DeAndre Bembry Has High Aspirations For This Season

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:

"“Rather than just being a one-dimensional player, Coach can throw me out there to do multiple things. Rather than just being a defensive player or just being able to throw up shots, I can always find a way to make an impact since I play hard on both ends. The NBA is definitely moving toward more versatile players. These days, the four will bring the ball up the court sometimes, like Draymond Green does. Even the fives are trying to dribble more than they used to. Being versatile can definitely help a player get more minutes, and I feel like that will help me get out there more.”"

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.

"“I definitely feel like I can impact the game right away. I feel like it just depends on what the coaches need me to do in my rookie year. Whether it’s me needing to score or if it’s just needing me out there to guard the best player on the floor, I’m open to it. I’m a very versatile player; I can play with the ball in my hands and can play off the ball if that’s what Coach Bud wants. I can pretty much guard the one, two and three, so I can affect the game in many different areas. It just depends what the team needs me to do or what my coaches want me to do.”"