National Basketball Association

DeAndre Bembry Has High Aspirations For This Season

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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DeAndre Bembry is not a normal rookie. His maturity and understanding for life and the game of basketball has him setting high expectations for 2016-17.

Feb 28, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Saint Joseph

As a rookie in the NBA, hearing Commissioner Adam Silver announce your name during the draft is a dream come true.

After the limelight of draft night concludes, real life as a rookie begins. The grind of the off-season can sometimes be very overwhelming for the former collegiate stars, but this is the life they chose and hoped for since they were a little child.

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For the majority of these draftees, they’ve always been the best player on their respective team throughout middle school, high school, and college. So for the players who aren’t a top two pick, they will likely have to make adjustments within their individual game to be the most effective player in their rookie campaign.

The confidence of being the best player on the floor doesn’t just disappear. It’s still inside each of them. DeAndre Bembry let that be known in a recent interview with Basketball Insiders’ Alex Kennedy.

Bembry was chosen with the No. 21 overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in this year’s NBA Draft. He is expected to be a player who can contribute immediately. Teams that passed up on him may regret doing so. At least that is a part of Bembry’s plan for year one.

Dec 29, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Saint Joseph Hawks forward DeAndre Bembry (43) dunks against the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks during the second half at Michael J. Hagan Arena. Saint Joseph defeated Maryland-Eastern Shore, 78-68. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Setting High Standards

The biggest honor a rookie can have besides the rarity of being named an all-star or an All-NBA player is being crowned Rookie of the Year.

Historically, the award has become very predictable. No matter how he respective players’ teams do record-wise, it seems to always go to the guy who has the best stat line. In recent history, Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Michael Carter-Williams, and Damian Lillard have all won the prestigious award. All of these players led multiple statistical categories including Carter-Williams who led in scoring, rebounding, and assists despite his Philadelphia 76ers winning a total of 19 games.

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Bembry isn’t going to let recent history dictate his chances of being the next best newcomer.

If the award was based off a player’s impact on their team’s overall success, Bembry’s name could very well be in the conversation. He mentions that head coach Mike Budenholzer isn’t known for playing his rookies a ton, but Bembry isn’t just another rookie.

Bembry is a seasoned player who excelled in his three seasons at St. Joseph’s. Last season as a junior, he was one of the most well-rounded players in the nation averaging 17.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game while being voted A-10 Conference Player of the Year.

His IQ and feel for the game will fit in just right with how Budenholzer plays, which should mean for significant playing time off the bench.

A Perfect Fit?

What seems to get lost in the draft process is placing more value on what number pick a player gets selected as opposed where the player actually fits best. Bembry is a player that will thrive in a more sophisticated system, so Atlanta is perfect for his playing style. Another destination that would’ve suited him well would be San Antonio.

Bembry continued to speak with Kennedy on his fit with the Hawks:

A high basketball IQ is a must in Budenholzer’s system. When a player is below average in that area, it shows immediately because the offense relies on quick decisions within the flow of the motion movements.

Even though Bembry has his eyes set on Rookie of the Year, he isn’t going to try and pack his stats solely for that reason. He will make his presence felt by the efficiency that he brings on the floor. Last season, he shot 55.3 percent from the field and averaged two turnovers per game despite having a usage percentage of 24.4.

Throughout summer league, he displayed excellent savvy when it comes to spacing on offense as well as filling lanes in transition.

Next: An Understanding For His Strengths

Jan 14, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Saint Joseph

Bembry Understands His Strengths

One of the biggest growing pains for rookies in their first season is learning to utilize their strengths as much as possible. Unless that player is being counted on as the franchise player, it’s best to be elite at one area rather than average in everything.

For Bembry, his eliteness comes to the forefront with his ability to do a ton of different things on the floor. His versatility helps him play off the ball and on the ball on both offense and defense. His size gives him a chance to be a force on the glass. His IQ and feel for the game allows him to become a facilitator. In the near future, Bembry will be the Hawks’ swiss army knife.

He understands that in being versatile, it gives him the best chance to have a successful NBA career:

There were plenty of possessions in summer league when Bembry would corral the rebound and lead the way in transition ending with an assist or a lay up for himself.

Bembry was right in the sense that the league is quickly turning more towards versatile players. We’ve witnessed the flux of post-oriented power forwards disappear and the surfacing of power forwards who can stretch the floor become the norm.

At other positions such as shooting guard and small forward (both of which Bembry will play), the expectations are becoming that not only can the players at that position score and play great defense, but also rebound and get teammates involved on a consistent basis.

Next: A Driving Force

Mar 13, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Saint Joseph

A Driving Force

If you ask any NBA player how they ended up in their position, chances are they would respond with a motivation that helped fuel their fire to overcome all adversity and rise to their peak. The majority of players seem to share a common motivation, which is to help their family financially after a troubled childhood that may consisted of living in poverty.

Bembry has dedicated his professional career to the loss of his brother, Adrian, who was tragically shot and killed two weeks before the NBA Draft. Bembry’s brother was in Charlotte and reportedly attempting to break up a fight when the shooting occurred.

Because of this, Bembry will be wearing No. 95 to honor his brother’s life.

Bembry will make sure his brother’s life is remembered both on and off the court. It takes a special, mature person to face an issue as he plans to. It seems that the forming of this foundation is all Bembry’s doing. Usually, player’s agents or supporting group will suggest to form their own foundation, but Bembry is taking the initiative because it means something more to him.

He won’t only be a valuable piece for the Hawks on the floor, but an important contributor to society as a whole. What more can you ask of him?

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