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OKC Thunder 30 for 30: Examining viability of guard DeAndre’ Bembry

By Lawrence George

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 25: DeAndre' Bembry #95 of the Atlanta Hawks poses during media day at the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta on September 25, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 25: DeAndre' Bembry #95 of the Atlanta Hawks poses during media day at the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta on September 25, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder target DeAndre' Bembry
BROOKLYN, NY – DECEMBER 2: DeAndre’ Bembry #95 of the Atlanta Hawks dunks the ball against the Brooklyn Nets on December 2, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

DeAndre’ Bembry:

Selected with the 21st pick in the 2016 draft by the Atlanta Hawks, Bembry is an unknown commodity at this point given his limited opportunities with the Hawks. At 6’6″, 210 pounds with a 6’9.25″ wingspan, he possesses good size to defend guards and smaller threes. The former St Joseph’s star is explosive in the open court, capable of playing above the rim in space. He averaged 5.2 pounds, 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists on 41 percent shooting in 26 appearances last season.

Defensive Impact

Bembry is a high IQ defender with quick feet, excellent balance and anticipatory skills. In just 17.6 minutes per game last season, he averaged 1.9 steals and 2.5 defensive boards. Bembry plays the passing lanes intelligently, hustles for loose balls, competes on the glass and is surprisingly strong.

He does a terrific job defending LeBron James on the block. The King is an absolute force down low and Bembry holds his ground.

Despite posting a negative -3.8 net rating last season, he was the Hawks best wing defender. To put things in perspective, Atlanta’s starting small forward of the future Taurean Prince posted a negative -6.8 net rating.

Offensive Contributions

The third year forward has shown flashes of offensive versatility. He is sneakily athletic and fearlessly attacks the rim on the break. Bembry plays well off the ball, opportunistically cutting to the hoop and uses perpetual motion to get open looks.

He improved markedly from deep, shooting 36.7 percent from three after converting a paltry 5.6 percent in his rookie season. It remains to be seen whether his improvement is a flash in the pan or actual progress toward becoming a legitimate three and D option.

His best performance in the NBA came last year against the Brooklyn Nets. In the 110-90 loss, Bembry posted13 points (5-12 from the field, 1-4 from the perimeter and 2-3 Free Throws), three rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block in 27 minutes.

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