NBA 2018-19: MVP power rankings - October 2018
#4 DeMar DeRozan
If you were amazed by DeMar DeRozan's upsurge in assist numbers and ability to play above-average perimeter defense this season, you probably haven't been paying attention to him. Through the course of his career, Deebo has refined his scoring game to the point where everyone now attests to his prowess at it, but of late, he's been focused on helping the team whatever way he can.
That the Spurs are 5-2 so far despite not having a recognized point guard on their active roster is really more of a testament to DeRozan's clutch play and Harden-like facilitating powers than just a product of the Spurs system.
The Spurs will be a playoff team come April, and they will have DeRozan to thank in large part for it. Averages of 27.9 points, 7.3 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game should not go unnoticed when you note that he's also defending with the same energy that he did earlier in his career.