​DJ Steward has spent nearly every corner of the basketball world since going undrafted in 2021, bouncing from California to Canada, Maine to Chicago, Tennessee to Italy, and everywhere in between. The former Duke guard has logged time with the Stockton Kings, Vancouver Bandits, Maine Celtics, Windy City Bulls, Memphis Hustle, and most recently Dolomiti Energia Trento overseas—always chasing the same dream: the NBA.
On Friday night in Las Vegas, Steward may have taken another crucial step toward that goal. In a Summer League opener that drew much of the attention to Yang Hansen and his bout with fellow 2025 first-round center Khaman Maluach, Steward nearly stole the show in the fourth quarter. The 24-year-old led his team with 21 points, adding eight rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block as Portland fell 81-79 to the Phoenix Suns.
What stood out most was how Steward almost willed the comeback himself. Eleven of his 21 points came in the final period, with all three of his made three-pointers coming in the fourth as the Trail Blazers staged a furious rally. In the end, Portland’s late push fell just short.
For Steward, the performance could carry significance beyond the final score. Unlike Hansen, Carter Bryant, and many other young players in Las Vegas, Steward isn’t viewed as a long-term developmental project. He’s chasing a simpler, more tangible objective: an opportunity. He has long believed he possesses the tools to stick at the NBA level.
“My ability to shoot the ball from all three levels. I can knock down shots from the perimeter, can defend really well, move laterally and play my hardest at all times,” Steward said, reflecting on the strengths he highlighted during the 2021 draft process. “I can also be a playmaker. I can set up my teammates and be a floor general.”
On Friday, he put those words into action. Portland’s guard rotation is crowded already. Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson, Jrue Holiday, and Shaedon Sharpe are expected to command the vast majority of backcourt minutes once meaningful games begin in October. And head coach Micah Nori plans to rotate players through multiple guard combinations when appropriate.
Breaking into that group won’t be easy, but Summer League isn’t always about earning a guaranteed roster spot. Sometimes it’s about ensuring your name remains in the conversation and forcing organizations to take notice. Steward certainly achieved that.
The scoring display was impressive, but the rebounding from a 6-foot-2 guard was perhaps even more noteworthy. Most encouraging of all was the confidence he showed down the stretch as Portland searched for someone to create offense. Steward answered the bell when his team needed him most.
Where this path leads next remains uncertain. It could end with another stint in the G League, a return overseas, or perhaps a continued push to land a meaningful NBA role. After six different stops, Steward’s persistence and versatility keep him firmly in the mix, as he continues to chase that single, clear objective: a legitimate shot to play in the NBA.