DeRozan joins historic NBA membership in Kings’ blowout win over Spurs initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Bay Space
Greatness can occur any night time.
The Kings celebrated the star guard DeMar DeRozan changing into the thirtieth participant in NBA historical past to achieve 24,000 profession factors with a well-deserved 140-113 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday at Frost Financial institution Middle.
Sacramento’s 140 factors are a season excessive, and in a method, they’re additionally a becoming tribute to one of many league’s all-time best scorers.
“It is simply an absurd quantity,” Kings coach Mike Brown instructed reporters. “However being round him, you’ll be able to see how he bought there.
“His means to achieve his spot, and I believe everybody on that roster had a spot or two and in the event that they bought there, it was over. So, being round DeMar, within the quick time I have been there, it is smart that he could be on the roster. However that is simply an absurd variety of factors for anybody to attain.
4 of the Kings’ 5 starters completed the night time with not less than 20 factors, with DeRozan recording a team-high 23 factors. However as a lot as Brown and Co. thrived on starter manufacturing, Kevin Huerter made a major impression coming off the bench, scoring 16 factors and making all 4 of his 3-point makes an attempt.
Keon Ellisalternatively, returned to Brown’s rotation after recording two consecutive DNPs. He completed with three factors, 4 steals and three assists.
Early within the second quarter, after hitting a free throw, DeRozan turned the sixth lively participant to achieve that milestone, becoming a member of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
Greater than 24,000 factors later, the six-time NBA All-Star is honored to be a part of such an elite listing of gamers.
“It’s all the time superb to achieve a milestone,” DeRozan mentioned. “Simply desirous about the historical past of the league, being within the high 30 scorers of all time and nonetheless having the chance so as to add to that’s past humbling.
“I by no means imagined this is able to occur within the league: to be among the many best gamers to ever play the sport. For me, it is really humbling. It says quite a bit about my profession.
Sacramento’s first victory in opposition to San Antonio, with out heart Victor Wembanyama, comes after a collection of disappointing defeats, together with Thursday night time in opposition to the Memphis Grizzlies.
With DeRozan a part of the 24,000-point membership and a excessive win behind them, Brown and Co. will certainly enter Sunday’s residence recreation in opposition to the Utah Jazz with extra optimism.
