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NBA Player Power Rankings: All-Star Break Edition

By Maxwell Ogden

February 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30), forward Draymond Green (23), and guard Klay Thompson (11) hold their all star jerseys before the game against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
February 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30), forward Draymond Green (23), and guard Klay Thompson (11) hold their all star jerseys before the game against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 10, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) drives to the basket past Minnesota Timberwolves forward Shabazz Muhammad (15) in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) drives to the basket past Minnesota Timberwolves forward Shabazz Muhammad (15) in the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

19. DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors

Last Rank: No. 18

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 26

Slash Line: .447/.337/.836

Season Averages: 36.1 MPG, 23.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 3PM

The Toronto Raptors are off to a 35-17 start, which is good for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Starting point guard Kyle Lowry has deservedly received mountains of praise, but DeMar DeRozan’s development has played a vital role in Toronto’s progression.

The 26-year-old is no longer settling for shots, but instead putting his explosive physical gifts to good use by attacking the basket without relent.

DeRozan leads the league in points off of drives per game at 8.5 on 51.4 percent shooting. He’s No. 2 behind James Harden in free throw attempts that were created via drives, and replaces the injured Eric Bledsoe at No. 1 in drives per game.

This has all added up to DeRozan averaging a career-best 23.4 points on 44.7 percent shooting from the field—his most efficient mark since 2010-11.

DeRozan is also shooting a career-best 33.7 percent from beyond the arc, going 4-of-5 from distance during the most recent week. That fueled his 35-point eruption against the Minnesota Timberwolves and his 29 points against the Portland Trail Blazers.

In a testament to how far DeRozan has come as an all-around player, he recorded 17 points, seven rebounds, and six assists during a 103-89 win over the Detroit Pistons.

Next: The Ultimate Underdog