Last Updated on April 19, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s a detailed profile of De’Anthony Melton:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: De’Anthony Melton
  • Nickname: “Mr. Do Something”
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: May 28, 1998
  • Hometown: North Hollywood, California, USA
  • Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
  • Weight: 200 lbs (91 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
  • Shoe Size: Not publicly confirmed
  • Jersey Number:
    • #0 — USC Trojans
    • #14 — Phoenix Suns
    • #0 — Memphis Grizzlies
    • #8 — Philadelphia 76ers
  • Position: Shooting Guard / Combo Guard
  • High School: Crespi Carmelite High School (Encino, California)
  • College: University of Southern California
  • NBA Draft: 2018 — Round 2, Pick 46 — Houston Rockets
  • Player Archetype: Defensive playmaking guard (3-and-D disruptor)
  • Primary Offensive Role: Spot-up shooter, secondary ball-mover, transition finisher
  • Defensive Role: Point-of-attack defender; passing-lane disruptor generating steals and deflections
  • Play Style: High-motor guard who thrives on chaos defense, quick reads, and opportunistic scoring; low-usage but high-impact
  • Handedness / Shooting Hand: Right-handed
  • Athletic Profile: Above-average lateral quickness, long wingspan for position, strong anticipation instincts
  • Recruiting Status: 3-star recruit; late riser with strong senior-year development
  • Draft Status Detail: Declared after freshman year; stock impacted by USC eligibility scandal but valued analytically for defensive metrics
  • Injury Status Category: Moderate Risk — has dealt with intermittent injuries (including back issues) but generally returns without long-term decline
  • Career Stage: Prime role player (defensive specialist in rotation)
  • Comparison Style: Analytics-friendly impact guard; defense-first connector
  • Comparable Players:
    • Tony Allen — elite perimeter stopper archetype
    • Alex Caruso — disruptive guard with high-impact metrics
    • Marcus Smart — defensive leader with secondary playmaking
  • Teams Played For:
    • Phoenix Suns (2018–2019)
    • Memphis Grizzlies (2019–2022)
    • Philadelphia 76ers (2022–present)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Parents: Not widely documented publicly
  • Children: None publicly known
  • Siblings: Not widely documented publicly

Player Archetype / Play Style

De’Anthony Melton’s player archetype is that of a defense-first combo guard, a disruptive two-way backcourt piece whose best work comes from point-of-attack pressure, opportunistic playmaking, and complementary offense rather than primary shot creation. At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, with a strong frame for a guard, he brings enough physicality to battle through screens, bother ball-handlers, and play with real toughness on the perimeter. Offensively, his role is usually to space the floor, attack openings in straight lines, move the ball quickly, and provide secondary handling without hijacking possessions, while defensively he stands out as an active, pesky stopper who creates turnovers, jumps passing lanes, and gives lineups extra energy with his anticipation. Altogether, Melton plays like a connective winning guard whose value is built on defense, effort, and the kind of low-maintenance offensive game that fits next to stars.

Sources:

NBA.com — De’Anthony Melton | Guard | Golden State Warriors
NBA.com — De’Anthony Melton
Sports Forecaster — De’Anthony Melton Stats, Profile, Bio, Analysis and More
ESPN — De’Anthony Melton