D.J. Hogg – 2018-19 G-League Player Profile

June 20th, 2019

D.J. Hogg

SF/PF – 6’9, 215lbs – Born 3rd September 1996

   Delaware Blue Coats   

Hogg declared for the draft last summer as a junior hoping to take advantage of the contemporary love for stretch shooting forwards in the NBA today. He went undrafted, so joined the New Orleans Pelicans for summer league, signed with the Philadelphia 76ers for two days towards the end of NBA preseason (as did Matt Farrell from the previous page; it was done purely to be able to allocate them to Delaware), and now has spent his first professional season with the Blue Coats.

In this season, Hogg needed to prove that his shooting would translate, but also that he could be more than just a shooter. This was particularly true on the defensive end, where, in having a mediocre wingspan, average athleticism and a poor rebounding rate, he had never stood out. Having played largely small forward at Texas A&M to accommodate the play of Tyler Davis and Robert Williams, Hogg showed some positional flexibility to play at either forward spot, yet given his lack of handle and shot creation, the four spot may have been better suited to him. Then again, considering he is not well equipped to defend the interior and does not rebound well, maybe the three spot is better suited to him. These are the questions he had to start answering this year.

What Hogg did prove this season is that the longer three-point line will not be a problem. With a smooth stroke that he can use off the catch or off screens, Hogg seeks his shots from outside regularly and consolidates with the occasional up-fake into a drive, one he normally then passes off of. A limited handler who turns it over a fair bit, and without excellent quickness, he struggles to take anyone off the dribble – he would rather, and is better at, just shooting over them. When empowered to do so, Hogg is a benefit to any offence, although he still needs to prove himself defensively. He needs to stay in the play better, read man and ball movement off the ball, not overhelp, and not under-help either.

Work to do, then. But as one of the better shooters around who stands taller than 6’8, Hogg is firmly on the NBA radar.

– 20th June, 2019

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