By: Jonathan Huang
At the age of 28, D.J. Augustin has played seven NBA seasons. Augustin’s no stranger to changing zip codes as Denver is his sixth stop. What hasn’t changed is his commitment to the game and the ability to make an impact on the court.
Since arriving after the All-Star break, D.J. nearly doubled his minutes played and has averaged 11.9 points, 4.8 assists, and 41.9% from three-point range. He’s also played an integral role in keeping the Nuggets steady when Emmanuel Mudiay is taking a breather and was effective playing in tandem with Mudiay, as well.
Coach Michael Malone gave his veteran guard some major kudos for his play. "D.J.'s our security blanket," said Malone. "He's won games for us. Put the ball into his hands in the fourth quarter and he steps up, makes shots, hits free throws and always makes the right play."
March was especially good for D.J. Among some of the highlights: a 26 point outburst against the Los Angeles Lakers on Mar. 2 where he drained all three of his three-point attempts and was a perfect 9-9 from the charity stripe; a 24 points in 23 minutes effort against the Charlotte Hornets on Mar. 19; and a 20 point, eight assist game against the Lakers on Mar. 25. The Nuggets won all three of those games.
Despite his short time here, Augustin’s already made a positive impact on the team. There’s also a certain comfort level that D.J. has personally felt since moving to the Mile High City.
“I love Denver,” Augustin said. “I love the city. I feel great here.”
We’re glad, D.J. The feeling is mutual.
Augustin, acquired via trade on Feb 18, 2016 from the Oklahoma City Thunder, averaged 7.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game with the Denver Nuggets.