Darion Atkins
Phoenix Suns twin brother alert! Darion Atkins, a 6’8″ forward from Virginia, has a twin brother named Darius, which of course means the Suns are interested in him.
All kidding aside, Atkins’ individual numbers with the Cavaliers this season didn’t particularly stand out (7.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 23.9 minutes per game), but this slightly undersized forward also played for a team that was elite defensively. McDonough broke down his game:
"I think they have so many talented guys and their games are so low scoring and there are so few possessions it can be hard to single one out during the year, but like in Portsmouth or in this kind of environment, you’re able to see what he’s able to do and his versatility and he showed a little bit of an offensive game here today too,” McDonough said. “He’s a pretty good pick and pop guy from the midrange, he’s an impressive physical specimen for a guy that age and coming out of a program like that, you know he’s gonna play tough, you know he’s gonna defend and that he’s really gonna value winning."
At the UVA Portsmouth Invitational, Atkins was not one of the original 64 invitees, but he dominated his competition as an alternate, earning All-Tournament honors while averaging 20 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game.
“Before Portsmouth I wasn’t really on the map, that’s what a lot of people said,” Atkins said.
Atkins may be a decent midrange shooter, but he says he’s working hard to expand his range a bit.
“I’m perfecting the college three right now and then I plan to perfect the NBA three-point shot,” he said. “It’s something that I’m working at, I’m trying to transition my game to a three-man, but as of right now I kind of see myself as more of a power forward.”
That transition to the small forward position will take time, but Atkins has been looking around the current landscape of the NBA and hasn’t had to look far for personal inspiration.
“My new favorite player is Draymond Green, so I try to take after him,” Atkins said. “He’s a hard-nosed, blue-collar guy, he doesn’t care who’s in front of him, he likes checking the big guys and he’s the undersized guy. I kind of see myself the same way, I just love his game, his heart, his passion and I would love to play with someone like that and turn into a player like that.”
But what about Green’s notorious trash talk? Does that translate to Atkins’ game as well?
“Oh yeah, most definitely,” he said with a smile. “But I’m a bit more discreet with mine.”
Next: Darrun Hilliard