The Sacramento Kings had a good time fine-tuning their roster this season. They paired DeMar DeRozan with Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox but missed out on maximum returns. Now that Fox’s trade rumor has picked pace, DeRozan has also made his statement about the probable future clear.
Following Fox’s trade request, DeRozan admitted that the uncertainty around Fox makes it difficult to envision a long-term future in Sacramento. He opened up during a recent appearance on the Run It Back FDTV show. The 6x NBA All-Star reflected on the bond he formed with key players like Fox and Domantas Sabonis when deciding to join the Kings.
“It’s tough because, looking at the landscape before I came here, those were the guys I talked to, Fox, Domantas, and Malik. Those are the core guys that made it easy for me to make my decision to play here. A key juggernaut in Fox, not knowing the future of that does make it tough. I don’t have much time left. I’m not trying to play another five years,” DeMar said during the conversation.
DeMar DeRozan on his future with the Kings if De’Aaron Fox is traded:
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 30, 2025
“I’m not trying to play another 5 years. I’m trying to maximize the opportunity we have now to play with a great team.”
(via @RunItBackFDTV)pic.twitter.com/NnIWKvpPw2
However, it’s obvious of him to look for maximizing his opportunities given the finite number of years left in his basketball career. And now that both DeRozan and Fox are at a crossroads, the coming days will be crucial for Sacramento.
Also Read: VIDEO: Lonzo Ball Shares Wholesome Moment With Ex-Teammate DeMar DeRozan During Bulls-Kings Game
DeMar DeRozan Reveals How He Wants To Retire
DeMar DeRozan has been in the NBA for a long time. Sooner or later, he will see his final day coming in the league. Recently, he made it clear that he envisions retiring as a Toronto Raptor. In a recent episode of Open Gym, ‘Deebo’ expressed his desire to sign a one-day contract with the team that drafted him in 2009.
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“It’s the only place I would want to go out as well, doing the whole one-day thing. I think I’ve said it before: I will never have an emotional connection in any other place like I had in Toronto. Me being drafted there, there was no other place I wanted to go,” he said. [Mark- 23:56]
However, DeRozan had a standout nine-season run with the Toronto Raptors. He became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer and guided the team through five playoff appearances. In the summer of 2018, he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs and then moved to the Chicago Bulls in 2021. Most recently, in the summer of 2024, he was traded to the Kings.
