An Inside Look At DJ Augustin
As a general rule of thumb in the NBA, the bigger the better. In a sport usually dominated by big men, D.J. Augustin is used to being the smallest player on the floor. He’s also used to being the exception to the rule.
At 5’11″ and 180 pounds, the former Texas Longhorn, is a throwback to the old school style of point guard. Always looking to distribute, always looking to make a play and always trying to make those he plays around better.
What makes Augustin unique is that he balances his incredible point guard instincts with an impressive offensive skill set. No one trick pony, he can beat you with his shot or his pass, a combination that helped the sophomore become an All-American during his time at Texas and potentially land him in the lottery in Thursday’s draft.
After forming one of the nation’s top tandems with Kevin Durant last season, Augustin made the decision to spurn the NBA and return to the college ranks, looking to prepare mentally and physically for the next level and hopefully improve his draft status.
It turned out to be a wise decision. With Durant leaving for Seattle, Augustin was forced to take the reigns and become the leader and primary scorer of the team. The added pressure seemed to suit him just fine as his scoring average rocketed from 14.4 to 19.2 per game, while helping lead the Longhorns to a 12-0 start and as high number four in the AP polls.
A tad worrisome is the slight decline in his shooting percentages and assists. Though a drop is not totally unexpected, considering the sheer increase of shots (over 200 more attempts than the previous year), and having to deal with being targeted as the number one threat on a nightly basis. It does go to show that Augustin looks to be best suited on a team where he is the second or third scoring option, picking and choosing his spots offensively and maximizing his efficiency.
It’s not surprising that someone who cites Steve Nash as their main influence displays such a well-rounded and balanced understanding of what it takes to quarterback a team. Comfortable in a half court set or a fast break tempo, Augustin has the high basketball IQ and strong fundamentals to adapt to any offense. Whether he’s using screens to free himself for the open jumper or playing distributor in the pick and roll, Augustin has a great sense of when to push the ball, pull it back out, or attack the defence and score himself.
Perhaps overshadowed by his terrific point guard skills, Augustin also possesses a very impressive scoring repertoire.
Using his size and speed to create a mismatch, Augustin has no problem getting separation from his defender, using a wide array of crossovers, hesitation moves and deceiving quickness to allow himself the space he needs to pull up for a jumper or drive to the hoop. With a quick release, the confidence to take and make any shot, Augustin can also score from downtown, finishing his collegiate career as a very capable 40% three-point shooter.
The biggest area of improvement lies in his mid-range jump shot. Inconsistency plagued his jump shot at times during his freshman season but a hard working offseason seems to have remedied one of Augustin’s biggest weaknesses.
Defensively, he is steady, but could be considered a liability in the NBA if he doesn’t step it up. Too often he can get taken down on the block and abused down low. Facing the likes of Baron Davis or Chauncey Billups on any given night is prone to give GMs something to think about.
The one thing he does have going for him is, even despite his small stature, is he has a very physical body, which along with a stronger work ethic on the defensive end, could equal out to Augustin becoming a more serviceable defender down the line.
The biggest concern, has always been and will always be his height, or lack there of. Yet smaller players who have gotten this far, have always had to adapt their game and use their height to their advantage. They know their limitations and strengths and won’t hesitate to use their quickness, ball handling skills or their size to initiate contact and get the foul call. The bottom line is they find a way to even the playing field. Chris Paul, T.J. Ford, and Allen Iverson are just a few of the current undersized players who have gone on to excel in this league.
If Augustin had the build and height of say a Derrick Rose or Jerryd Bayless, he would definitely be in the mix for the top point guard taken in the 2008 draft. But try to forget size when you think of D.J. Augustin, he plays much bigger than any tape measure can show.
Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media
