2025-26 Season
DE'ANTHONY MELTON
2025-26 Season
DE'ANTHONY MELTON
Melton produces at an average rate for a 23-minute workload. Elite defensive value (+3.1/game) is a major strength.
About this model: Net Impact can't measure floor spacing, help defense rotations, or playmaking gravity — so wings and guards are slightly undervalued vs bigs. How Net Impact works
TEAM COMPARISON
of 17 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 235 Guards with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
De'Anthony Melton’s early season was defined by maddening volatility off the bench, swinging wildly between game-wrecking two-way dominance and total offensive paralysis. His shooting droughts were often severely punishing. On 12/20 vs PHX, a complete inability to knock down shots resulted in a miserable -8.6 impact score, as his 0-for-5 shooting night torpedoed his overall value despite fantastic hustle metrics. Yet, he could violently flip the script without needing a heavy scoring load. During the 12/29 vs BKN matchup, Melton scored just 10 points but generated a massive +9.4 impact because his elite rebounding for a guard—grabbing 8 boards—and tenacious point-of-attack defense completely suffocated the opposition. When his jumper actually fell, he transformed into an elite two-way weapon. He erupted on 01/17 vs CHA for 24 points and a season-high +11.8 impact, using relentless perimeter defense to disrupt the opponent's initiation and fuel lethal transition offense. The stark contrast between his brick-laying nights and defensive masterclasses makes him one of the most unpredictable role players in the league.
This twenty-game stretch was defined by extreme pendulum swings, as De'Anthony Melton transitioned into the starting lineup but wrestled with severe bouts of catastrophic shot selection. Even when the traditional box score looked impressive, hidden offensive costs often dragged him down. Take the 02/24 vs NOP matchup, where a 28-point outburst yielded a meager +0.8 impact score because he bogged down possessions with forced jumpers and inefficient isolation sets. When those bad habits compounded, his overall value simply cratered. During a disastrous 03/02 vs LAC tilt, Melton posted a brutal -16.1 impact score driven by a stubborn refusal to stop forcing contested, early-clock floaters. He finally generated elite two-way value when he abandoned the perimeter and started aggressively pressuring the rim. Against 03/16 vs WAS, a relentless downhill attacking mindset resulted in 27 points and a massive +14.9 impact score. If he stops settling for off-balance jumpers, he can actually be a reliable starter rather than a wildly unpredictable wildcard.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Boom-or-bust player. Melton's impact swings wildly relative to his average — some nights dominant, others invisible. Scoring varies by ~8 points per game.
Streaky shooter — only cracks 45% from the field in 33% of games. Efficiency is all over the place night-to-night.
Defensive difference-maker. Melton consistently forces tough shots and protects the rim — opponents shoot worse when he's guarding them.
Tends to go on runs. Longest hot streak: 2 games. Longest cold streak: 6 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Based on 48 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
43 games played