Low SI ranking one of the reasons why DeRozan is scoring so much
Well, looks like DeMar DeRozan is still bitter about his Sports Illustrated (SI) ranking.
On Friday, DeRozan told the media that his low SI player ranking is one of the main reasons why he has been scoring so much. Per The Score:
“’That has a lot to do with it,’ DeRozan said Friday after teammate Jonas Valanciunas interrupted the media scrum to remind DeRozan of his 46th ranking.”
In September, SI released its top 100 NBA players list, and the Toronto Raptors guard landed on number 46. DeRozan was not happy with this rank at all, and sent out multiple tweets showing his displeasure.
However, it seems like that low ranking is doing a lot of good for DeRozan because he is playing out of his mind right now. Here’s what he scored in his previous five games: 40, 32, 33, 40, and 34. That’s 35.8 points per game (on 55.1 field goal percentage, mind you). Additionally, his binge scoring has put him in the ranks of Michael Jordan, as he is the only player since MJ in 1986 to post five consecutive 30-plus point games to start the season.
Next up for the Raptors will be the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. Do you think DeRozan can keep up his phenomenal scoring?
