DJ Steward: ‘If I was in college right now, I could probably be dominating’
DJ Steward, a former five-star recruit and a rising star for the Maine Celtics, the G League affiliate of Boston Celtics, has been on a tear recently averaging 27.2 points and 6.2 assists in his last eight games with a 7-1 record. Steward could have stayed in school and would be a senior for Duke Blue Devils, however, he decided to forgo his college eligibility so he could develop in the G League. After an impressive summer league performance with the Philadelphia 76ers, he received a training camp deal with Boston, which landed him in Maine.
Steward sat down with HoopsHype to chat about his experience at Duke, his journey in the G League, and how he has developed his game while navigating through the challenges of adjusting to professional basketball at such a young age.
Tell me about your high school experience and how you ended up at Duke?
DJ Steward: After my freshman year, I got my first offer. Heading into the summer, I had a lot of confidence. I was playing with Meanstreets, and my games continued to develop like that sophomore summer, and I was really good. I was doing well, and then summer came back around, and I wasn’t doing as well as I was before. I dropped off in the rankings, like I went unranked.
That kind of had a chip on my shoulder, and after my sophomore year, I made a decision. I transferred to Whitney Young, a high school in Chicago, where I was in my junior year. And that year, I was like, “All right, this is a time where I’m on a national-scale schedule.”
So, I just developed my game. I got to know my teammates well, my coaches, Coach Tyrone Slaughter, and I became really aggressive. My game started to change, and I started working really hard.
I started taking my craft more seriously and dominated my junior year. Then, heading into my senior season, everything just started changing. A lot of offers started coming in, a lot of eyes, a lot of reporters, and stuff came out to me after every game and followed me. I was one of the leaders for EYBL in scoring. And that’s when I got my offer from Duke, and I remember that call, Coach Mike Krzyzewski called me, telling me he’s offering me everything.
Then, I headed into college being one of the best recruits. We had one of the best freshman classes coming into Duke. We had about three or four five-stars, and a couple of four-stars.
That year, it didn’t work out like [cause of] COVID stuff. I feel like it really held us back from getting to know each other and building that team camaraderie. We weren’t really able to build that chemistry like a lot of college teams can. And we were a young team, so it was tough for us.
How did COVID affect you and your teammates like Jalen Johnson, Jeremy Roach, and Matthew Hurt? Did you hear any whispers that Coach K would retire the following season?
DS: I would say it definitely affected all of us in some way. No, I’ll admit it myself, I’m sure other guys will admit it, like it was tough. We had no fans playing in Cameron [Arena] and it was our sanctuary and the fans, they get us going. They get the Cameron Crazies, get the players going. We didn’t have that. So guys are coming into our arena and they’re feeling comfortable, like this is a regular game. Like no fans, just crowd noise.
This is going to be easy, and we’re going to get young guys as well. They’re hungry, and they’re going on the road. Are you playing against great players, great teams? And then there may be some fans in the arena, which is, like, we’re not used to playing in front of a lot of fans, in general, because we’re coming from high school to college.
Second-year guys, like Matt Hurt, [I think] were affected because he played in front of the Cameron Crazies the year before. But yeah, it was definitely tough, and now there are no whispers of Coach K leaving or anything.
How did you develop mentally to adapt your role and play style better to suit yourself for the NBA and the G League?
DS: What I would say is it’s mostly all mental, seeing the stuff in the media when I was much younger used to get to me. I’ve grown to the point where it’s like, you can’t pay attention to what they’re saying. Like, it doesn’t make sense. Regardless, there are players in the NBA of the same size, getting the job done as well. It’s just by what Bobby [Jackson] and the other coaches were like, watching the film was really important for me. I’m just watching the film, watching the game now, seeing where I can pick my spots, score, give players more of the ball, and play better defense because that was a knock as well – my defense.
I’m just figuring out where I can play good defense and put myself in the best position to be successful by using my speed and quickness. That’s pretty much it.
Has playing alongside veterans in the G League helped you develop versus college?
DS: I did go to the G League University, and I’ve been around a lot of [veterans]. I would say throughout my G League career [watching and practicing with] Quinn Cook, Sheldon Mac, Trey Burke. So whenever I was around those vets, I made sure I was picking their brains and everything you see, and we’re seeing how they work out, how they are on the court, how they pick their spots, and everything.
Whenever I was around these vets and everything, I just made sure that I was learning as much as I possibly could because they were in that position where they were in the NBA and were trying to find their way back into the NBA because I’m a guy just trying to that’s trying to make it to the NBA.
They had the blueprint, but they were there and know what it takes to be in the league.
In the last year, you played for the Stockton Kings, Vancouver Bandits, Philadelphia's Summer League squad, and now the Maine Celtics. Was it difficult to constantly adjust?
DS: Yeah, for sure. It definitely was tough, adjusting to my game and everything.
But the best thing I would say is that the players are versatile. They can do a lot of different things and bring a lot to the team. They’re not just scorers; they can get players involved, play defense, be good teammates, and make sure that everybody’s good.
And what I would say in Stockton was like really good learning years, coming off the bench, really focusing on scoring and then heading into the summer for Vancouver, and I had the ball in my hands, I was pretty much able to pretty much play point guard, make those mistakes and be able to get back on defense and stay in the game and that helped me as well.
Just being with the Sixers, I had a lot of confidence. I went to train in Sacramento with my trainer and everything and just went with the Sixers. I had the ultimate confidence because I had the ball in my hands. I knew what to do with the ball in my hands.
I knew how to make the right reads every time I was coming up the court and just playing with poise, and that’s what it took for me was playing with poise, not forcing anything.
Why did you choose Boston? Did you have any other offers, and is this a vindicating experience?
DS: Yeah, this is one of the best organizations in the league. How can you turn down the Boston Celtics? One of the best organizations, you got Jayson Tatum, [and] you got Amile Jefferson coming in.
That was with Duke and a lot of good guys, and they pretty much had a plan for me to come in, and just develop my game. I liked what I heard, and, of course, I had other offers from other teams. Let’s see the Wizards, Nets, there were some other teams.
I can’t be sure, but just after the Summer League, and Boston pretty much wanted me, I was like, “ah, this seems like the best position for me.” And then, being in Maine, I don’t want to say, I love Maine, but I’m locked in. There isn’t much to do here.
I’m locked into my craft and everything, so just being out here has helped me a lot.
How have you grown? What do you think is the skill set that you bring to a team?
DS: I would say my positive energy. I always bring positive energy to the gym every single day, and you’re always going to see me smile and be a great teammate. But now, when it comes to basketball, my shooting ability, my ability to score the ball, and all three levels are being able to play-make, and pretty much run an offense and play point guard. My defense has really improved, so I feel that I can bring a lot to the organization.
How do you think you've grown when seeing the floor as a facilitator?
DS: It is just slowing the game down a bit. I’m watching a film like all of myself from previous games and previous years, and watching guys like Shae Gilgeous-Alexander or Jalen Brunson. There are just a lot of guys who play at their own pace.
That pretty much helped me. I’m just seeing myself in that position, like seeing if this guy pulls over when I come out of pick-and-roll. All right, then I hit the corner. If that guy doesn’t pull over, then I’m doing a lot. So I’m just seeing pretty much how the defense rotates and not being focused on the guy that’s in front of me guarding me. I’m reading the defense that’s behind. That helped me a lot.
Is it a full-circle moment being in the G League and Summer League, seeing guys you've known since AAU, EYBL, and just from hooping?
DS: Yeah, for sure. It’s crazy, like the same guys as you’re at [night] camps where you spend a night with in the dorms and stuff at different camps, NBPA, Nike Academy, you’re seeing those same spaces in the NBA, and then the G is dope to see, and this goes to show how much talent there is. A lot of the young guys around my age, they’re developing in a G league just like I am. And then also like being in the G League, like you end up seeing guys that you looked up to, and it’s dope.
What's your biggest takeaway from playing in the G League?
DS: There are a lot of ups and downs throughout the season, throughout a G league season, because, at some point, you can be playing well. Then there will be things you can’t control, which are your minutes, your touches, and everything. But it is making sure that every day, you’re a professional, no matter what, showing up and staying locked in, working hard, being a good teammate, smiling, and enjoying the process. It will be a process for you to develop your game, especially from college to the G League. It’s taken me a couple of years to get the game down and pat. I really see where guys are coming from as far as the pick-and-roll game. So I would say there are a lot of ups and downs, and the mental part is very important. Mental health is very important. Just like staying locked into your family, keeping your friends close, and making sure that you’re doing things outside of basketball to keep yourself sane. Because you play basketball all the time, you can get tired, and there are times when you travel and everything. It can be tough.
Do you think you've developed in ways that you might not have been able to if you had stayed in college by going through the G League University route?
DS: Yeah, for sure, because college basketball is, I would say, very, very different from the NBA. In college, there isn’t that much space and everything. I feel like the core is kind of jammed up. People are sitting at home, defensive three seconds isn’t there. So, the point averages for a lot of players go down.
But in the G league, you’re literally playing like the NBA style game at an even faster pace because guys are playing fast, and then everyone’s trying to make it to the next level, so everyone’s hungry, and is tough at times. But I would say, just like you said, I feel like my development in the G League has been good for me, just having the opportunity to showcase my game because I’m able to play in an NBA style.
Do you look back at former opponents or teammates who stayed in college and think you're further ahead development-wise?
DS: I don’t really look at it as far as that because the NBA game and the college game are very different. So it’s hard to really compare the two. But I do look at games, and I’d be like, ‘Wow, if I was out there in college right now, I could probably be dominating, going crazy, and doing a lot of stuff.’
What's the biggest difference when jumping to the pro level? Is it the spacing, pace, or new rules?
DS: Yeah, for sure. That’s one of the biggest things because the spacing is more crazy. And everyone in the NBA can score, everyone can shoot three. So you have to be that more locked in defensively. And the length is crazy. That’s what I would say in the NBA.
There’s a lot of space, but then length as far as players’ arms and wingspan and height makes it really difficult sometimes to make the correct reads or to get deflections on passes and stuff.
Do you think you're further ahead than other 22-year-olds coming out of college?
DS: For sure. As far as that goes, I am ahead because I already know the NBA game. I know what coaches want from me. I know what they like about my game, and pretty much so, I feel like I am ahead, and I will be ahead at that point with guys around my age because I’ve been involved in the G League and the NBA, and I’ve been around guys who play in the NBA. I’ve been a sponge, and I’ve learned a lot. So, I feel like I will get this.
You sound like you're like a film junkie, which guys do you watch for what reasons?
DS: Yeah, I watch a lot of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson; I watched some Luka Doncic, just for pace, and a little Kyrie Irving.
I like Shai’s pace and his ability to bump defenders and use angles. I also like Luka Doncic, his footwork, his pace, his rise out of the pick-and-roll, and Jaylen Brown.
Jalen Brunson also has his footwork in the paint, playing off of it, using his ball fake, getting to the free-throw line, and being able to draw fouls. And then Lou Williams‘s scoring ability – his scoring ability is crazy – comes off the bench, he is a scorer at all three levels, and he is immediately a spark plug. And then Kyrie just handles it, making the right reads, being aggressive, scoring, and getting his teammates involved, now completely.
Have there been any moments in the G League that you played against guys you used to watch?
DS: I say yeah. Just like being in practice, going against Trey Burke and Cook, they don’t see you. You can be right there, contesting anything, and they hit shots right in your face, but the contests don’t matter.
So it was tough guarding them in practice, trying to see who else, there’s a lot of guys throughout the year. Oh shoot, Elfrid Payton, like I watched Elfrid Payton [growing up], just like seeing him balling out there. I was like, “Dang, this really him?” And Payton is playing great in the G, so he is a guy I remembered playing against, but I remember Elfrid with the hairstyle. So just like being able to play against him and see him, I was like, “man, that’s crazy.”
And then another guy was Hamidou Diallo, like him and his dunks and stuff, just playing against him a couple of times was wild.
I've noticed you've been a winner everywhere you go. Do you bring a winning mindset?
DS: I don’t want to lose. Do you feel me? I used to be a hothead when it came to losing, but I’m growing. If I lose, all right, but I’m trying to win. No matter what, no matter what the stakes are, no matter who’s in front of me, I don’t care. I feel like I can bring a winning mentality to a team because I play the right way as well. I’m not playing for stats. When I go out there, I’m going out there to play the right way and make sure I’m doing the right things to put the team in the best position to win.
Does that help you defensively, like giving you a chip on the shoulder because you're 'undersized?'
DS: Yeah, most definitely. I just heard that throughout my entire career and especially in the pros. It was kind of like, I mean, they’re like, ‘Ah, he’s like a seal now, he’s a seal.’
And I was like, I take that seriously. It’s like, “Ah, nah, I got to go out there. So, I’m not a seal.” I’m not letting guys back me down; get straight-line drives. They will have to work for the paint if they’re going to the paint. And then, at that point, they’re by me. They might get fouled really hard, so I’m making sure that I improve on it, continue to improve on the defensive end, and use my quickness, muscle, and hands to get deflections and everything.
What's something that you think has helped you grow the most?
DS: I would say stay the course, stay locked in no matter what, and just grind. Stay in the gym because you never know when your opportunity is going to come, and keep the right people around you. Like I said, my family is very important to me. My mom, dad, little brother, and friends Kendall and Barry have all been like my backbone. I’ve been able to fall back on them and be uplifted when feeling down or not feeling right.
What's your biggest learning experience or takeaway in your professional career so far?
DS: I would say it’s cliché, but you hear it constantly. You control what you can control. That’s something that, for me, I focus on by making sure that I can control what I control. If minutes aren’t there, like I’m not getting a lot of minutes, or if I’m not getting touches, I [gotta] act just like when I do get the minutes and when I do get touches, you have to show that you’re worthy of more. And then just make sure to be a sponge as well.
