Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan continues to be recognized for an outstanding 2017-18 season.
On Tuesday, the Professional Basketball Writers Association (PBWA) named DeRozan this year's winner of the Magic Johnson Award, which annually honors the player who best combines excellence on the basketball court with cooperation and dignity in dealing with the media and the public.
DeRozan, who was named to the All-NBA Second Team in May, joins Chris Bosh (2009-10) as the only Raptors to earn the honor.
"I'm grateful to the reporters and broadcasters who cover our league, who love our game and who communicate with our fans every day. So thank you to the PBWA for this award,” DeRozan said in a press release. “It's very special for an L.A. guy to receive an honor named for Magic."
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DeRozan led the Raptors in scoring with 23 points per game this season as Toronto set a franchise record with 59 wins and claimed the top seed in the Eastern Conference. He also spoke openly about his battle with depression, paving the way for other athletes to come together to address mental health.
DeRozan and the Raptors fell short of expectations in the playoffs and were swept by the Cavaliers in the second round. That ultimately led to the firing of Toronto coach Dwane Casey and rumors that the team could trade DeRozan or Kyle Lowry this offseason.
DeRozan, 28, has spent all nine of his NBA seasons with the Raptors and is under contract through the 2020-21 campaign.