20. DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors
Last Rank: No. 19
Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 26
Slash Line: .446/.349/.838
Season Averages: 36.2 MPG, 23.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.7 3PM
The Toronto Raptors are off to a scorching start at 38-18 overall, 20-6 at home, and 18-12 on the road. He’s shooting 34.9 percent from beyond the arc, which marks just the second time in his career that he’s ever eclipsed 30.0 percent shooting from 3-point range.
Along with the fact that DeRozan is averaging a career-high 23.5 points and 4.0 assists, 2015-16 has been his true emergence as a genuine star.
Thus far in 2015-16, DeRozan is No. 9 in the NBA in points per game and No. 13 in Win Shares. That’s significant considering Toronto’s 38-18 record is good for No. 2 in the Eastern Conference and No. 5 in the NBA.
This most recent week was a demonstration of just how far DeRozan has come as a player.
After starting out slow, he recorded 22 points on 8-of-17 shooting in a 122-95 blowout victory over the New York Knicks. Two days later, DeRozan dropped 31 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the field in a 114-105 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Now a two-time All-Star, DeRozan holds onto his place in the Top 20 on the NBA Player Power Rankings.
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