A moment of appreciation for DeMar DeRozan

The former Toronto Raptor keeps outdoing himself and is getting the league-wide respect he deserves. Imman and Yasmin take a moment to appreciate the 32-year-old as he is seemingly in the prime of his career.

Video Transcript

- Let's see if they double team him, get the ball out of his hands.

- DeRozan fires. For the lead, got this. Finesse. Oh, my goodness.

- Look, no double team comes complete, spins back, take that with you. DeMar DeRozan is the real deal.

- Man, we already knew what he was going to do. Come on, man. Come on, man.

- We see you, Deebo.

IMMAN ADAN: He's just been on a tear, and I just wanted to stop and give him some love. And that's the only reason why I thought of like-- even though the fit isn't as nice as having Kawhi Leonard, who is an All NBA-level defender and an elite 3-point shooter and shot creator and can really do anything DeMar can do just better, having DeMar-- that's not fair. DeMar DeRozan is a better playmaker.

But I just wanted to give some DeMar some love because he's been on an MVP-type tear. He's been on a historic tear, the numbers that he's putting up. You have records that he's setting that haven't been touched since Wilt Chamberlain which is ridiculous considering Will is the guy who's averaged 50 points in a season before.

So what are your thoughts on DeMar's career? Career? What are your thoughts on DeMar DeRozan's season?

YASMIN DUALE: It's so cool to see him-- I've always like-- ever since he was traded from the Raptors, I was hoping he'd have a season like this just so people can see the talent level that he's capable of and hopefully translates into the postseason. Because DeMar is like-- he's a wicked basketball player. That's why people were so initially upset at the transaction.

So I remember just thinking like-- yeah, just DeMar needs to have an MVP caliber season, and I'll feel less proud about this happening because I know he's capable of it. And he's on a team where they have a-- it's not like just some team that's next up or something. This is a team with legitimate contention aspirations.

So to see him doing it at this level just seemed to have the opportunity to not only win MVP but to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals, it's unreal. So he's not only just making shots, he's playing his best basketball, his-- holistically, his best offensive basketball period. He is a complete passer. He is an artist in his footwork. Like, he makes other players kind of just fangirl and freak out.

IMMAN ADAN: Kevin Durant, almost a decade ago it feels like now, said that he studies DeMar DeRozan's game to learn his footwork. Like, that's where he gets it from. Like, this is not new with DeMar DeRozan which you're pointing out.

I think for me, I honestly didn't see this type of a season coming out for DeMar DeRozan, and not because I didn't-- because I feel like a lot of people are treating DeMar as if this is like some new revelation, not that he's been this player. He's been better every single year since he left the Raptors. But what we're seeing right now is something that if you looked at DeMar a few years ago, you should have very well seen that he was capable of.

I think for me, a little bit of it is the Bulls seem to be a perfect fit. He's never played with as much spacing as he has now. When Lonzo and Caruso are healthy, just the defense there that they have, the push, the-- their transition offense is also really great because they just get a bunch of steals and they run out when those guys are healthy. But when they're not, DeMar DeRozan, his footwork, his ability to get his shot off wherever he-- like, whenever he wants it, wherever he wants it, he's just a straight up bucket getter. There's like no other way to really talk about his game than saying that.

But I think for me, I thought DeMar-- I thought the trajectory of DeMar's career was more of that sort of playmaking role. Because I was just like, it's going to be difficult for him to be the number one option on a team that has title aspirations. Because that's something that the Raptors and Masai Ujiri tried to do year in and year out, and they came to a wall. They--

And I still am very iffy on the Chicago Bulls and how good they are, and I don't know how great I think they're going to be. But it was very clear that this fits. And part of that is having another scorer alongside him like a Zach LaVine, and they complement each other so well. And then you also have [INAUDIBLE] down there. So the Bulls are really fun--