DeMar DeRozan may be in the final stages of his career and he's playing hard for a bad Sacramento Kings team, but that shouldn't take away from the fact that he's been playing at a high level for a very long time.
He has been one of the most consistent scorers in NBA history, and on Thursday night, in a battle against the New Orleans Pelicans between the two worst teams in the West, DeRozan passed Stephen Curry for 19th on the NBA's all-time scoring list, according to Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee.
DeRozan entered the night with 26,439 points, and in the opening round of the Kings' clash against the Pelicans, he scored his ninth and 10th points of the night. He needed just eight to tie Curry, but he wasted no time in passing his fellow 2009 draftee on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
This may be on hold for a while, as Curry is currently dealing with a knee injury and there is no specific timeline yet for when he will return.
Meanwhile, DeRozan is as healthy as ever, and even though the Kings are prioritizing the development of their youth for a high draft pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, he will still have plenty of opportunities to put up points in the final month of the 2025-26 season.
Will DeMar DeRozan have to fight for his future after his tenure with the Kings ends?
DeRozan is already 36 years old, and by the time the 2026-27 season starts, he will be 37 years old. He still has a year left on his Kings contract, meaning he could still be stuck in Sacramento next season.
The future Hall of Famer's career is winding down, and he hasn't had a chance to compete for a title since his days with the Toronto Raptors. He has to accept that, to have a chance at the Larry O'Brien Trophy, he will have to play the sixth man role (at best) on a winning team. Would he be willing to do so?
