Brooklyn Nets Jersey History No. 95: The Brief but Memorable Tenure of DeAndre Bembry (2022-23)

In the vast tapestry of Brooklyn Nets history, certain jersey numbers are etched in legend—think Jason Kidd’s No. 5, Vince Carter’s No. 15, or Kevin Durant’s No. 7. But what about the outliers? The numbers that appear only once, worn by a player who flashes through the rotation like a comet? That is the story of No. 95 and the man who wore it: DeAndre Bembry. As part of Nets Wire’s comprehensive look at every jersey number worn by the franchise since its 1967 inception as the New Jersey Americans, we dive into the singular season of a wing who brought defensive grit and high-flying energy to Brooklyn’s bench.

The Nets have seen over 600 players don 52 different numbers across the ABA and NBA eras. Yet, No. 95 remains a rare artifact—a number chosen not for legacy, but for identity. Bembry, a 6-foot-5 wing from Charlotte, North Carolina, picked the unconventional digits when he joined the team in 2021. His stay was short, but his impact on the court and in the locker room tells a compelling story of a journeyman who refused to fade into the background.

From St. Joe’s Star to NBA Journeyman: The Path to Brooklyn

Before he ever stepped onto the Barclays Center floor, DeAndre Bembry had already carved a name for himself as a dynamic playmaker. After a standout college career at Saint Joseph’s University—where he was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year in 2016—Bembry was selected 21st overall in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. His game was built on versatility: a slashing scorer, a tenacious defender, and a passer with excellent court vision.

Bembry spent four seasons in Atlanta, averaging 5.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while often guarding the opponent’s best perimeter player. In 2020, he moved to the Toronto Raptors, where his defensive IQ flourished under Nick Nurse’s system. But it was in 2021 that he found his way to the Nets—a team desperate for two-way wings to complement their superstar trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving.

When Bembry signed with Brooklyn, he chose No. 95—a number that had never been worn in franchise history. It was a statement of individuality. In an era of jersey retirement and legacy numbers, Bembry carved out his own space. “I wanted something different,” he said in a 2021 interview. “Something that represents my journey.”

DeAndre Bembry’s 2022-23 Season: A Defensive Spark in a Turbulent Year

The 2022-23 season was a rollercoaster for the Brooklyn Nets. The team started with a new head coach in Jacque Vaughn, navigated the fallout from Kyrie Irving’s trade request, and eventually shipped Kevin Durant to Phoenix. Amidst the chaos, DeAndre Bembry provided a steady, if understated, presence.

Bembry appeared in 48 games for the Nets that season, averaging 5.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in just 18 minutes per night. His numbers don’t jump off the page, but his defensive rating was among the best on the team. He consistently took on the challenge of guarding elite scorers like Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, and Jimmy Butler.

• Defensive versatility: Bembry could guard positions 1 through 4, using his 6-foot-10 wingspan to disrupt passing lanes.
• Transition offense: He shot 60% at the rim, often finishing fast breaks with acrobatic layups or dunks.
• Intangibles: Coaches praised his basketball IQ and unselfishness; he rarely forced shots and always made the extra pass.

One of his most memorable performances came on November 20, 2022, against the Memphis Grizzlies. Bembry posted a season-high 18 points, hitting 8-of-10 from the field while also recording 3 steals. It was a glimpse of the player the Hawks once believed in—a wing who could impact winning without needing the ball.

However, as the season wore on, the Nets’ roster shifted. The arrival of Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and Spencer Dinwiddie via the Durant trade pushed Bembry down the depth chart. By February 2023, the team waived him to free up a roster spot for a buyout candidate. His tenure in Brooklyn was over, but his legacy as the first and only player to wear No. 95 was sealed.

Expert Analysis: What Bembry’s Game Tells Us About Modern NBA Wing Play

As a sports journalist who has covered the Nets for years, I can tell you that DeAndre Bembry represents a dying breed in today’s NBA: the pure defensive specialist who isn’t a reliable three-point shooter. In a league obsessed with spacing and volume shooting, Bembry shot just 31.2% from deep in Brooklyn. That limitation made him a tough fit in playoff rotations, where defenses ignore non-shooters.

Yet, his value extended beyond the box score. During his time with the Nets, Bembry was often tasked with guarding the opponent’s best player in crunch time. His steal percentage (2.1%) ranked in the 87th percentile among wings, per Cleaning the Glass. He had a knack for reading passing lanes and generating turnovers that led to easy transition buckets.

Let’s compare him to similar players in Nets history. Think of Bruce Brown, who wore No. 1 for Brooklyn and was a swiss-army knife defender during the 2021-22 season. Brown could guard centers and point guards alike, and he shot 40% from three that year. Bembry lacked that shooting consistency, but his on-ball pressure was arguably just as disruptive.

Another comparison is James Johnson, who wore No. 16 for the Nets in 2020-21. Johnson was a physical, veteran presence who could defend multiple positions. Bembry, at 27 years old during his Nets stint, brought younger legs and more vertical pop. He was a better leaper and a more active help defender.

The key takeaway: Bembry’s game was built for a specific role—energy off the bench, lockdown defense, and high-IQ passing. In a perfect world, he would have been a third-string wing on a contender. The 2022-23 Nets were not that contender, but Bembry’s professionalism never wavered.

Predictions: Will Anyone Ever Wear No. 95 Again?

Jersey numbers in professional sports often carry superstition. Some numbers are retired (like the Nets’ No. 3 for Allen Iverson, though he never played for them—wait, that’s a different story). Others become associated with a specific player. No. 95 is currently unclaimed, and given its rarity, it may stay that way for a while.

Why? Because most players prefer single-digit or low double-digit numbers. The last player to wear No. 95 in the NBA before Bembry was Jeremy Lin (No. 7 for the Nets, not 95). In fact, only a handful of players in league history have ever worn No. 95, including Drew Gooden and DeAndre Liggins. It’s a number for outliers.

My prediction: If the Nets ever sign a young, defensive-minded wing who wants to make a statement, No. 95 could resurface. But it will always be associated with DeAndre Bembry—the Charlotte native who gave Brooklyn 48 games of relentless hustle. In a league of superstars, sometimes the most memorable stories come from the role players who wear the strangest numbers.

For the Nets, Bembry’s legacy is not about championships or All-Star selections. It’s about the fact that a player can wear a number only once in franchise history and still leave a mark. In the endless scroll of Nets Wire’s jersey history series, No. 95 stands alone—a testament to individuality in a sport that often demands conformity.

Strong Conclusion: The Unseen Value of the Unconventional Number

The Brooklyn Nets franchise has evolved from the New Jersey Americans to the New York Nets to the New Jersey Nets and finally to the Brooklyn Nets. Along the way, they’ve seen legends like Julius Erving (No. 32), Jason Kidd (No. 5), and Brook Lopez (No. 11) hang their jerseys in the rafters. But the story of DeAndre Bembry and No. 95 reminds us that every number has a story—even the ones that appear only once.

Bembry’s 2022-23 season was not a statistical marvel. He will not be remembered as a Net great. But he should be remembered as a player who embraced his role, defended with ferocity, and chose a number that reflected his unique path. In an era of player movement and roster churn, that kind of authenticity is rare.

As Nets Wire continues to catalog every jersey number in franchise history, let No. 95 serve as a reminder: greatness comes in many forms, and sometimes, the most impactful players are the ones who wear the strangest digits. DeAndre Bembry may be gone from Brooklyn, but his number—and his hustle—will not be forgotten.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.