Sinking in two free throws in the final seconds of the game, DeMar DeRozan waltzed the Bulls to a 125-122 win over the Warriors. He ended the night with an explosive 33-point performance, eight rebounds, and four assists to extend their winning streak to three. However, his impact is not just limited to the hardwood, as he continues to break down barriers surrounding mental health in the NBA.

It was All-Star Weekend 2018, when DeMar, alone in his room, overwhelmed by emotions, hit send on an X post. “This depression get the best of me…” wrote the Bulls star, quoting the song “Tomorrow” by rapper Kevin Gates. Over the last six years, he has become the face of mental health awareness in the league, holding the door for players across the league dealing with a similar situation to tell their story. Last month, he took his efforts one step ahead by launching a new YouTube interview series called “Dinners With DeMar.” Rather than talking about what happens on the basketball court, this unprecedented series focuses on “authentic, unrehearsed, unfiltered conversations about mental health.”

These efforts, in the eyes of Brett Rapkin, the CEO of Podium Pictures and executive producer of “Dinners with DeMar” place him in a position akin to that held by the legendary Michael Jordan, but in terms of being a mental health advocate. “He’s chosen to lean into being an advocate for this life-or-death issue. Given his level of authenticity, I couldn’t think of a better spokesman to change the culture,” Rapkin told ESPN.

Michael Jordan was the only escape for DeMar DeRozan

While Deebo has come a long way, it has not always been a bed of roses for the Bulls forward. Growing up in Compton, California, he had seen one too many deaths. Gunshots, gangs, and funerals were part and parcel of where he was born. However, as soon as he shut his eyes, he was transported to a happier place, a place where he was Michael Jordan, and his tiny room transformed into the home of the Chicago Bulls, the United Center. The only comfort in the violent environment would be to imagine himself as Mike, draining clutch shots and releasing perfect fadeaway jumpers.

However, fast-forward to the present, and life has come to a full-circle moment for DeMar DeRozan. He is doing all of that and more for the Bulls. The 34-year-old is averaging 23.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game on a 47.3 percent shooting efficiency from the field and 34.9 percent from the deep. The next step is to live up to that greatness he had dreamt of as a child and finally win a championship.

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