DeMar DeRozan’s daughter Diar shrieks Bulls to huge playoff victory

In what might be the strangest strategy in NBA history, a star’s daughter stole the show and became an instant internet icon.

Diar DeRozan defeated the Raptors.

The Chicago Bulls have unveiled the strangest secret weapon in NBA history – a squealing, shrieking 9-year-old.

The Bulls were down by as much as 19 points against a rampaging Toronto Raptors outfit in their do-or-die play-in clash that would see the loser eliminated from playoff contention, but had a secret weapon up their sleeve that would send the NBA world into meltdown after their thrilling 109-105 play-in win.

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Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan, playing against the team that drafted him and with whom he made four of his six All-Star appearances, had his 9-year-old daughter Diar in the stands underneath the basket, and the youngster took to screaming during every Raptors free throw to throw them off.

The high-pitched squeal was so loud, it was heard clearly on the broadcast despite the 20,511 capacity Scotiabank Arena being known as the home of some of the loudest fans in American sports.

Twitter was ablaze at the bizarre screaming, which evoked memories of Hobart’s infamous “siren man”.

DeMar's daughter is screaming whenever the Raptors take free throws 😂 pic.twitter.com/HxmMz3BYgq

— ESPN (@espn) April 13, 2023

“There’s someone just all out SCREAMING on the Raptors broadcast and I’d like that to stop,” said one Twitter user.

Sports journalist Chris Walder said “DeMar DeRozan’s daughter is playing better defense than the Bulls with her shrieking when Toronto is at the free-throw line.”

At one point, Raptors guard Fred Van Vleet appeared to point at the 9-year-old after beating the buzzer at half time.

It appeared to genuinely rattle the Raptors, who headed into the play-in fixture averaging 78.4% from the foul line on the season, and a marginally better 79.4% against Chicago this season.

The real MVP 😂🏆@chicagobulls | @DeMar_DeRozanpic.twitter.com/PpOfYVY7x3

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 13, 2023

They would end the game having gone 50% from the line, a number slightly worse than if famously poor foul shooter Shaquille O’Neal had have taken all of their shots from the line.

O’Neal is the fourth-worst foul shooter in NBA history, but still averaged more at the line for his career than the Raptors did against the might of Diar DeRozan’s shrieking.

It was increasingly apparent in the late stages of the game, with the Bulls having mounted a huge comeback courtesy of Zach LaVine’s resurgent second half.

LaVine had 32 points in the second half, coming off seven in the first to drag the Bulls back into contention.

With Toronto’s Pascal Siakam at the foul line to bring the game within a point with less than a minute on the clock, Diar’s hellish screaming saw Siakam, a career 77.4% foul shooter, 1-2 to give Chicago a two-point buffer.

Diar DeRozan deserved her own highlight reel tonight 🔥 pic.twitter.com/nUMNKrGtVQ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 13, 2023

A minute later, having been fouled on a three-point attempt, Siakam again went against the 9-year-old with three shots to tie the game and 12 seconds on the clock.

Siakam drained his first, but his second fell short and bounced back.

His third bounced around the rim and fell into the grateful hands of Nikola Vucevic, who would cop an intentional foul and headed to the line at the other end to wrap up a scintillating fixture and end Toronto’s season, with the Bulls winning 109-105.

“Your daughter Diar was making an impact”, said ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth in the post-game interview with DeRozan, with the 9-year-old joining her father and giving him an affectionate hug.

“I heard somebody and I looked back and was like, ‘damn, that’s my daughter?” said DeMar in the post-game interview.

Zach LaVine put the Bulls on his back to keep them alive another day. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)

“Diar should get a game ball,” said commentator Mark Jones.

“Her foul line defense against the Raptors was pretty great,” he said.

ESPN’s Tim McMahon called it the “best defensive performance in play-in history” from Diar DeRozan, holding the Raptors to 18-36 from the line.

Nikola Vucevic has 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Bulls, while Fred VanVleet had 26 points and 12 rebounds for the Raptors.

The Bulls now visit the Miami Heat on Friday night for the chance to earn the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoff bracket and a showdown with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Mikwaukee Bucks.

Originally published as DeMar DeRozan’s daughter Diar shrieks Bulls to huge playoff victory