Last offseason, the Sacramento Kings were looking to shake things up after failing to reach the playoffs. Their solution was to bring in six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan via a sign-and-trade deal with the Chicago Bulls. But DeRozan’s first year in Sacramento didn’t go as expected.
The 35-year-old forward put up solid individual numbers—22.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game—but the team still missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season. Much of DeRozan’s struggle stemmed from issues off the court.
He had likely joined the Kings with the intention of playing alongside star guard De’Aaron Fox and under head coach Mike Brown. However, by the trade deadline, both Fox and Brown were no longer with the organization, leaving DeRozan in a vastly different situation than he initially signed up for.
In a recent episode of Run Your Race, DeMar DeRozan opened up about the challenges he faced during his first season with the Sacramento Kings.
“It was a lot of firsts,” DeRozan admitted. “From firing the coach to trading their franchise player—so much happened that I never would’ve imagined. That was a first for me.”
Reflecting on his role, DeRozan said he tried to stay grounded and provide leadership amid the turbulence. “From my experience, I just focused on being a leader, keeping everyone locked in as much as possible. I was trying to stay in the moment and figure out how to push through whatever we were dealing with, and make things work,” he explained. “It was definitely a challenge—and even now, I’m still trying to process everything that happened.”
DeMar DeRozan still has two years remaining on his contract, but his future with the Sacramento Kings is uncertain. With the team falling short of expectations and undergoing major changes, rumors have been swirling about a potential split. Reports suggest the Kings are expected to explore trade options this summer, making it possible that DeRozan could be on the move once again.
At this stage in his career, DeMar DeRozan is likely looking for a team where he can seriously contend and, at the very least, make a meaningful playoff run. Given the current state of the Sacramento Kings, they don’t appear to be well-positioned to compete next season—and some believe they might even perform better without DeRozan in the lineup.
After enduring a turbulent first year in Sacramento—marked by a coaching change and the departure of key players—DeRozan has little incentive to return for a second season. The challenges he faced both on and off the court likely make a fresh start elsewhere more appealing.