Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan etched his name into the record books on Thursday night, becoming just the 27th player in NBA history to reach 25,000 career points. The historic feat came in the third quarter of the Kings’ 128-116 loss to the Chicago Bulls, the very team he played for in the three previous seasons.
DeRozan entered the game needing just 17 points to hit the milestone, and fittingly, he surpassed the mark with one of his signature mid-range turnaround jumpers. The Golden 1 Center crowd erupted in applause as the moment was acknowledged during a timeout.
“It’s always an honor,” DeRozan said after the game. “Just to be able to play this game at a high level for this long—16 years—and to be mentioned among the best scorers in league history, it’s surreal.”
A Legacy Defined by Scoring Excellence
At 35 years old, DeRozan continues to prove why he’s one of the most consistent scorers in the modern era. Now part of an elite club, he joins active players LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Stephen Curry as the only ones to have reached 25,000 points.
His journey to this milestone has been defined by longevity, consistency, and an elite mid-range game that remains nearly unstoppable. In his first season with Sacramento, DeRozan is averaging 22.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting an impressive 48.6% from the field and a career-best 35.6% from beyond the arc.
Looking Ahead: Hall of Fame Bound?
With six All-Star appearances, a reputation as one of the game’s most skilled offensive players, and now a spot among the top 30 scorers in NBA history, the inevitable question arises—will DeRozan one day be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame?
While he has never won an NBA championship, his scoring prowess and longevity make him a strong candidate. As he continues to add to his impressive career totals, his case for Springfield only grows stronger.
For now, DeRozan and the Kings are focused on making a deep playoff run, but Thursday night was all about celebrating a player who has dedicated nearly two decades to mastering the art of scoring.
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