DJ Steward facts for kids
| No. 1 – Memphis Hustle | |
|---|---|
| Shooting guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 2, 2001 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| High school |
|
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 162 lb (73 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Duke (2020–2021) |
| NBA Draft | 2021 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 2021–present |
| League | NBA G League |
| Career history | |
| 2021–2023 | Stockton Kings |
| 2023 | Vancouver Bandits |
| 2023–2024 | Maine Celtics |
| 2024 | Windy City Bulls |
| 2025–present | Memphis Hustle |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
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DJ Steward (born October 2, 2001) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Memphis Hustle in the NBA G League. This league is like a development league for the NBA. Before turning pro, he played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils.
DJ Steward was considered one of the top shooting guards in his high school class. He was a "five-star recruit," meaning he was highly sought after by college teams. He finished high school at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago, Illinois.
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High School Basketball Star
DJ Steward started his high school journey at Fenwick High School. This school is located in Oak Park, Illinois. In 2018, he moved to Whitney Young High School. He played his final high school years there.
During the 2019 Nike EYBL circuit, DJ Steward showed off his skills. He averaged 24.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. In January 2020, he had an amazing game at the Highland Shootout. He scored 40 points, which was the highest in that event. He even made the shot that tied the game, helping his team win 66–64. Because of his great talent, he was named a McDonald's All-American. This is a big honor for high school basketball players.
Choosing a College Team
On September 18, 2019, DJ Steward made a big decision. He announced he would play college basketball at Duke University. Many top colleges wanted him to play for them. These included teams like DePaul, Illinois, and North Carolina. But he chose Duke.
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DJ Steward SG |
Chicago, IL | Whitney Young (IL) | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | Sep 18, 2019 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 92 |
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| Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 29 247Sports: 23 ESPN: 25 | ||||||
Sources: |
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College Basketball at Duke
DJ Steward played one year for the Duke Blue Devils. This was during the 2020–21 season. He started in 22 games and played in 24 overall. He is 6-foot-2-inch (1.88 m) tall. During his time at Duke, he averaged 13 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.
The Duke team finished that season with 13 wins and 11 losses. They had a 9–9 record in the ACC. This was the first time since 1995 that Duke was not invited to the NCAA tournament.
Even though the team had a tough year, DJ Steward had many great moments. In his very first college game on November 28, 2020, he scored 24 points. This helped Duke win 81–71 against Coppin State. On December 21, 2020, he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Week. Later, on January 15, 2021, he scored 26 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. This led Duke to a 79–68 win over Wake Forest.
Professional Basketball Journey
After his successful year at Duke, DJ Steward thought about becoming a professional player. He was seen as a shooting guard in a point guard's body. This meant he might need to improve his point guard skills for the NBA. Still, he decided to enter the NBA draft.
Starting in the G League
DJ Steward was not chosen in the 2021 NBA draft. However, he was invited to play for the Sacramento Kings in the 2021 NBA Summer League. On September 28, 2021, he signed a contract with the Kings. He was later waived, meaning he was released from the team.
Then, he joined the Stockton Kings of the NBA G League. He played for them as an affiliate player during the 2021–22 season and into 2023.
Playing in Canada
On April 6, 2023, DJ Steward signed with the Vancouver Bandits. This team plays in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. He left the Bandits on June 5 to get ready for the 2023 NBA Summer League. He played for the Philadelphia 76ers in that league.
More G League Teams
On October 2, 2023, Steward signed with the Boston Celtics. He was waived on October 20. Eight days later, he joined the Maine Celtics, another G League team.
On July 21, 2024, Steward signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls. This type of contract allows players to play for both an NBA team and its G League affiliate. However, he was waived on December 28. He only played for the Windy City Bulls, the G League team.
On January 6, 2025, DJ Steward joined the Memphis Hustle. This is his current team in the G League.
Career Statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
College Stats
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Duke | 24 | 22 | 30.8 | .426 | .341 | .811 | 4.0 | 2.4 | 1.1 | .6 | 13.0 |
About DJ Steward
DJ Steward's parents are Katicha Jackson-Williams and Danny Boy Steward. His stepfather is Tyrone Hill, who was also a basketball player. DJ is named after his father. He also played football when he was in high school. He has a brother named Trent.
DJ grew up in Oak Park, Illinois. He went to Brooks Middle School. He played travel basketball from middle school with a team called Meanstreets. He also played on the EYBL circuit, which helped him become well-known.
