It's Desmond Bane's turn for the All-Star leap
Desmond Bane’s game has evolved from knockdown shooting specialist, to a mult-faceted offensive dynamite. Could he become another Memphis Grizzlies All-Star?
In 2022, Ja Morant made his 1st All-Star appearance. Last season, it was Jaren Jackson Jr. who was selected to his 1st All-Star Game, joining Morant in Utah as the first All-Star duo in Memphis Grizzlies franchise history. Looking ahead to the 2023-24 season, for the 3rd consecutive season, the Grizzlies could have another 1st-time All-Star up to the plate: Desmond Bane.
Bane’s growth doesn’t catch the headlines like Morant did in the 2021-22 campaign. Given his trajectory as the 30th pick in 2020 and a primarily spot-up guy in his rookie season, his rise has been quite meteoric on his way to stardom. His leap led to consistent career-high’s in scoring and assist averages, while maintaining his efficiencies with more usage each season. It also parlayed into a handsome $200M extension, and into the Grizzlies answering the elusive “3rd star” question.
Going into this season, Bane is expected to handle a larger role once again, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see another jump — even one that leads to an All-Star berth.
While Desmond Bane is more for his 3-point shooting, his overall game offensively might be underrated. The intersection of his shooting, scoring, and playmaking is absolutely wicked.
Last season, there were 43 players that played 1,000+ (non garbage time) minutes with a usage rate 25% or higher and an assist percentage better than 20, per Cleaning the Glass. Of those 43 players, Desmond Bane and Kevin Durant were the only ones to also shoot at least 50% on “long mid-range” shots and 40% on 3’s.
It’s a testament to the overall improvements Bane has made in his game in order to add to his skillset and to keep his strong efficiency humming, even with expanded offensive responsibilities.
Bane has developed more pop off the dribble — making quicker, more decisive moves with the ball in his hands. While he still has room to grow as a rim-finisher (62% at the rim, 37th percentile among wings, per Cleaning the Glass), he does a good job leveraging his footwork and physicality when getting downhill.
Bane has shown more gears off the dribble. He can explode off a screen or DHO, but snake-dribble his way into his spot. It’s more evident in transition where he can speed to the basket like a freight train, and slam on the brakes at any moment to fire a 3 — was 5th in transition points per game (6.6), among players with 100+ transition possessions, per Synergy Sports.
Bane leverages it all with his playmaking. He’s grown as a bonafide secondary playmaker next to Morant. He can initiate the offense, find rollers in the pick-and-roll, and throw darts to shooters off drive-and-kick situations. His passing growth allows for offensive diversification and for more lethal playmaking on the floor — someone to run the ship when Morant is off the floor, or as a co-pilot alongside him.
While Bane’s off-the-dribble game has helped elevate his ceiling, he’s still a potent 3-point weapon capable of dissecting defenses in a variety of ways. This past season, among those that played 1000 or more minutes, only 3 players shot at least 40% on pull-up 3’s, 40% on catch-and-shoot 3’s, and 50% on corner 3’s, per The B-Ball Index:
Steph Curry
Kawhi Leonard
Desmond Bane
Bane’s ability to flame 3’s in multiple capacities makes him a malleable offensive fit — and the perfect complement in a backcourt next to Ja Morant. He can be slotted off the ball, patiently for the ball to kick out or make its way around the horn so he can let it fly. His growth as a creator (93rd percentile in pick-and-roll efficiency) allows for him to handle initiation responsibilities and catch defenses slipping on the perimeter. He’s even developed a nasty stepback jumper.
When it comes to his 3-point attack with a larger role, I wonder if he will shoot even more from downtown. Despite being one of the most accurate 3-point shooters in the past 2 years, he hasn’t cracked the top-25 in attempts per game. And while his scoring inside the arc has been more emphasized, his 3-point rate decreased from 47.5 to 43.3% of his attempts this past year.
Bane has shown he can maintain efficiency with even higher volume. Over the past 2 seasons, in games with 9 or more 3’s attempted (34), Bane has averaged 25 points per game on 45.7% shooting from behind the arc — worth noting: his PPG in these games last year was 27.1. The Grizzlies are also 21-13 (61.2 winning percentage) in these contests.
It may not be needed for Bane to continue leveling up as an offensive player, but it’s something that’s at least worth monitoring and mentioning, because of his potency as a shooter.
Desmond Bane has catapulted himself into elite company as a dynamic, lethal offensive weapon — with the credentials suggesting another emphatic jump may be on the brink.
With all this being said, an All-Star nod is always tough to predict. For starters, there are only 12 spots to go around, before injury replacements. Typically it’s split for 4 backcourt players, 6 in the frontcourt, and 2 “wild card” spots.
The competition in the backcourt is stiff, barring injury. Steph Curry, Luka Doncic, and Devin Booker are near perennial locks. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards have signaled their arrival. Bradley Beal and Kyrie Irving are now in the West. De’Aaron Fox isn’t going anywhere, neither is reigning NBA champion Jamal Murray — who’s also looking for his 1st All-Star selection.
However, if the Grizzlies’ formula stays successful in the regular season, Desmond Bane is firmly in this conversation as well.
The Memphis Grizzlies are starting the season through choppy waters — absences for their star player and their biggest reserve, a new system with fresh faces, and a brutal Western Conference. However, if Desmond Bane continues to sharpen and amplify his skillset and production, he could guide them to smooth waters and sail to his first All-Star appearance.
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