Toronto Raptors: Can DeMar DeRozan Make the Next Leap Toward NBA Fame?

DeMar DeRozan might be a household name if you are either an avid Raptors fan or you really enjoy watching All-Star weekend.

For other people, he is just "that good dunker" who plays on the Toronto Raptors. Well, ladies and gentleman, DeRozan is not just "that good dunker."

Every year since joining the NBA, DeRozan has improved in every aspect of his game. From his maturity to his offense and his defense, everything is much better compared to his rookie season.

Sure, last season he posted similar numbers to the year before, but Raptors fans saw a player who worked hard on his jump shot and became a better defender.

He still has to keep working to get better, but DeRozan has one of the NBA's best work ethics, and his numbers will not tell you how much he works. Every summer, you can go read about how DeRozan is in the gym or how he is still playing basketball competitively.

"Ball is Life" recently posted a video that shows DeRozan playing in some summer league games this season. Heck, the title and the description of the video are a great summary of the strides DeRozan has taken to become a better NBA player.

The Raptors might finally be relevant in the NBA, and with all the growing up DeRozan has done, the time for him to blossom is here. He may not be an All-Star, but he does have the potential to be one. The problem is, there are so many great guards in the Eastern Conference, it would be hard for him to make the team.

So, if DeRozan really wants people to realize that he and the Toronto Raptors are a force to be reckoned with in the NBA, he needs to help the team win some games and help them back towards the playoffs.

I write a blog with all up-to-date news on Toronto sports, including the Raptors, Maple Leafs and Blue Jays.