DeMar DeRozan Cherishes Mentorship of De’Aaron Fox, Young Kings Players – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

DeMar DeRozan brings more than just a great scoring ability and versatility to the Kings. He comes to Sacramento with a ton of experience and maturity.

The 34-year-old is entering his 16th NBA season. Sacramento’s remaining roster features 11 players under the age of 29, and Kings center Alex Len, 31, is the only 30-year-old on the roster other than DeRozan.

Other Sacramento stars like De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray — all 28 or younger — have taken the lead in California’s capital city in recent seasons. DeRozan explained his excitement for mentoring his new, young teammates — on and off the court — to The Athletic’s Hunter Patterson in an exclusive interview.

“I pride myself on that,” DeRozan told Patterson about sharing wisdom with his teammates. “Just sharing all the life experience that I’ve had, sharing that and giving whatever kind of gems I can to help avoid pitfalls that someone else might go through if they haven’t been through something.

“I’ve had a lot of experiences on and off the pitch that I feel I can share. Any experience I can give, I’ll try to give, because I want the best for everyone I work or play with and I want them to thrive as best as possible.”

During nine seasons with the Toronto Raptors, three with the San Antonio Spurs and three with the Chicago Bulls, DeRozan played in 11 NBA All-Star Games and 63 playoff games.

But in addition to being a star player who averaged 21.2 points on 46.9 percent shooting throughout his career, the California native is a vocal advocate for mental health. DeRozan has been open about his struggles with stress, anxiety and depression for years, and has made himself available and vulnerable to anyone going through tough times.

DeRozan will share backcourt duties with Fox during the 2024-25 NBA season. While Fox has been a King for his entire seven-year career, DeRozan made it clear that the 26-year-old, while immensely talented, can come to him for personal or career advice.

Of course, the two electric goal scorers are proud fathers who often miss their loved ones on the road.

“He’s electric,” DeRozan told Patterson on Fox. “One of the best point guards in the league. His ability to take over a game and win it is obviously well documented. But his drive and his hunger to want to win, you see it every night.

“It’s hard sometimes to be a father and balance family time with work. Sometimes it’s hard, especially when you’re on the road, away from your kids. When something happens, it’s just little things like that. Having fatherly conversations with someone who’s already a father. Any insights I can give, I’ll give, and it can be the other way around.”

DeRozan is already beloved in Sacramento for being one of the biggest players, if not the biggest, to not only agree to a trade with the Kings in free agency but also turn down big teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers and Miami Heat.

However, the love loyal Kings fans have for their new star wing will only grow as they get to know DeRozan better as a person.

Sacramento residents still have plenty of time to do so, as the potential Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee has signed a three-year, $76 million contract that runs through the 2026-27 season.

After a disappointing loss in the NBA Play-In Tournament ended the Kings’ 2023-24 season, Sacramento as a franchise and a city could not wait for their upcoming campaign with DeRozan.

The veteran’s talents and personality appear to be a perfect fit for the Kings.

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