PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia 76ers guard De’Anthony Melton has been a big addition for the team since they acquired him on draft night from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for veteran Danny Green.
In his first season in Philadelphia, Melton is averaging 10.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.7 steals while shooting 40.1% from deep on 5.4 attempts. He does that all while defending the opposition’s best scorer.
However, one might say the Sixers are overworking Melton. He has already started 45 games, a career high, and he has already played 1,537 minutes with 25 games still to go. Considering the 1,657 minutes he played for the Grizzlies in the 2021-22 season were a career-high, he needs this All-Star break more than anybody.
“A lot of guys needed the break and De’Anthony being one of them,” said coach Doc Rivers on Wednesday after a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. “We ask him to guard the best guy every single night. He’s got a hard job, so I think he can’t wait to just relax for a couple days. Not worry about every single night there’s a good player on the other team.”
Over the final nine games heading into the break, Melton shot well: 43.8% from deep. But there was a 1-for-5 game in there, and he played only 14 minutes in a Feb. 11 win over the Brooklyn Nets. If the Sixers are to do anything in the playoffs, they will need Melton to be fresh for when the games matter the most.
When asked about Melton possibly hitting a wall after the win on Feb. 11, Rivers mentioned the break and how beneficial it will be for him.
“The wall, if it is, we got All-Star break coming up,” Rivers said in Brooklyn. “We got rest coming up and we’re gonna need it because our March is awful, but I’m not concerned. I’m really not.”
To Rivers’ point, Melton has proved a helpful addition all season, and one has to assume that he will be ready to go when the team comes back from the break.
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