DeMar DeRozan has had his share of success in his 17-year-long career despite currently being part of the struggling Sacramento Kings, but he is moving steadily towards achieving his biggest individual accolade. 

After his 33-point outing in a loss to the Orlando Magic, the 6x NBA All-Star inched closer to being the 10th-highest scorer in NBA history. He is currently ranked 18th on the all-time scoring list with 26,638 points.

An X update from Polymarket Hoops on March 26 highlighted the number of points DeRozan still needs to score to get in the top-ten list. It read, "INSANE BUT TRUE: DeMar DeRozan is only 1,991 points away from being 10th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. He’s played 72 of 73 games for Sacramento this season."

With just eight games remaining in this season’s calendar, DeRozan probably wouldn't be able to accomplish this feat within it. However, his scoring prowess says that achieving the spot wouldn’t be too difficult for him.

Let’s try to put DeRozan’s feat in proper perspective, and then we might be able to appreciate it more. He is only 31 points shy of passing the great Dominique Wilkins and just 73 points shy of passing Oscar Robertson. It can be expected that he will pass these greats before this season comes to an end. 

Next season, if he can break the record, he would pass greats like Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, and Moses Malone. DeRozan is one of the six active NBA players in the top 20 of the all-time scoring list, and one of them is his teammate, Russell Westbrook, who is 14th on the list.

What Does DeMar DeRozan’s Future Look Like With the Kings?

It’s been two years since DeRozan arrived in Sacramento. The hope was for a wider success, but it has barely worked out for the franchise. The Kings are ready to tank the season, but DeRozan's situation remains a bit confusing both for the franchise and the player. 

DeRozan has one more season left in his contract. His current contract makes him an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-27 season. The Kings can do one of two things. They can either play him out through his contract and give him a veteran minimum contract when he is 38 years old. 

 As for DeRozan, there is also a chance that he would demand a trade ‌next season. His stint with the Kings has been highly unsuccessful. It’s been four years since he made the playoffs. The former Toronto Raptors star would look for a better contract than a veteran minimum with another team. 

Moreover, putting himself in a better position to win a title should also have some weight on his decision. If he takes a significant deduction in his next contract, it will be with a championship contender.

But keeping all this aside, how soon do you think DeRozan will get to the 10th spot in the NBA all-time highest scorers' list?

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Written by

Nandjee Ranjan

Edited by

Souvik Roy