Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan earns All-NBA Second Team honours

Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) was named All-NBA second team(Frank Gunn/CP)

Needless to say, DeMar DeRozan‘s season didn’t end as he’d have liked.

The Toronto Raptors all-star guard was benched for the fourth-quarter of Game 3 versus Cleveland in the second round, and an ejection in the deciding Game 4 meant he wasn’t on the floor for that fourth quarter either, forced to watch from the locker room as his team got swept for the second straight year.

But that doesn’t take away from what was a stellar 2017-18 regular season campaign for the 28-year-old.

DeRozan’s continued evolution played a big part in the Raptors’ success this season, earning the NBA’s second-best record and the top seed in the East. He also took on an altered role that allowed the Raps’ modernized offence to flourish.

On Thursday DeRozan was named to the All-NBA Second Team, the first time in his nine-year career he’s earned the honour.

DeRozan joins Vince Carter and Chris Bosh as the only Raptors to do so, and he and Carter are the only players in franchise history to earn multiple All-NBA nods. DeRozan was named to the All-NBA Third Team last season.

“Being recognized among an elite group of my peers is always rewarding,” he said in a statement released by the team on Thursday. “Knowing where I started and the work I’ve put in each year to improve makes this even more humbling. Thanks to my teammates and the Raptors organization for all their support.”

DeRozan averaged career-bests with 5.2 assists per game and 1.1 three-pointers made per game while shooting over 30 per cent from deep for just the third time in his career. He led the Raptors in scoring with 23 points per game, including a career-high 52-point performance versus the Milwaukee Bucks in January.

DeRozan was named East Player of the Week five times this season — more than any other player in the conference, matching the total of his previous eight seasons combined. He was the East’s Player of the Month in January.

Joining DeRozan on the second-team are Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, San Antonio Spurs big man LaMarcus Aldridge, and Philadelphia 76ers centre Joel Embiid.

The results are based on voting, with points awarded and weighted for first, second, and third team. DeRozan earned two votes for first-team All-NBA, 39 second-team votes, and 38 third-team votes, gaining a total of 165 points in the voting process — edging out third team All-NBA member Steph Curry by just one point.  

The All-NBA first team is headlined by LeBron James — who set an NBA record by making first-team for the 12th time, surpassing Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone in the process — along with Kevin Durant, James Harden, Anthony Davis, and Damian Lillard.

Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry received three total All-NBA votes.

Here are the complete All-NBA teams, along with voting results:

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