Last Updated on April 22, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the detailed information about Darius Bazley, a current NBA player:

  • Full Name: Darius Denayr Bazley
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on June 12, 2000
  • Hometown: Brockton, Massachusetts, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm)
  • Weight: 208 pounds (94 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet (213 cm)
  • Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)
  • Shoe Brand: New Balance Two Wxy V4, New Balance Two Wxy V3, New Balance Two Way, New Balance OMN1S
  • Number: Wears jersey number 55
  • Position: Power Forward / Small Forward
  • High School: Princeton High School in Sharonville, Ohio
  • College: Initially committed to Syracuse University but opted to skip college and train for the NBA
  • NBA Draft: Selected in the 1st round (23rd overall pick) in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz (rights traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder)
  • Player Archetype: Versatile defensive forward / developmental combo forward
  • Primary Offensive Role: Secondary scorer; transition finisher; spot-up/slasher hybrid
  • Defensive Role: Multi-positional defender; switchable forward; weak-side rim helper
  • Play Style: Long, fluid athlete who thrives in open floor, defends across positions, and provides energy scoring without high usage
  • Handedness / Shooting Hand: Right-handed
  • Athletic Profile: Above-average explosiveness, long stride length, plus lateral mobility for size
  • Recruiting Status: 5-star recruit (committed to Syracuse before bypassing college)
  • Draft Status Detail: Non-traditional path—skipped NCAA, completed New Balance internship year before entering draft
  • Injury Status Category: Moderate Risk — minor lower-body injuries and inconsistency impacting continuity, but no major career-threatening issues
  • Career Stage: Journeyman rotational forward / depth piece
  • Comparison Style: Defense-first, athletic combo forward with offensive flashes
  • Comparable Players:
    • Jerami Grant — athletic forward with defensive versatility and scoring growth
    • Aaron Gordon — transition-heavy forward with strength/length profile
    • Marvin Williams — hybrid forward role player with defensive utility
    • Al-Farouq Aminu — long defender with streaky offensive contributions
  • Teams Played For:
    • Oklahoma City Thunder (2019–2023)
    • Phoenix Suns (2023)
    • Brooklyn Nets (2023–2024)
    • Philadelphia 76ers (2024, offseason/preseason)
  • Championship Rings: None in the NBA (as of 2023)
  • Kids: Not publicly available
  • Siblings: Not publicly available

Darius Bazley’s player archetype is that of a versatile defensive forward who blends length, mobility, and developmental upside into a modern combo role. Defensively, he operates as a switchable piece capable of guarding wings and smaller bigs while offering weak-side rim protection through his 7-foot wingspan. Offensively, Bazley fits best as a secondary option, generating points in transition, cutting into space, and spotting up rather than creating in isolation. Physically, he stands out with fluid athleticism, long strides, and quick lateral movement for his size, which underpins both his defensive range and open-floor effectiveness. His overall play style leans toward energy-driven contributions—impacting games through defense, rebounding, and opportunistic scoring rather than consistent half-court shot creation.

Profile Notes & Context

  • Similar players to Darius Bazley include Anthony Davis, Thaddeus Young, and Taj Gibson.

Sources:
NBA — Darius Bazley Player Profile
Basketball Reference — Darius Bazley Stats
ESPN — Darius Bazley Bio