By Ben Standig
Special to Atlantic10.com
LAS VEGAS -- Rookies are usually the rock stars at the start of the annual NBA Summer League. Second-year players like DeAndre’ Bembry aren’t exactly background singers, but the surrounding buzz feels more like an opening act. Whether the small forward buys that pitch, the former Saint Joseph’s star didn’t arrive for his encore singing the blues. Ahead of a pivotal and transitional regular season for the Atlanta Hawks, Bembry showed his game is very much in tune.
The 6-foot-6 Bembry didn’t get the opportunity to show off his full range during an up-and-down rookie season with the Hawks. Which isn’t to say what he experienced was abnormal for any player selected 21st overall by a playoff team aiming for immediate glory. The Hawks coaching staff provided ample instruction. The minutes were simply scarce and random.
After playing in all 36 games with Saint Joseph’s during his final college season, the 2016 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year received action in just 38 of 82 during the regular season with Atlanta. He never took off his warm-ups during a six-game playoff series loss against the Washington Wizards.
“It humbles you as a first-year player,” Bembry said. “You know you’re good, but there are other guys in front of you so you have to wait your turn.”
The wait might not be much longer. Atlanta is going through something of a transition period. Leading man Paul Millsap exited for big dollars in free agency. Atlanta also lost guards Tim Hardaway Jr. and Thabo Sefolosha after trading Kyle Korver during the season.
Those minutes are now up for grabs, and Bembry arrived in Las Vegas intent on grabbing them.
“Be ready. Whenever your name is called, be ready,” the Charlotte native said of his mindset. “I’m trying to start here in the Summer League. Play my best game here so (the coaches) can gain some confidence. When Summer League is over, then get to [training] camp and try to keep the same grind going. Hopefully that leads to me getting some big minutes next year.”
Based on his work with the Summer League squad, Bembry is poised for a notable role when the games turn real. He led Atlanta with 17.0 points per game and finished fourth among all players with 2.8 steals. That defensive component provides Bembry with the best chance of steady minutes. In one game against the Pelicans, he finished with six steals.
“At the end of the game, we felt comfortable with DeAndre’ being able to guard the point guard,” said Hawks assistant Charles Lee, who served as Atlanta’s Summer League coach. “That aspect of his game, being able to guard multiple positions is going to be something that’s huge for him.”
“Be ready. Whenever your name is called, be ready.”
DeAndre Bembry
Bembry’s defensive game developed early at Saint Joseph’s under Coach Phil Martelli and playing along stalwarts Langston Galloway, Ronald Roberts and Halil Kanacevic.
“Going into my freshman year, that was my thing. I didn’t have to score the ball that much. I just guarded the best player every game. That’s how I got my momentum going,” Bembry explained. “I’m one of those guys who prides myself on the defensive side.”
With that skill in his bag of tricks, Bembry prepped for the Summer League by focusing on the other end of the court.
“Probably a week after the season stopped I was the first person back in the gym. Just working on my shot with one of my assistant coaches,” Bembry said.
That work with Hawks assistant coach Ben Sullivan showed in Las Vegas. Bembry’s outside shot remains a work in progress – he went 1-of-18 from beyond the arc as a rookie – but he looked more comfortable firing from distance. During an Atlanta blowout win over Chicago, Bembry sank 2-of-3 3-pointers and finished with 21 points.
“If I’m more consistent at the 3-point range, I think it’s going to be harder for someone to guard me. I already know I can play defense,” the confident Bembry stated.
So do Atlanta’s coaches. The point of having Bembry play in the 2017 Summer League involved showing he can handle more work for a second unit in need of more playmaking. Now a veteran of Sin City, Bembry brushed off the distractions, played hard – and avoided the oppressive desert heat.
“I’m cool with staying inside,” he joked.
That’s off the court. On the hardwood, Bembry showed he’s now capable of moving outside. That development should have him moving out of the chorus and into the Hawks’ main orchestra. Bembry isn’t worrying about getting a solo. He just wanted to show he’s a good accompaniment on both ends of the court.
Ben Standig is a freeland writer from Washington, D.C. who covers sports for a number of media outlets including CSN Mid -Atlantic. He is on Twitter at @BenStandig