D. J. Stephens

Dalenta Jameral Stephens (born December 19, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for BC Prometey of the Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague. He played college basketball for the University of Memphis, where he played four years for the Tigers basketball team.

D. J. Stephens
Prometey Kamianske
PositionSmall forward
LeagueUkrainian Basketball SuperLeague
Personal information
Born (1990-12-19) December 19, 1990
Frankfurt, Germany
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight198 lb (90 kg)
Career information
High schoolHarker Heights
(Harker Heights, Texas)
CollegeMemphis (2009–2013)
NBA draft2013 / Undrafted
Playing career2013–present
Career history
2013–2014Ilysiakos
2014Milwaukee Bucks
2014Anadolu Efes
2014–2015Zenit Saint Petersburg
2015–2016Canton Charge
2016Iowa Energy
2016–2017Budivelnyk
2017Vaqueros de Bayamón
2017–2018Le Mans
2018Memphis Grizzlies
2018Memphis Hustle
2019Manama Club
2019–2020Le Mans
2020–presentBC Prometey
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

College career

Stephens was not a highly regarded recruit out of Harker Heights High School when he was offered a scholarship by Memphis coach Josh Pastner. By his senior year at Memphis, however, he had become a crowd favorite for his spectacular dunking and blocking abilities. In 2011–12, he won the Intersport's Dunks of the Year title for a dunk against Xavier on February 4, 2012.[1] In his senior year at Memphis, Stephens became a starter and earned the Conference USA defensive player of the year award. Stephens earned national attention in the 2013 NCAA tournament after demonstrating his leaping ability against St. Mary's and Michigan State.

In a four-year career at Memphis, Stephens played a total of 129 games while averaging 4.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 13.2 minutes per game.[2]

Professional career

Ilysiakos (2013–14)

During the 2013 pre-draft workouts at the NBA Draft Combine, Stephens recorded the highest standing vertical leap (40 inches) and the highest running vertical leap (46 inches) ever recorded by the NBA.[3] He also had the fastest time at the 2013 Combine in the three-quarter court sprint.[4]

After going undrafted in the 2013 NBA draft, Stephens joined the Miami Heat for the Orlando Summer League and the Dallas Mavericks for the Las Vegas Summer League. On August 13, 2013, he signed with Ilysiakos B.C. of Greece for the 2013–14 season.[5] In early March 2014, he left Greece and returned to the United States.[6]

Milwaukee Bucks (2014)

On March 26, 2014, Stephens signed a 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.[7] On March 29, 2014, he made his NBA debut. In just under 12 minutes of action, he recorded five points and four rebounds in a loss to the Miami Heat.[8] On April 5, 2014, the Bucks did not offer him a second 10-day contract after his first 10-day contract expired.[9]

Anadolu Efes (2014)

On April 10, 2014, he signed with Anadolu Efes of Turkey for the rest of the 2013–14 season.[10]

Zenit Saint Petersburg (2014–15)

On October 1, 2014, Stephens signed with the New Orleans Pelicans.[11] However, he was later waived by the Pelicans on October 24, 2014.[12] On December 2, 2014, he signed with Zenit Saint Petersburg of Russia for the rest of the season.[13] In 21 league games for Zenit in 2014–15, Stephens averaged 6.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Canton Charge (2015–2016)

On September 28, 2015, Stephens signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers.[14] However, he was later waived by the Cavaliers on October 23 after appearing in four preseason games.[15]

On October 30, 2015, Stephens was acquired by the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League as an affiliate player of the Cavaliers.[16] On November 14, he made his debut for Canton in a 106–99 loss to the Maine Red Claws, recording 10 points, six rebounds, one assist, one steal and two blocks in 25 minutes.[17] In 27 games for the Charge, he averaged 8.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 19.8 minutes per game.[18]

Iowa Energy (2016)

On March 5, 2016, Stephens was traded to the Iowa Energy in exchange for a 2016 fifth-round draft pick.[18] The next day, he made his debut for Iowa in a 109–104 loss to the Delaware 87ers, recording three points and four rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.[19] On March 28, he was named NBA Development League Performer of the Week after averaging 24.7 points on 61.4 percent shooting to go with 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals while connecting 11-of-18 three-point attempts in three games from March 21 through March 27.[20]

Budivelnyk (2016–17)

In July 2016, Stephens joined the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2016 NBA Summer League[21] and on August 8, 2016, he signed with them.[22] However, he was waived on October 22 after appearing in five preseason games.[23] On November 21, 2016, he signed with Ukrainian club Budivelnyk for the rest of the season.[24] With Budivelnyk he won the Ukrainian SuperLeague championship.[25]

Vaqueros de Bayamón (2017)

On May 19, 2017, Stephens signed with Vaqueros de Bayamón of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional.[26]

Le Mans Sarthe Basket (2017–18)

On July 17, 2017, Stephens signed with French club Le Mans Sarthe Basket for the 2017–18 season.[27] On May 15, 2018, Stephens was named the LNB Pro A Best Sixth Man of the 2017–18 season.[28] He averaged 9.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Stephens re-signed with the team on July 5, 2018.[29]

Memphis Grizzlies (2018)

On October 8, 2018, Stephens signed a two-way contract with the Memphis Grizzlies,[30] but was waived by the Memphis Grizzlies on December 30, 2018 after appearing in one game.[31]

Manama Club (2019)

On February 19th, 2019, Stephens signed a contract for the rest of the season with reigning Bahraini Basketball League champions. He posted averages of 18 ppg, 10 rpg, and 2.7 assist a game. He announced his departure April 13, 2019 via Instagram.

Le Mans Sarthe Basket (2019–2020)

On July 12, 2019, he has signed with Le Mans of the LNB Pro A. [32]. On December 29, 2019, he has won the dunk contest of the French All-Star Game LNB 2019. He averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.[33]

BC Prometey (2020–present)

On July 9, 2020, Stephens signed with BC Prometey of the Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague.[33]

NBA career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2013–14 Milwaukee 305.0.429.0001.0001.7.0.0.02.3
Career 305.0.429.0001.0001.7.0.0.02.3

Personal life

Stephens is the son of Will Stephens and Dorothea Love. He now has two daughters, Dallas Noelle Stephens, and Lordis Reign Stephens.[1]

gollark: ?remind 3y Execute Contingency Theta.
gollark: I'm in school year 11, and am doing something like 11 GCSEs for some annoying reason; exams are in 6-ish months.
gollark: The UK's... high school-equivalent?... qualification thingies.
gollark: General Somethingsomething Exams.
gollark: Fascinating.

References
  1. "30 D.J. Stephens". GoTigersGo.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  2. "D.J. Stephens Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  3. Busbee, Jay (March 23, 2013). "NBA Draft: DJ Stephens records the highest vertical leap ever measured by the NBA". Yahoo.com. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  4. "A Closer Look at the Draft Combine". NBA.com. May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  5. "Ilysiakos signs rookie DJ Stephens". Sportando.com. August 13, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  6. "DJ Stephens reportedly leaving Ilysiakos to sign in the NBA". Sportando.com. March 14, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  7. "Bucks Sign Free-Agent Guard/Forward D.J. Stephens". NBA.com. March 26, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  8. "Notebook: Heat 88, Bucks 67". NBA.com. March 29, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  9. "Bucks Won't Sign D.J. Stephens To 2nd 10-Day Contract". realgm.com. April 5, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  10. "DJ Stephens lands in Istanbul to join Anadolu Efes". Sportando.com. April 10, 2014. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  11. "Pelicans Add D.J. Stephens to Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. October 1, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  12. "Pelicans Request Waivers on Jones and Stephens". NBA.com. October 24, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  13. "Zenit St. Petersburg announces DJ Stephens". Sportando.com. December 2, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  14. "Cavaliers Announce 2015-16 Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. September 28, 2015. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  15. "Cavaliers Waive Four Players". NBA.com. October 23, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  16. "D-League Draft on Saturday as Charge finalize training camp roster". CantonRep.com. October 30, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  17. "Red Claws Avoid Canton's Charge". NBA.com. November 14, 2015. Archived from the original on January 25, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  18. "Iowa Energy Acquire Former NBA Player D.J. Stephens". OurSportsCentral.com. March 5, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  19. "Smith Scores 50 To Spark 87ers". NBA.com. March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  20. "Iowa's D.J. Stephens Named NBA Development League Performer of the Week". OurSportsCentral.com. March 28, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  21. "Grizzlies announce NBA Summer League 2016 roster". NBA.com. July 5, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  22. "Grizzlies sign Wayne Selden Jr., D.J. Stephens, Troy Williams and Tony Wroten". NBA.com. August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  23. "Grizzlies waive JaKarr Sampson, Wayne Selden Jr. & D.J. Stephens". NBA.com. October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  24. "Будивельник подписал Ди Джея Стивенса!". budivelnyk.ua (in Ukrainian). November 21, 2016. Archived from the original on November 22, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  25. "Budivelnyk wins the 2016/17 Superleague title". Sportando.com. May 6, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  26. "Stephens será el nuevo refuerzo vaquero". primerahora.com (in Spanish). May 19, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  27. "D.J. Stephens en couteau suisse à l'intérieur". msb.fr (in French). July 17, 2017. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  28. Zach Peacock dans l'histoire
  29. "DJ Stephens re-signs with Le Mans". Sportando. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  30. "Memphis Grizzlies sign D.J. Stephens to two-way contract". NBA.com. October 8, 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  31. "Memphis Grizzlies waive D.J. Stephens". NBA.com. December 30, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  32. "DJ Stephens returns to Le Mans". Sportando. July 12, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  33. "D.J. Stephens joins BC Prometey". Sportando. July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
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