Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan left Saturday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers with an aggravated right quad injury.
The latest news on DeMar DeRozan’ injury status
“I just checked on him,” Zach LaVine said via Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. “Asked how he was doing. He said he was going to be alright. So, I think the type of guy he is, he’s going to be alright.”
Per NBC Sports Chicago Bulls insider K.C. Johnson, DeRozan chose to begin treatment for the injury rather than speak with the media. The Bulls are about to embark on a three-game West Coast sprint, which will include four games in six nights, so he will have a day off (to travel).
This season, the Bulls are 1-5 without DeRozan.
Correction: DeRozan chose not to address reporters. DeRozan appears to be moving fine. He’s as accessible an athlete as there is so night off from media should be placed in that context, and he’s headed to treatment. https://t.co/XTfue1cxkq
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) March 23, 2023
“I’m always concerned because he’s been dealing with it,” said Billy Donovan via NBA.com. “But I haven’t gotten anything indicating that he’s going to be out any length of time. I think when you have a reoccurring that he’s been having to manage and deal with…you always are concerned is the guy totally healthy.”
Westerlund says the Bulls aren’t too worried about the severity of the injury, but rather how it will need to be managed and how it might affect their six-time All-Star in the stretch run.
DeRozan’s performance was lackluster even before he was benched.
He finished with just four points on 0-for-4 shooting doing his scoring from the free throw line, though he did add 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. And DeRozan’s streak of five consecutive games with at least 24 points has come to an end.
DeRozan exited at the eight-minute mark of the third quarter. He's having a rough night: 4 points, 0-for-7 shooting in 21 minutes.
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) March 23, 2023
What impact DeMar DeRozan’s injury will have on his time spent in Chicago?
The Bulls are still the 10-seed in the Play-In Tournament, with a 1.5-game lead over the 11-seed Indiana Pacers after their victory over the 9-seed Toronto Raptors, who are now only 0.5 games ahead of Chicago.
For the Bulls, losing DeRozan would be devastating, but for the veteran forward, it could be make-or-break.
DeRozan argued that he was not concerned with the fact that his current contract would not be renewed following the upcoming season.
If the Bulls finish the season on a low note and fail to make the playoffs, it is reasonable to question whether the two parties would be better off pursuing other options this offseason.
