During his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, De’Anthony Melton was highly regarded by the fan base after proving that his offensive impact off the bench was vital when superstar Joel Embiid was not on the floor. However, a lingering back injury in Philadelphia and a partially torn ACL in his left knee after signing with the Golden State Warriors have limited his availability over the past two seasons. Now that he’s healthy again, Melton is showing the league exactly what he’s capable of.
After scoring 10.1 points per game while shooting a 39% average from deep into his first year with the franchise (2022-2023), Melton’s time in Philadelphia came to a halt due to persistent back problems. The 27-year-old made just 38 appearances for the 76ers in the 2023-24 season, rarely stringing together consecutive appearances to show his employers why he can be an integral part of a winning squad.
His first year in San Francisco continued in a similar fashion. Melton suffered a season-ending ACL injury against the Dallas Mavericks on November 12, 2024, preventing him from returning to the court until December 2025. The problem for the former USC guard has never been his offensive attributes; it has been his ability to avoid injuries over an extended period of time. Melton can finally change this narrative with his latest antics.
Healthy Melton proves beneficial for Golden State
It’s no coincidence that De’Anthony Melton’s stellar performances have coincided with a string of games in which the guard hasn’t exacerbated his injury problems. Furthermore, it should come as no surprise to the Warriors that their form has improved dramatically with the former Sixer available for selection and having won eight of their last ten games.
Of course, it should be noted that this positive push in the Western Conference cannot be attributed solely to Melton’s improved performance, especially considering this roster features a generational talent like Steph Curry and a proven star like Jimmy Butler. Nevertheless, his contribution from the bench has undoubtedly added an offensive punch to the rotation.
In January, Melton averaged 15.1 points per game while making 50% of his field goal attempts, and 43.5% from three-point range. For a team like the Warriors, who religiously space the floor and prioritize shots from beyond the arc, Melton’s efficiency from this distance will have head coach Steve Kerr foaming at the mouth. Mainly because of the inconsistent showings of another former 76ers guard, Buddy Hield.
De’Anthony Melton’s resurgence won’t be a surprise to the city of Philadelphia. The fact that’s even more shocking is that the sharpshooter has found stability with his health, and as it stands now, his sporadic appearances on the floor are no longer an issue. If this current string of fortunate events continues, the Golden State Warriors will have a dangerous weapon off the bench.
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