DETROIT — Philadelphia 76ers guard De’Anthony Melton is off to a tough start to the 2023-24 season. Seven games in, Melton is shooting 29.5% from the floor and 32.4% from deep, which isn’t up to his usual standards.
Melton is a career 41.1% shooter from the floor and 36.9% from deep. He shot 42.5% overall and 39% from deep in the 2022-23 season with the Sixers, so one has to figure he will eventually figure it out. Shooting slumps are just a part of the game of basketball.
“Don’t think too hard about it,” said Melton at shootaround on Friday. “Just go back to your mechanics. Go back to the foundation that you have. That’s what I’ve been trying to do. Get back to that type (of) stuff. I’m glad we’re playing well. I’m glad we’re winning, and I’m not playing my best so that’s even more exciting for us.”
Melton is right on both accounts. He will get back into a rhythm, and the team is on a six-game winning streak that includes a big win over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. The Sixers are going to continue to show him support through this slump.
“It’s nice,” he said of the support he’s receiving. “It’s nice to feel. They’re gonna joke about it, too at the same time, but it’s always good to hear that from your teammates to keep shooting, keep firing, and I have a lot of confidence in myself. I feel like I do, but some of them are just not dropping.”
Despite the shooting woes, Melton is finding ways to contribute and affect game outcomes. His work on the defensive end of the floor has been magnificent, and he has bought into new coach Nick Nurse’s style and system. Melton has been a key playmaker: He’s averaging 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals to begin the season.
De’Anthony Melton on the support he’s received from his teammates through this slump as well as his continued impact on winning despite the slump #Sixers pic.twitter.com/OR1MRm8UHi
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) November 10, 2023
“I feel like, honestly, that’s me,” he finished. “Defense is always gonna be. Causing disruption. That’s always gonna be who I am. It’s been my game since the beginning so just trying to find my way on the offensive end, but continue to impact on defense and continue to impact winning.”
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