{"id":12925,"date":"2017-07-30T14:52:22","date_gmt":"2017-07-30T19:52:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=12925"},"modified":"2017-07-30T14:52:22","modified_gmt":"2017-07-30T19:52:22","slug":"demar-derozan-lands-first-ever-nba-2k18-canadian-cover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=12925","title":{"rendered":"DeMar DeRozan, Lands First-Ever NBA 2K18 Canadian Cover"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"An all-star with a US$139-million contract, Toronto Raptors NBA ALL STAR, guard DeMar DeRozan is living large in the NBA.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But the 27-year-old from Compton, Calif., never thought he would grace the cover of a video game.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was always a dream of mine, when I was a kid and (would) create myself in the game. Let alone now being an NBA player, being a part of the game now,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s just an honour to be on the cover, representing, giving my fans in Canada … It\u2019s definitely a cool thing and I\u2019m definitely appreciative to be a part of it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

DeRozan will be the Canadian cover athlete for \u201cNBA 2K18,\u201d due out in September.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers will grace the cover outside of Canada with Hall of Famer Shaquille O\u2019Neal featured on two special versions of the game: the Legend Edition and Legend Gold.<\/strong><\/p>\n

DeRozan has long been an avid gamer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s all I did growing up is play video games, trying to play every new game that came out,\u201d he said. \u201cNow I kind of stick to the basics, just playing \u2018Madden\u2019 and \u20182K.\u2019 Now to be on the cover of \u20182K\u2019 makes it even better.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Former Raptor Terrence Ross, now with the Orlando Magic, was one of DeRozan\u2019s gaming partners in Toronto.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHe kept me up on a lot of the new games, so he kind of kept me young when it came to that,\u201d said DeRozan.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Raptors guard said he has some skills once he gets a chance to invest some hours into a game.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"\u201c\u2018Madden\u2019 was one of my go-to games that I was pretty good at. Boxing, golf. But once I lock in and play for a couple of days I get pretty good at it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

DeRozan also marvels at the realism of today\u2019s video games.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cit\u2019s crazy. Now you can play 2K and you can hear your favourite player\u2019s voice giving an interview,\u201d he said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

DeRozan also likes the constant game updates, which add to the realism.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI just try to do everything that I don\u2019t do in a game, just have fun with it,\u201d he said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The cover choice is timely for the Raptors, who are one of 17 NBA teams hoping to win on the virtual basketball court as well as the real one in 2018.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The NBA 2K esports league will feature elite gamers who will control their own avatar \u2014 rather than NBA players \u2014 in a five-on-five game.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The virtual season will run for about three months with the debut campaign targeted to kick off around the all-star break in February next season.<\/strong><\/p>\n

DeMar Darnell DeRozan (born August 7, 1989) is an American professional basketball<\/a> player for the Toronto Raptors<\/a> of the National Basketball Association<\/a> (NBA). He played college basketball<\/a> for USC<\/a> and was selected ninth overall by the Raptors in the 2009 NBA draft<\/a>. In 2017, he was named an NBA All-Star<\/a> for the third time in four years, and was named an All-NBA Team<\/a> member. DeRozan has played for the United States men’s national basketball team<\/a> in two major tournaments: the 2014 World Cup<\/a> and the 2016 Summer Olympics<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On April 8, 2009, DeRozan announced his decision to enter the 2009 NBA draft<\/a> and forgo his final three years of eligibility at USC.\u00a0<\/span>On June 25, 2009, he was selected ninth overall by the Toronto Raptors<\/a> in the 2009 draft.\u00a0\u00a0He stated that part of the reason he left for the NBA after only one year at USC was to help take better care of his mother, who suffers from lupus<\/a>.<\/strong><\/div>\n

\"\"On July 9, 2009, DeRozan signed his rookie scale contract with the Raptors.[12]<\/a><\/sup> As the fourth contestant in the 2010 Sprite Slam Dunk Competition, DeRozan lost in the final round against three-time champion Nate Robinson<\/a>. The final percentage was 51% to 49%. DeRozan was selected to compete for the 2011 Sprite Slam Dunk Competition as a replacement for injured guard Brandon Jennings<\/a>. He finished in third place.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On December 31, 2010, DeRozan scored a then career-high 37 points against the Houston Rockets<\/a>. He matched that career high two more times over the next three years\u2014against the Utah Jazz<\/a> on November 12, 2012, and against the Chicago Bulls<\/a> on November 15, 2013.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On January 22, 2014, DeRozan scored a then career-high 40 points against the Dallas Mavericks, shooting 15-of-22 from the field. On January 30, DeRozan was selected for the 2014 NBA All-Star Game<\/a> as a reserve guard for the Eastern Conference All-Star team. He finished the game with 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 15 minutes. On February 1, he recorded a 36 points and a career-high 12 assists in a loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. On March 28, he led the Raptors to a playoff berth for the first time since 2008, with a victory over the Boston Celtics. He scored 30 points in the win, along with 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal. On April 13, he scored 30 points against the Detroit Pistons to lead the Raptors to tie a franchise record of 47 wins.<\/strong><\/p>\n

DeRozan’s 2013\u201314 season was a breakout year, averaging career-highs of 22.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 30% from beyond the arc, and finished fourth in total free-throws made and seventh in attempts. He led the Raptors to a 48\u201334 record and a third-seed finish in the Eastern Conference.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In DeRozan’s first playoff game against the Brooklyn Nets on April 19, 2014, DeRozan scored 14 points on a 3-of-13 shooting as the game resulted in a loss. In Game 2, DeRozan bounced back and scored 30 points on 9-of-21 shooting in a 100\u201395 win. On April 25, he recorded 30 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in a loss. That 30-point game made DeRozan the first Raptor to score 30 points in back-to-back playoffs games, and the first Raptor to score 30 in multiple playoff games since Vince Carter<\/a>. The Raptors went on to lose to the Nets in seven games.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"In the Raptors’ season opening game of the 2014\u201315 season against the Atlanta Hawks in Toronto, DeRozan recorded career-highs with 11 rebounds and six steals, along with 15 points, in a 109\u2013102 win.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0On November 29, 2014, he was ruled out indefinitely with a torn left adductor longus tendon. He sustained the injury the night before at the 8:23 mark of the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks and did not return.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0On January 14, 2015, he returned to action, scoring 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting in a 100\u201384 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.\u00a0<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0On March 2, he scored a season-high 35 points in a 114\u2013103 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0On March 30, DeRozan scored a career-high 42 points in a 99\u201396 win over the Houston Rockets.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0On April 17, he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for April, joining Kyle Lowry<\/a> (December 2014) and Chris Bosh (January 2007) as the only players in team history to be named Player of the Month.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On April 24, in Game 3 of the Raptors’ first-round playoff series with the Washington Wizards, DeRozan scored a playoff career-high 32 points while scoring a franchise playoff-record 20 points in the first quarter, surpassing Vince Carter<\/a>‘s previous record of 19 points in a first quarter of a playoff game.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On November 10, 2015, DeRozan scored a then season-high 29 points in a loss to the New York Knicks. Reaching the 15-point mark for the eighth straight game to start the season, he became the first Raptor since Chris Bosh<\/a> in 2009\u201310 to accomplish the feat.\u00a0<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0On December 14, DeRozan was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played December 7\u201313, earning the honor for the first time in his seven-year career and became the seventh player in team history to be named Player of the Week.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0On January 8, he scored a then season-high 35 points in a 97\u201388 win over the Washington Wizards.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0On January 28, he was named an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve for the 2016 NBA All-Star Game<\/a>, earning his second All-Star nod in three years.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"On February 2, DeRozan and teammate Kyle Lowry<\/a> were selected as co-winners for Eastern Conference Player of the Month for January. The pair helped the Raptors go 12\u20132 during the month and recorded a franchise-record 11-game win streak.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0On February 22, he became the winningest player in Raptors history, passing Chris Bosh<\/a> and Morris Peterson<\/a> with his 233rd career win. With 22 points, he helped the Raptors defeat the New York Knicks<\/a> 122\u201395.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0On March 4, he scored a season-high 38 points in a 117\u2013115 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. In that game, he set an NBA record with 24 consecutive free throws made in one game.\u00a0<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0On March 12, he tied his season-high of 38 points while also recording 10 rebounds and seven assists in a 112\u2013104 overtime win over the Miami Heat.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0On March 30, he scored 26 points in a 105\u201397 win over the Atlanta Hawks, helping the Raptors record a 50-win season for the first time in franchise history.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0On April 10, he scored 27 points in a 93\u201389 win over the New York Knicks in New York, setting a franchise record with 23 road victories in a season. DeRozan also moved ahead of Vince Carter<\/a> for second on the Raptors’ career scoring list, trailing only Chris Bosh.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Raptors finished the regular season as the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a 56\u201326 record. In the first round of the playoffs, the Raptors faced the seventh-seeded Indiana Pacers, and in a Game 5 win on April 26, DeRozan scored 34 points to help the Raptors take a 3\u20132 series lead.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0In Game 7 of the series, DeRozan scored 30 points to help the Raptors win a best-of-seven series for the first time in franchise history. With a 4\u20133 series victory over the Pacers, the Raptors moved on to the second round to face the Miami Heat.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0In Game 5 of the Raptors’ series with the Heat, DeRozan again scored 34 points to help the Raptors take a 3\u20132 series lead with a 99\u201391 win.\u00a0\u00a0In Game 7 of the series, he scored 28 points in a 116\u201389 win over the Heat, helping the Raptors advance to the conference finals for the first time in franchise history.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference<\/a> Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, DeRozan scored 32 points to help the Raptors win 105\u201399 and tie the series at 2\u20132.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0The Raptors went on to lose the next two games to bow out of the playoffs with a 4\u20132 defeat.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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DeRozan shooting a jumpshot overBradley Beal<\/a> in 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

On July 14, 2016, DeRozan re-signed with the Raptors to a five-year, $139 million contract.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0In the Raptors’ season opener on October 26, 2016, DeRozan had his third career 40-point outing in a 109\u201391 win over the Detroit Pistons<\/a>.\u00a0<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Two days later, he had a 32-point effort in a 94\u201391 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a>. DeRozan’s combined 72 points bested Vince Carter<\/a>‘s franchise record of 65 for the most points through the first two games of a season, set in the 2003\u201304 season.\u00a0<\/span>With a 33-point effort on October 31 against the Denver Nuggets<\/a>, DeRozan became the first ever Raptor with three straight 30-point games to begin a season.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0With 40 points against the Washington Wizards<\/a> on November 2, DeRozan tied Mike James<\/a>‘ franchise record with four consecutive 30-point games.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0He passed that mark two days later, scoring 34 points in a 96\u201387 win over the Miami Heat<\/a>. His five straight 30-point games set the best such start to a season since Michael Jordan<\/a> did it for six straight games to open the 1986\u201387 season.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0On November 12, he scored 33 points against the New York Knicks<\/a>for his eighth 30-point game in nine games, becoming only the fourth player to register 30-plus points in eight of the first nine games of a season, joining Michael Jordan, World B. Free<\/a> and Tiny Archibald<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0DeRozan was subsequently named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, November 7 through Sunday, November 13.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0With 34 points against the Golden State Warriors<\/a> on November 16, DeRozan became the first NBA player with nine 30-point games in his team’s first 11 games since Jordan in 1987\u201388.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>DeRozan’s six field goals against the Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> on December 2 saw him pass Vince Carter<\/a> (3,536) for second on the franchise’s all-time list; Chris Bosh<\/a> still led at the time with 3,614.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0On December 19, he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, December 12 through Sunday, December 18.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0On December 28, he scored 29 points against Golden State and became Toronto’s career scoring leader (10,290), passing Chris Bosh<\/a>‘s 10,275 points.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"On January 8, 2017, DeRozan scored 36 points in a 129\u2013122 loss to the Houston Rockets<\/a>, setting a career high with his 18th 30-plus-point game of the season.\u00a0<\/span>Two days later, he recorded a season-high 41 points and a career-high 13 rebounds in a 114\u2013106 win over the Boston Celtics<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0On January 19, DeRozan was named a starter on the Eastern Conference All-Star team for the 2017 NBA All-Star Game<\/a>,\u00a0becoming the fourth Raptors player to be named a starter after Vince Carter, Chris Bosh and Kyle Lowry<\/a>.<\/sup> On February 6, 2017, after missing seven of the team’s previous eight games with a sprained ankle, DeRozan shot 50 percent from the field and put up 31 points in a 118\u2013109 win over the Los Angeles Clippers<\/a>.<\/sup> <\/strong><\/p>\n

On February 24, he scored a career-high 43 points to help the Raptors rally from a 17-point deficit to beat the Boston Celtics<\/a> 107\u201397. DeRozan shot 15 of 28 from the floor as he surpassed his 42-point effort against the Houston Rockets on March 30, 2015.\u00a0<\/sup> After scoring 42 points against Chicago on March 21, DeRozan scored 40 points against Miami two days later, thus registering back-to-back 40-point games for the first time in his career.<\/sup> On March 27, he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, March 20 through Sunday, March 26.<\/sup> On March 31, he scored 40 points in a 111\u2013100 win over the Indiana Pacers<\/a>. It was DeRozan’s seventh 40-point game of the season and 30th game of 30 points or more, tying Vince Carter’s 2000\u201301 franchise mark.<\/sup> With 38 points against Miami on April 7, DeRozan broke Carter’s franchise record with his 31st 30-point game of the season.<\/sup> On April 9, DeRozan shot 11-for-15 from the field for 35 points against the New York Knicks and became the second player in franchise history with a 2,000-point season\u2014Carter scored 2,107 in 1999\u201300 and 2,070 in 2000\u201301. The win over the Knicks was the Raptors’ 50th of the season and helped them lock up at least the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.<\/sup> DeRozan finished the season with a career-high 2,020 points, while his 27.3 average marked the second highest in franchise history\u2014Carter averaged 27.6 in 2000\u201301.<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

On April 27, 2017, DeRozan scored 32 points in a 92\u201389 win over the Milwaukee Bucks<\/a>, helping the Raptors take their first-round playoff series in six games.<\/sup> The Raptors went on to lose in a clean sweep to the Cavaliers in the second round. DeRozan appeared in all 10 playoff games, averaging 22.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game.<\/sup> On May 18, 2017, DeRozan was named in the All-NBA Third Team<\/a> for the first time in his career.<\/strong><\/p>\n