulls forward was teammates with VanVleet during his time with the Toronto Raptors and has clearly left a lasting impression on the veteran guard.
When speaking on a recent “Ball Don’t Stop” podcast, VanVleet spoke glowingly of DeRozan’s basketball abilities. Houston’s newest guard also noted how the Bulls’ forward has developed into one of the better playmakers in the NBA after struggling with that aspect of his game earlier in his career.
Buy Bulls Tickets“DeMar is without a doubt, one of the best players in the NBA,” VanVleet said. “Like, just watch what he does. What I will never defend him for is defense. Because I play defense. … The way he’s graded, we don’t grade everybody like that, and that’s a testament to his greatness…My first two years, I was watching him figure out playmaking, and now, he’s one of the best in the league at it. Passing, finishing, shooting. If you took him and put him in a time machine, he could play in any era.”
The Bulls will need DeRozan to be at his best in the upcoming season as they try to make the postseason, despite Lonzo Ball being ruled out for the entire season and their core being another year older.
“If you put DeMar DeRozan in a Time Machine he could play in any era”
– Fred VanVleet
(Via @balldontstop ) pic.twitter.com/ZVzHn7OPMK
— BASKETBALL ON 𝕏 (@BasketballOnX) September 21, 2023
However, if Chicago does struggle to make an impact in the first half of the season, DeRozan could find his name being floated in trade rumors, especially if the Bulls look to pull the plug on their failed experiment.
