San Antonio Spurs: 3 reasons DeMar DeRozan is a perfect fit

3. Veteran leadership

The question is actually still up for debate as to whether or not this is a rebuild season for the Spurs. On the one hand, they clearly have nowhere near enough talent to compete with the Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets.

On the other, they now have two All-Stars in DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge, and some very intriguing up-and-coming pieces such as draft selection Lonnie Walker IV and Derrick White. Whether they make a strong attempt to remain competitive this season or not, DeRozan’s veteran leadership and playoff experience will be a huge help to the young players on the roster.

DeRozan is a four-time All-Star who has been to the playoffs five times in his career. He has a wealth of experience in the postseason, even if he does have the tendency to underperform when the going gets tough. For the young guys on the Spurs roster, playing alongside him will be an invaluable experience. Someone like Walker, who needs to work on his consistency and efficiency, can learn a lot from a mentor like DeRozan.

Whether it’s fighting for a playoff spot, making a postseason run, or simply going through the motions in a losing regular season, the young Spurs will benefit immensely from the presence of the longtime Raptors star.