© Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
DeMar DeRozan believes someone in the NBA will score 100 points before the season ends
Chicago Bulls wingman DeMar DeRozan is a bona fide bucket-getter of the highest level. The former USC Trojan scored over 8,000 field goals and tallied over 22,000 points in a decorated career spanning 15 seasons.
However, DeRozan has not come close to scoring 100 points in a single game — his career-high is 52 points — but that doesn't stop him from believing that someone else in the NBA will accomplish this feat before the season ends.
Scoring barrage
Deebo made his feelings known after witnessing Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic score a season-high 73 points last weekend. The Slovenian’s scoring barrage is the latest feat in a season filled with them. Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid scored 70 points earlier this season, while Devin Booker and Karl-Anthony Towns scored over 60 recently.
DeRozan explained that the skill set of today’s players, combined with how the league tends to favor the offensive side of the ball, makes it more likely for a player to score 50 or more points in a single game.
“The skill set is so incredible now. The pace, more possessions, the amount of threes. When you’ve got players that are so dominant at what they do. You look at ‘Book’ [Suns guard Devin Booker], Joel [Embiid], look at Luka, these guys are so dominant and so great and so skilled, and they understand and know how to manipulate the game to their benefit, as well. That just comes with your IQ. That’s just the evolution of the game,” DeRozan said.
The NBA’s single-game scoring record belongs to Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 100 points in 1962.
Evolution of the game
The NBA’s style of play has evolved through the years. Gone is the bruising era of the 80s and 90s, where physicality was key to success. Now, it’s all about speed and skill. With more possessions and three-point shots being taken, players have had to adapt their game to keep up with the pace.
“I feel like the game changing helps it a lot. Now everybody is positionless. Spacing, the game is a lot faster, more possessions, more threes are going up. With more threes and a faster pace, more turnovers and fast breaks. The game has changed. It helps the person who is scoring a lot, with the rules and how the game has changed,” Bulls guard Coby White added.
