What started as a routine rebound battle turned into one of the more intense flashpoints of the night in Sacramento. Late in the third quarter of the Kings’ matchup against the Washington Wizards, things got chippy between veteran forward DeMar DeRozan and second-year wing Kyshawn George.
The two got tangled under the basket, and George appeared to initiate contact, giving DeRozan a shove that knocked him off balance. DeRozan didn’t hesitate to respond-pushing George not once, but twice, sending the younger player to the floor as teammates and staff from both sides rushed in to deescalate.
It was a rare emotional outburst from DeRozan, a player known more for his cool, composed demeanor than on-court altercations. But it also wasn’t entirely out of character.
DeRozan has built his reputation on professionalism and poise, but he’s never been one to back down when challenged. If he feels disrespected, he’ll stand his ground-and that’s exactly what happened here.
Despite the dust-up, DeRozan stayed locked in. He finished the night with 17 points in Sacramento’s 128-115 win over the Wizards, helping the Kings extend their win streak to three games.
And that performance came on the heels of a standout showing earlier in the week, when he dropped 27 points in a win over the New York Knicks at Golden 1 Center. That effort wasn’t just another strong night-it was a milestone.
With that 27-point outing, DeRozan passed Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett to move into 22nd place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. He now sits at 26,077 career points-another testament to his consistency and longevity over 17 seasons in the league.
That night, he went 7-of-16 from the field, knocked down a three, and was nearly automatic from the line, hitting 12-of-13 free throws. Vintage DeRozan: efficient, composed, and effective.
But while DeRozan continues to deliver on the court, his name has also started to surface in trade conversations behind the scenes. According to league sources, Sacramento has held exploratory talks with multiple teams, signaling that the front office is at least open to shaking things up.
One of those discussions reportedly involved the Clippers. The framework of the deal would have sent DeRozan and Keon Ellis to Los Angeles in exchange for forward John Collins and another small salary piece. Those talks have since cooled-especially with the Clippers catching fire and winning 11 of their last 13-but the fact that DeRozan was even in the mix says something about how Sacramento is evaluating its roster.
There have also been rumblings of talks with Milwaukee. In that scenario, the Kings reportedly explored a deal involving Keon Ellis and Malik Monk, with Bobby Portis and an unnamed minimum-salary player mentioned as possible return pieces.
None of these discussions have materialized into anything concrete yet, but they underscore a few key things. One, DeRozan still holds significant value around the league. And two, the Kings are clearly assessing their ceiling and considering whether a shake-up could push them further up the Western Conference ladder.
For now, DeRozan remains a steadying presence in Sacramento-still scoring at a high level, still playing with an edge, and still proving he’s got plenty left in the tank. Whether he finishes the season in a Kings uniform remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: wherever he’s playing, DeRozan continues to be a difference-maker.