Memphis Grizzlies: De’Anthony Melton is a future Sixth Man of the Year
Last season, the Memphis Grizzlies didn’t have a distinctive sixth man. There were a few players who could claim that position, but between injuries, rotational changes, and irregularities in the season, nobody established themselves for Taylor Jenkins.
Things are different this season.
Well, actually, things are very much the same in terms of injuries, irregularities, and rotational changes, but the Grizzlies have a more distinctive pecking order when it comes to the starting lineup.
Memphis Grizzlies G De’Anthony Melton has brought undying energy off of the bench
The Grizzlies are a team that has had strong bench play all year long. In fact, the starting lineup and bench have been extremely fluid in Jaren Jackson Jr.’s absence, with an extremely even skill level below the team’s two stars.
Technically, when you look at each member of the Grizzlies their minutes played, Melton actually ranks 9th on the team. That said, he’s one of the youngest members of the team with a ton of room for improvement.
But while Grayson Allen, Desmond Bane, and Dillon Brooks have all gotten a handful of starts at the shooting guard position, De’Anthony Melton only has one. A single start.
But when you look at his impact on the floor, both offensively and defensively, you begin to wonder why he hasn’t been given much of an opportunity to march out onto the court with the starters. All things considered, he may be the best guard on this team.
He’s the second-best 3-point shooter on the team by percentage. He’s 11th out of all shooting guards in the NBA in Player Efficiency Rating, indicating that he’s one of the best all-around players on the team. There’s no reason that he shouldn’t be in the starting lineup.
Except for one.
Taylor Jenkins is a great coach. He’s not watching the same team that we are and sitting Melton because he doesn’t like him. He’s doing it for a purpose. And that purpose is to groom Mr. Do Something to be the NBA’s next great sixth man.
Think about it. Who does his game remind you of? If you ask me, it bears a striking resemblance to players like Louis Williams and Jamal Crawford, two of the league’s greatest sixth men of all time. He goes out onto the court and rather than provide a specific purpose, he brings pure energy to the lineup.
Next. An undefeated finish is entirely possible for the Grizzlies. dark
If he doesn’t become an NBA star one day, he’ll go down as the NBA’s next great sixth man.