It’s as if he had been preparing for this new role for years. Despite his very young career in the NBA since he will only start his third season, Desmond Bane has always tried to act as a father for the younger players of Memphis. To supervise them, advise them, nurture them, with the aim of helping them progress.
“I’ve always been a veteran, but now I’m one for good. I don’t really think too much needs to change. I’ve always been the guy who leads by example, who does his best all the time. This is already half the job of leadership”he said, he who inherited a new father cap this summer, after the birth of his first child.
Ziaire Williams, his first little protege
Since the end of the season, Desmond Bane has indeed changed nothing of his course of action. It started the day after the Draft, when he invited rookie David Roddy, 23rd choice, to his home to get to know each other and facilitate his acclimatization to Memphis. A real veteran attitude… at just 24 years old.
“I just chatted with him, talked about the rookie experience and what helped him thrive in his sophomore year,” confided the rookie. “It was great to be able to get to know him more.”
It was then in Las Vegas that Desmond Bane came to watch over his other foal, Ziaire Williams, who will attack his second year in the NBA. Desmond Bane has also taken him under his wing for a year. The two players are in the same training group during the season, notably with assistant Darko Rajakovic, and continue to train together during the summer.
His visit was an opportunity to give him some advice during a 20-minute discussion. He responded with his best performance in the Summer League.
“We were focused. It was a good offseason. Of course, he went to Vegas for two weeks. He had two weeks to do his thing, but then he comes back under my protection,” added Desmond Bane.
Being a dad will only encourage him to continue on this path, with his son at home and his “sons” in the locker room. Considering himself blessed, the back does not forget his personal goals either at the dawn of his third year in the NBA. “I will try to continue to grow, and to take another leap forward. »
| Desmond Bane | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2020-21 | MEM | 68 | 22 | 46.9 | 43.2 | 81.6 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 9.2 |
| 2021-22 | MEM | 76 | 30 | 46.1 | 43.6 | 90.3 | 0.6 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 18.2 |
| Total | 144 | 26 | 46.4 | 43.5 | 88.2 | 0.5 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 14.0 | |
