DeMar DeRozan: 'Last Year Was a S--tshow' for Kings

DeMar DeRozan didn’t mince words, calling the Kings’ 2024-25 campaign “Last year was a s--tshow,” and admitting he “wasn’t myself” mentally before using the summer to re-find his competitive self. That matters: a refocused DeRozan offers veteran leadership after a chaotic year that saw Mike Brown fired, De’Aaron Fox traded, Zach LaVine added, Doug Christie hired as head coach, and moves for Dennis Schröder and Dario Šarić. Merlin senses a club trying to turn chaos into coherence. Stability and DeRozan’s renewed edge could lift Sacramento, but chemistry and coaching will determine if this is a true revival or another near-miss. The pieces are clearer now — whether they fit together is the next spell to be cast.