There is no better word to describe the DeMar DeRozan who arrived in the NBA in the fall of 2009 than “raw.”

He was a 19-year-old colt, untrained and unpolished, with abundant promise but no grounding, he’d spent one year in college getting by on his astonishing athleticism and that was enough at that level.

He could, in the vernacular, “jump out of the gym” but that was about it. He was an athlete far more than he was a basketball player and no one could tell where the career arc was going.

Four and a half years hence, there is another word that may soon describe the Toronto Raptors swingman and most significant offensive threat.

“All-star.”

Now a grizzled old veteran at 24 years old, DeRozan could very well become just the fourth Raptor be named to a mid-season all-star team when the results of balloting among Eastern Conference coaches for seven backups to the roster are announced Thursday night.

He would join Vince Carter, Chris Bosh and Antonio Davis (added as an injury replacement) as the only players to represent the franchise in one of the NBA’s marquee events.

While he waits for the news, DeRozan’s immediate Raptors future is clouded. He suffered a sprained ankle/foot in a Saturday night loss to the Los Angeles Clippers and did not play in Monday’s win over the Nets in Brooklyn.

The Raptors did not hold a full practice Tuesday and coach Dwane Casey said there was no timetable for DeRozan’s return. However, DeRozan was on the Air Canada Centre practice court Tuesday working out lightly and will be re-examined Wednesday before Toronto takes on the Orlando Magic.

DeRozan’s participation in the Feb. 16 all-star game in New Orleans would be a testament to the work he’s put in to improve all facets of his game since his raw rookie season.

And it has been just hard work that’s gotten him to this point.

The native of Los Angeles has worked tirelessly on his game each summer, becoming a player more than an athlete; he shoots better, defends better, passes better, rebounds better, handles the ball better. He has worked diligently to get to this point.

“Sure he is,” teammate Chuck Hayes is quick to answer when asked if DeRozan is an all-star player and as good a basketball player as he is an athlete.

“That’s a dangerous combination. As soon as you get the intellect of the game, and learn the game and it slows down for you, things come easy.”

Things do seem to come easy to the 6-6 DeRozan these days. He averages more than 21 points per game — fourth best among Eastern Conference players — and putting up career-best numbers in rebounds (4.7) and assists (3.6) and three-point shooting percentage (30.8 per cent).

More important, he’s thinking the game far better; fewer forced shots, more smart passes, far more often making the right basketball play for his team rather than trying to create something for himself.

“He’s still got a lot to learn but he’s really playing well,” said Casey, who lobbied his Eastern Conference brethren for both DeRozan and Kyle Lowry to be named to the team.

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“He’s making the right play for the team, he’s taking what the game is giving him.”

DeRozan is flattered to be in the all-star discussion — “it would definitely be great to go out there and represent the country of Canada,” he said earlier this month — and understands that the discussion only comes about because of the work he’s put in each summer.

“It pays off, it’s all worth it,” he said.

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