Chicago Bulls winger DeMar DeRozan is in his 15th season. For some All-Stars, this may be the time they dial back their workload in preparation for the long walk toward the sunset of their careers. However, for Deebo, this is just another day at the office.
The former USC Trojan leads the league in total minutes played with 2,527. With Chicago suffering so many injuries to numerous rotation players, the Bulls’ chances of winning hinge on every second DeRozan is on the floor. While DeRozan may never admit it, he’s only human, and fatigue can set in after playing so many minutes.
But what sets DeRozan apart from others is his unwavering focus on the task at hand. In a recent interview after the Bulls' Monday victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, he shared some insights on how he stays mentally sharp even when his body is fatigued.
Never panic
DeRozan may be the ultimate hooper, but he’s open-minded enough to explore other ways to improve his game. The “King of the Fourth” revealed that he uses techniques he learned from swimming and boxing to help him stay calm and maintain his focus on the court even when his body is already screaming for rest.
"You know what's crazy is I learned a technique years ago when it comes to swimming and boxing to be able to stay focused no matter how tired you get," DeRozan said.
"Never panic when you're in the water. And never let you feel fatigue when you're boxing. That's two training methods outside of basketball that I take serious every summer. And I've been doing that for years."
Late-game heroics
DeRozan has made a career out of bailing his team out, making one big shot after another in crunchtime. This season, with Zach LaVine out for the season, Deebo has had to shoulder even more of the scoring load, especially when the game hangs in the balance. DeRozan bared that while others may cower at the opportunity to shoot the last shot, he embraces it and accepts the responsibility—win or lose.
"A lot of times, late-game moments is where I'm able to control a lot of my exertion. I know how to channel it somewhere else and think clearly," DeRozan said.
More must-reads: