Lonzo Ball shares an emotional moment with DeMar DeRozan before the Bulls game
In the past three seasons, DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball were teammates with Chicago Bulls. Doc The ball was thrown out due to injury for much of that time, the pair, both Southern California natives, bonded as teammates. DeRozan left the Bulls this offseason, signing with the Sacramento Kings, and returned to Chicago on Sunday as a contender.
Before tip-off between the Bulls and the Kings, DeMar DeRozan shared a special pregame moment with his former teammate Lonzo Ball. DeRozan hugged Ball before the game, which was a special moment for Ball as well. He was making his first start since the initial knee injury nearly three years ago. With Kobe White out of the lineupBall took his place as the team’s starting quarterback.
The Kings had the last laugh though, as they beat the Bulls 124-119. But Ball was brilliant in his start, finishing with 15 points on 5-of-8 three-point shooting. It’s certainly a welcome sign for the Bulls, as Ball continues to return to form.
As for the Kings, they have now won seven straight games, making it seven of their last eight, after firing Mike Brown as head coach. The only game they lost during this stretch was right after Brown’s shootout against the Los Angeles Lakers.
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Against his former team, DeRozan finished with 21 points and three assists. When the Kings first acquired DeRozan in the offseason, they hoped he would emerge as a contender in the Western Conference. But a poor start to the 2024-25 season led to Brown being fired. But it looks like they’ve turned a corner.
With the win, the Kings climbed over .5oo, to 20-19, and are in 9th place in the West standings. During this eight-game stretchDeRozan averaged 21.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists on 47.3 percent shooting from the field, 32.1 percent from the three-point line and 88.9 percent from the free throw line, according to StatMuseum.
Before the game, the Bulls also honored DeRozan with a tribute video.
David Iapkowitz is a basketball reporter for ClutchPoints, covering men’s and women’s NBA, WNBA and NCAA basketball news. The Los Angeles native has op-eds with Basketball Insiders, SB Nation and The Next Hoops.
2025-01-13 02:21:00
