DeMar DeRozan called the 2024-25 campaign the “toughest year” of his 16-season NBA career after the Sacramento Kings’ season came to an abrupt end Wednesday night.
The 35-year-old addressed reporters following the team’s 120-106 home defeat to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament, a game that saw Sacramento give up 44 second-quarter points and fall behind by as many as 25 at halftime.
“It’s difficult. It’s frustrating. It’s emotional,” DeRozan said when asked about his mindset after the loss. “I put so much time, effort, preparation, and sacrifice into the game of basketball… it hurts when you don’t give yourself a chance to play for what matters.”
DeRozan finished with a team-high 33 points, but Sacramento was unable to recover from Dallas’ shooting barrage, led by Klay Thompson and Anthony Davis, who combined for 50 points.
The Kings’ star reflected on a year filled with off-court turbulence, including the firing of head coach Mike Brown in December, the recent departure of general manager Monte McNair, and the late-season promotion of assistant Doug Christie.
“I think it’s just indicative of the kind of season we had to endure, from top to bottom,” DeRozan said. “It still hasn’t really set in yet… it’s definitely been a year.”
Sacramento’s campaign ended with a 46-36 record and marked the franchise’s 18th playoff miss in the last 19 seasons.
Asked what went wrong, DeRozan pointed to the constant turnover and instability that plagued the organization throughout the year.
“You can’t operate in a successful environment if everything is uncertain,” he said. “The aura of constant changes like that affects everything. That made it difficult.”
DeRozan also praised interim head coach Doug Christie, who stepped into the role under pressure and went 9-17 down the stretch.
“To see him thrown into that position and rally us when everything was chaotic — he held his own,” DeRozan said. “That says a lot about his capability to bond a team. I’ve got nothing but the utmost respect for the job he did.”
The six-time All-Star expressed hope for a more stable future in Sacramento but emphasized that “certainty” will be a key factor in whether he returns for his 17th NBA season.
“As long as we put something on the table and say, ‘This is what it is. This is what we’re competing with,’ I can work with that,” DeRozan said.
When asked about teammate Malik Monk, who missed the final games due to injury, DeRozan acknowledged the void left behind.
“Malik’s dynamic,” he said. “You’re talking about a guy who can give you 30 points or 10–11 assists. Not having him the last couple games showed.”
DeRozan also spoke about Keegan Murray’s development, describing him as a player without a ceiling.
“I don’t think he has a ceiling,” DeRozan said. “That’s kind of my main priority — to help Keegan become the player everyone expects him to be next year.”
Despite the disappointment, DeRozan maintained that he has no regrets about the season.
“Nobody chooses the hard road, but when that’s the road in front of you, it’s about what you do with the experience you gain from it,” he said. “That’s how I view it.”
