DeMar DeRozan began this NBA season en fuego, and while he's cooled a bit since, he's still smoldering about the perceived lack of respect he got from various media outlets' preseason player rankings.
"I think it's B.S." DeRozan told ESPN's Brian Windhorst. "I'm willing to line up against anyone in the league, and it will be toe-to-toe until the end. I believe I've proved that."
The eighth-year swingman's consternation mostly comes from Sports Illustrated placing him 46th in its annual list of NBA player rankings. Additionally, The Washington Post ranked him 45th, ESPN 30th, and theScore 28th.
"Whoever came up with that is stupid in my opinion," DeRozan said in September, coining the hashtag #proveem. "I guarantee you a lot of the players that are ranked ahead of me know that they're no better than me."
Despite some off-nights lately - especially against the Sacramento Kings, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Lakers - DeRozan is averaging career highs in points (27.9), rebounds (5.3), assists (4.3), true shooting percentage (56.3), and PER (25.6).
The two-time All-Star is well-known for his offseason and practice work ethic, much of it modeled on that of his idol Kobe Bryant. He admitted to ESPN that being slighted after such commitment hurts.
"You put in so much work, it's almost sickening," he said. "I watch everything, I read everything. I've always been a guy who wants to prove somebody wrong.
"I wouldn't rub it in anyone's face, but that's my gratification. I've seen so many guys' work ethic, and I know it doesn't come close to what I'm putting myself through. When you see those rankings, it makes you want to go out and prove it."
The major knock on DeRozan is, for all his improvements since he entered the NBA, he's failed to add a consistent 3-point shot - something almost unheard of at the two-guard spot in today's game.
Given his Kobe-esque style, however, he doesn't seem to be too concerned about it.
"When I get to be Kyle (Lowry)'s age I can shoot threes," DeRozan joked. "When I'm 33, maybe I can be the next Kyle Korver."
