Will Barton

Ron Gutterman

When it comes to the recent history of the Denver Nuggets, perhaps no one has been more steady and reliable than Will Barton. The epitome of a role player, Barton has molded to the Nuggets' needs each and every year. And in his seventh season in Denver, he did more of the same.

Over the years, Barton has built a strong on-court chemistry with Nikola Jokić, and can be found roaming the perimeter to receive one of the MVP's signature passes for an open look. As the team's starting shooting guard in 2021-22, Barton provided significant minutes in their push towards the postseason.

Typically, when NBA players go from a bench player to a starter -- or vice versa -- their energy level and efficiency change. Sometimes, players perform better when they start or come in as a reserve. What has made Barton so vital for the Nuggets is his ability to remain consistent regardless of role.

While Jokić is the defining player of the current era of Nuggets basketball, Barton has been there every step of the way. In 2021-22, Barton proved that by etching himself into franchise history, becoming the Nuggets' all-time three point leader.

Barton, now 31, showed up each and every night for a team that desperately needed his services on the perimeter.

With the injury to Jamal Murray being known from the beginning of the season, it was clear that Barton was going to play a major role for Denver. And in the early days of the campaign, he delivered in a big way.

Barton averaged 33.5 minutes per night through the first 12 games, hitting over 40% of his threes and putting up strong numbers across the board. One of Barton's best performances of the year came during this early stretch, scoring 30 points in a win against the Indiana Pacers.

And while his hot shooting would slowly cool down, he refused to let it affect his productivity.

He scored in double figures in each of his next 11 games, reaching similar scoring averages despite seeing a five-percent decrease in his field goal percentage. 11 games in a row in double figures marked his second-longest streak of the season.

After two missed games and three difficult outings, Barton returned right back to his usual self, reaching 11 straight games in double figures for the second time this season. Almost immediately after, he would reach 12 games in a row scoring 10 or more points, the longest streak of his season.

On Feb. 24 -- the first game back from the All-Star Break -- Barton put together a season-high 31 points to go along with five rebounds, three assists, and a block. This effort came in a blowout win over the Sacramento Kings and was coupled with an incredibly efficient 11-of-17 shooting.

Barton's historic night came just over one week later, on March 4 against the Houston Rockets. By hitting back-to-back three pointers in the third quarter, Barton topped J.R. Smith on the Nuggets' all-time three pointers made leaderboard.

After over seven years in the Nuggets organization, it stood out as perhaps one of the most fulfilling moments of Barton's impressive career.

But Barton didn't use that as an opportunity to rest or take his foot off the gas pedal. Over his next 14 games, he shot 39.8% from three as the Nuggets continued their fight for a postseason berth.

When the Nuggets finally did clinch their place in the Playoffs, Barton missed the final game of the regular season, just his 11th missed game of the year. Over the course of the season, Barton never missed more than three games in a row, another testament to his availability and consistency.

In the Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors, it could be argued that Barton was one of the team's best players behind Jokić. He shot nearly 40% from three for the series, finishing the five-game stretch with 13.8 points per game and 5.6 rebounds.

Barton played -- and started -- in 71 games for the Nuggets this season, hitting 32.1 minutes on average. He finished the campaign with 14.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 43.8% from the field, 36.5% from three, and 80.3% from the free throw line.

Barton finished as the Nuggets' third leading scorer behind Jokić and Aaron Gordon. He was also No. 3 in assists per game behind Jokić and Monte Morris.

The 10th-year guard was the Nuggets' three-point king in 2021-22, hitting 157 for the year, over 25 more than the 2nd-ranked Bones Hyland. Barton ranked third on the Nuggets in VORP and fifth in win shares.

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Nuggets 2021-22 Player Reviews: Will Barton

denalabidou

The Nuggets (7-2) had a case of déjà vu as Nikola Jokić delivered in the clutch once again in a 100-98 win over the Timberwolves (5-4) in Minneapolis Sunday afternoon.

"This is just adding to the legend of Nikola Jokić," Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said before later adding. "I didn't doubt it [the game-winner]. Even if it didn't [go in], I'm going to live with it because he's our best player. He's an MVP candidate for a reason. He's got two game-winners back-to-back, showing everybody why he's a special player. "  With 2.4 seconds remaining in overtime, Jokić received a kick out from Will Barton III and calmly swished a shot from the left elbow to secure the victory. It was another confident performance in consecutive games for the Serbian, who led the Nuggets with 20 points, seven assists and six boards. Minnesota’s star duo of Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins paced the home team with 25 points apiece.   The Nuggets got to a strong offensive start as they went toe-to-toe with the home team to finish 27-27 after the opening 12 minutes. Jamal Murray was impressive early on as he hit his first four shots and had 15 points in the quarter. Jokić was also aggressive against Minnesota in the first quarter – scoring nine points on seven shots.  Barton III would cap a hard-fought second quarter with an almost miraculous three-point heave from past half court to keep the Nuggets’ deficit at 51-49 at the break.   Paul Millsap got the Nuggets rolling in the third quarter as the team opened with a 14-4 run against the T’Wolves. He hit his first two field goals of the night during the stretch and would go 4 of 5 in the quarter. Denver ended the quarter on a 11-1 run as it entered the final 12 minutes with a 76-64 advantage. The team’s defense held the home team to just 13 points in the third.   After falling behind by 16 points, Minnesota would make a run in the fourth quarter. The team went on a 16-0 run late and held Denver scoreless for over seven minutes. Towns hit a three to tie the game at 90. Murray had a chance to ice the game in the final nine seconds of the game, but his shot at the 0.4 second mark missed the rim.   In overtime, Jokić would end the Nuggets’ offensive struggles with a put back on a rebound at the 3:40 mark. Barton III would keep his teammates in the ballgame by hitting two clutch threes to give the team a lead. With the game tied at 98, Jokić iced the game to secure Denver’s fourth win in a row. 

"We have to be better in terms of playing with the league and closing games out," Malone stressed after the game. "That being said...We never panicked." 

He added, "I told our guys, 'It's hard to win in the NBA.' So we're 4-1 on the road and we beat a division opponent. There's a lot of things we can clean up, but overall the defense was great. I loved the togetherness, toughness and resiliency." 

The Nuggets now return to the Mile High City to take on the Hawks at Pepsi Center Tuesday.   Here are three takeaways:  Thrill and Joker in the clutch  Less than 48 hours from burying a game-winner against the 76ers, Jokić hit another from almost the same spot against the Timberwolves. 

"That's the shot I've worked and it seems like I can only make tough shots," Jokić said jokingly to Katy Winge after the game. "With the way the night was going, I thought I was going to shoot an airball."   This is the second-straight assertive game from the Nuggets’ center as he took 23 shots on Sunday after taking 22 on Friday. Despite only shooting 39.1 percent Sunday, it was encouraging to see Jokić fight through earlier struggles to secure the Nuggets' result. He wasn’t alone in delivering for the Nuggets in crunch time, however.   Barton III had a strong overtime, playing hard on both sides for the Nuggets as he collected two crucial rebounds for the team in the quarter. He would finish the game with 13 points and 12 rebounds, continuing his strong start to the season. 

"He's such a complete player," Malone said. "WIll had it going and I wanted Will and Nikola to make the play. Will found him and Nikola took care of the rest. Right now, Will is playing at a high level for us."  Microwave Paul   Millsap was 0-of-4 with zero points, four rebounds and a block in the first half. He made up for it with a monster third quarter. The 34-year-old sparked Denver with strong plays on both sides of the court and had 14 points and five rebounds in the 12-minute stretch. Millsap put the Target Center on notice as he turned back the clock with a thunderous slam on Jake Layman, yelling loudly after the play. 

"Just playing basketball and trying to be aggressive," Millsap said. "I sensed that I needed to go strong with the ball...I put an emphasis, especially on that play, to go up strong and finish."   After a slow start to the season, Millsap has been quietly picking up momentum over his past six games. Entering Sunday’s contest, Millsap had averaged 13.4 points and 7.0 rebounds in just 25.2 minutes in his last five games. He is also hitting 57.1 percent from downtown in that stretch. In Minnesota, Millsap’s highly-efficient scoring proved pivotal in the Nuggets’ win.   Defensive remains dominant  The Nuggets imposed their brand of basketball to ensure the T’wolves, one of the top offensive teams in the league, wouldn’t get into rhythm.   Prior to Sunday’s game, Minnesota was the NBA’s quickest team with a 108.8 pace rating (1st) and the fourth-best scoring team in the NBA, averaging 117.8 points per game. The team was also eighth in made threes per game (12.3). The Nuggets held Timberwolves to under 100 points Sunday, despite playing five quarters. More impressively, Denver kept Minnesota largely quiet on threes as the home team hit 6-of-45 shooting from downtown. 

"Overall, the defense is what held us in this game," Malone said. 

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Denver Nuggets 100, Minnesota Timberwolves 98 (OT): Three takeaways

PORTLAND – The Trail Blazers had won their last 18 home openers, but the Nuggets ensured on Wednesday the streak, an NBA record, wouldn’t extend to 19.

Denver survived a nightmare opening five minutes where it trailed by 12 points to edge Portland 108-100 in a thriller in front of a raucous, sold-out crowd at Moda Center. The Nuggets were led by Nikola Jokić, who got past a foul-plagued start to lead the Nuggets with 20 points to go along with 13 rebounds on 8-for-14 shooting. Will Barton also appeared to be at his best as he contributed to the win with 19 points and five boards. Portland’s Damian Lillard led all scorers with 32 points and added eight assists and four rebounds.

"Nikola's third and fourth quarter were phenomenal, he showed everyone why he's an MVP-caliber player," Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said after the game. 

Denver’s ability to convert from downtown, going 18 of 32, was the difference for  Malone’s team. It also out-assisted Portland 24-13.

"Especially [in] the fourth quarter, we had a lot of threes early on that helped us bounce back and give us the lead," Jamal Murray said. 

The Nuggets return to the Mile High City and will host their home opener against the Phoenix Suns (1-0) on Friday. 

"Hell of a win, they've [the Blazers] won 18-straight openers here so to come in here, against a division rival [with] a win on the road to start the year off, [we] couldn't ask for a better start," Malone said. 

Murray and Jokić struggled to find their footing early, but they made up for it in crunch time.

Through the first three quarters of the game, the Nuggets’ star duo combined for just 11 points on 4-for-15 shooting. They responded in the final 12 minutes of the game with a 22-point outburst.

Prior to Wednesday’s game, Malone expressed a desire for his All-NBA first team center to return to form from behind the arc and Jokić responded. The Serbian hit all of three of his 3-pointers in the fourth quarter en route to a 15-point, eight-rebound quarter.

Murray shot 2 of 4 in the fourth and was part of a hounding defensive effort on Portland’s star guard Damian Lillard in the opening 24 minutes. Lillard had a quiet first half, scoring nine points on 3-of-8 shooting.

The Nuggets won’t look back at their opening five minutes of the season too fondly. Jokić picked three fouls in just over four minutes and Denver shot 2 of 13 to start the game. In front of a passionate and loud Blazers fan base, things could’ve snowballed rapidly after the Blazers gained a 19-7 advantage. Yet, one-by-one, the Nuggets substitutes steadied the ship as they provided a spark on both ends of the floor.

It all started with Mason Plumlee. Now in his fourth year as the Nuggets’ backup center, Plumlee’s familiarity with the offense proved crucial as he served as a frontcourt facilitator for his teammates. The 29-year-old ignited the team’s 9-0 run to cut the score to 19-16 as he assisted on back-to-back 3-pointers made by Malik Beasley and Jerami Grant. Plumlee would finish the quarter with five dimes.

"Five assists and no turnovers, I thought Mase was great," Malone said. "Mason was a starter here [in Portland] on a playoff team, he was a starter in Brooklyn on a playoff team. He's a hell of a player and he's really important for us. He went out there and did his job." 

Torrey Craig also proved vital for Denver as the small forward led the second unit in scoring with 10 points. The 29-year-old hit timely threes for the Nuggets in both the second and third quarters when it appeared the Blazers would be going on a scoring run. Craig has earned the trust of the Nuggets coaching staff on defense, but it’s his play on the other side of the court that will determine his playing time this season. He got off to a good start Wednesday and he was a big reason why Denver’s bench outscored Portland’s 36-19.

"It's a great weapon to have, and the reality is I have guys even after those bench guys that can come in," Malone said. "I love our depth and I love the group of guys we have but we still have a lot of work to do." 

Malone stressed improved three-point shooting would be the key to the Nuggets’ offense taking another step forward back in training camp. He won’t be disappointed by what he saw from his players on that end. The Nuggets set a new franchise Opening Night record as the team hit 18 triples.

Murray, Jokić and Paul Millsap all hit three 3-pointers and eight players overall converted on at least one attempt from in the Nuggets’ win.

"We want to be more aggressive on three point shots," Millsap explained. "We have a lot of guys who can shoot it well. It will open up a lot of things for us." 

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Denver Nuggets 108, Portland Trail Blazers 100: Three Takeaways

Players: Paul Millsap, Jerami Grant, Will Barton, Juancho Hernangómez, Vlatko Čančar, Torrey Craig, Michael Porter Jr., Jarred Vanderbilt  The Nuggets enter the 2019-20 season with arguably their deepest contingent of forwards in recent memory as they possess a talented group of versatile players who can make an impact in multiple positions.   Paul Millsap has been the veteran pillar of consistency and leadership in the starting power forward spot for the past two years and Nuggets head coach Michael Malone insists he will remain in that spot this season. Millsap is seen as the quarterback of Denver’s defense as he often is vocal in directing defensive positioning. Although he isn’t No. 1 option on offense like he was during his days in Utah and Atlanta, the 34-year-old’s game has aged well. He keeps defenses honest with his three-point shooting, an area where he converted 36.5 percent of his attempts last season.   He can still take over games when needed as evidenced by a strong showing in the Western Conference semifinals against Portland. He averaged 17.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in the seven-game series. That’s a significant uptick from his regular season numbers of 12.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 0.8 blocks.

During the offseason, the Nuggets brought in some much-needed athleticism in 25-year-old Jerami Grant to bolster their bench. The former Syracuse standout brings an impressive 7-foot-3 wingspan and underrated speed at the position. The Nuggets were a middle-of-the-pack team in producing fast breaks last season and 24th in blocks last season. Grant has a career average of 1.2 swats per game and should give the team a welcome boost in both categories.   If Malone decides to rest either Millsap or Grant, one of his options could be giving Jarred Vanderbilt a look. While the second-year player is still raw offensively, he’s shown some improvement on defense and is a beast on the glass. Vanderbilt was part of a three-way tie for the rebounding lead at the 2019 Summer League, averaging 11.3 rebounds. Although he averaged 3.8 rebounds in 10 minutes per game in preseason, his 16 percent rebound percentage is in line with his college and NBA career averages. There’s also the chance small forwards Juancho Hernangómez and highly-touted rookie Michael Porter Jr. could see minutes at the position. 

READ MORE: How will small forward rotation pan out?  Speaking of the small forward position, the open competition there has been well-documented. Will Barton, Torrey Craig, Hernangómez and Porter Jr. have all vied for minutes at the three spot. Barton is projected to be the opening night starter as he played the most at that spot during preseason. Barton is aiming to rebound from an injury-plagued 2018-19 season, but will have to improve his shooting if he wants to keep hold of a potential starting spot. The 28-year-old shot 36.1 overall and just 14.3 percent from downtown through four exhibition games, but Malone has been happy with Barton’s rebounding (5.5 per game in 19.3 minutes per game). 

READ MORE: How hip-hop and leadership brought Barton's Thrill back

Porter Jr. has shown flashes of why there’s so much expected of him, but also displayed the need for more seasoning. The former Mizzou standout averaged 9.3 points on 55.2 percent shooting in just 16 minutes of action. Porter Jr. was partially effective around the basket and shot 75.9 percent on two-point attempts. In order to gain minutes on a deep roster that’s expected to contend, Porter Jr. will need to continue to improve on the defensive end. There were signs he can excel in that area, evidenced by his two blocks against Phoenix. Porter Jr. has shown enough to merit playing time in the regular season, but don’t be surprised if Craig is the second small forward in Malone’s rotation. Craig is arguably the team’s second-best perimeter defender after Gary Harris, and when he hits threes like he did in the playoffs last season, (47.2 percent), it’s difficult to take him off the floor.   Hernangómez wraps up the group competing for minutes at the small forward position. The Spaniard comes off an impressive FIBA World Cup, where he won a gold medal. Although he’s been inconsistent in preseason, averaging 5.5 points on 40 percent shooting, his ability to stretch defenses (a career 36.6 percent three point shooter) make him another valuable asset on the roster.   Vlatko Čančar comes into this season as an expected understudy to the aforementioned group. In Summer League, the Slovenian averaged 8.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in four games. 

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Denver Nuggets Position Season Preview: Forwards

It’s an abnormally scorching, 106-degree early July day in Las Vegas. In a small, mildly-air-conditioned practice basketball court at UNLV, Will Barton and Torrey Craig are intensely going at each other in a voluntary workout session. The two men are working on three-point defense with five attempts per player. Barton eases through the first session, containing Craig and hitting four threes on the other end. Then Craig proceeds to go on a roll, dominating the next three sessions. They stop. Barton looks at those in attendance with a grin.   “Run that back!” he yells.   The Denver Nuggets teammates do battle for another 60 minutes. Throughout the entire practice, Barton is trash-talking, but he’s also giving Craig pointers on how to defend or execute in certain situations. This isn’t insignificant. After all, Craig emerged as the player to replace Barton in the starting lineup during Denver’s run to Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals. But Barton is all smiles. A former second-round draft pick entering his ninth season, the 28-year-old is still grateful to be an impact player in the NBA and he sees his greatest qualities as being a driven competitor and a locker room leader. It is those traits that he believes will help him get back to his best after an injury-plagued 2018-19 season.   “I'm just showing guys that I'm still in it with them,” Barton explained to Nuggets.com in mid October. “Just for myself, get back into the swing of things. That was the first time I've been injured in my life and [it showed] with career lows across the board since I've been playing major minutes.”   Barton is well-aware of the criticism of his last campaign.   He heard the boos from fans during games where he struggled. Coming off a contract extension during the summer of 2018, he was hoping to build off of a strong 2017-18 season where he had a career-year across the board – going for 15.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists on 45.2 percent shooting. Barton started the 2018-19 season brightly, dropping 19 points, five boards and two assists in the season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers. Then, in the following game against the Suns, he went in for a layup and landed awkwardly before exiting the court. Barton would find out he had a significant hip injury that would require surgery and rob him of 39 games. So, when the 2018-19 season came to a close, he insisted to reporters he wouldn’t let the negatives of his experience carry over to the next season.

He looked inward to make progress.  On the court, Barton can make plays out of nothing, dribbling out of double-teams to find teammates or create scoring chances for himself. Off the court, he can be just as creative. He loves taking risks with his wardrobes as seen here. Growing up, he always wanted to record a rap album. So, with several situations on his mind, he decided to express it in a five-song EP titled “Unexpected.”   “It was just a little therapy for myself, get some things I wanted to get off my chest in the setting I wanted to say it,” Barton said.    Barton isn’t sure if he’ll drop another record, but his intent was clear.    “Just keep being myself, if I ever do it again,” he said. “Don't let anyone change me. Whatever I want to do, just do it. Whatever I want to say, just say it. I know what comes with that and I'm strong enough to handle it.”    It was a relief for Barton and after releasing the project, he got back to handing business on the court. He was a consistent member of the Nuggets’ offseason workout meetings. He took an active role in being a mentor to the team’s highly-touted rookie, Michael Porter Jr. – another competitor at Barton’s small forward position.    “That's my guy,” Porter Jr. said after a recent practice. “He’s helped me out a lot, especially with learning the plays and everything. He's been a good leader for sure.”   Barton believes it’s vital to provide different methods of encouragement to various players in the locker room. For guys such as Porter Jr. or Jarred Vanderbilt, he’s more vocal and instructive. With a more established player such as Jamal Murray, Barton looks for ways to “keep [Murray’s} spirit up” when the 22-year-old guard goes through a rough patch. 

“You're going to see [a bad man] throughout the whole season”- Will Barton

  Barton remembers his own journey into the league as a 21-year-old who starred at the University of Memphis but had to prove himself after slipping out of the first round. He credits veterans such as LaMarcus Aldridge, Jared Jeffries, Mo Williams and Earl Watson among others for inspiring him to keep going early in his career.    “When I wasn't playing, they would tell me I was good,” Barton said. “That I'm a good basketball player. You just got to wait your turn. Keep working, keep being a great person.”    He added, “I think that was the greatest advice I got because I could've easily folded and easily quit because I wasn't playing, but I had great guys like that around me to keep my spirits up. That's stuck with me the whole way.”  Those experiences caused Barton to be a consistent presence throughout this past offseason.  “It was just something for me to get into the zone,” Barton said. “It's kind of a relentless thing for me again this season. I'm just trying to get my head back into that space.”  His teammates have certainly noticed.   “Right now, Will is just trying to hoop.” Murray said after the Nuggets’ fourth preseason game, where Barton finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes. “He’s been injured…For him to go out there and show what he can do [is important]. It’s so easy for him too. He’s just trying to play, and everyone knows he can play.”   Barton is looking forward to showing it from the first tipoff of the season.   “You're going to see [a bad man] throughout the whole season,” he said. “I can't guarantee games [played], but through the season, consistently, you'll see it.”

how-hip-hop-and-leadership-brought-will-bartons-thrill-back

How hip-hop and leadership brought Will Barton’s Thrill back

After an impressive win against the Trail Blazers in their preseason opener, the Nuggets hope to build on that result when they travel to Los Angeles to face the Clippers Thursday (8:30 p.m. MT, ALTITUDE).   READ MORE: Three takeaways from the Nuggets preseason win over the Trail Blazers  Los Angeles arguably had the most-talked about offseason this summer as the team added NBA champion Kawhi Leonard and MVP candidate Paul George to its roster. George has been ruled out until late November with an injury while Leonard could make his Clippers debut Thursday after Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers revealed the small forward could play in one to two preseason contests.   Here’s what to look for in the Nuggets’ second of four preseason games:   How will the small forward competition shake out?  Will Barton got the start at small forward Tuesday, but Nuggets coach Michael Malone kept to his word in having an open competition at the position. Malone went with a committee approach at the three spot, almost equally divvying up the minutes among Barton, Juancho Hernangómez, Torrey Craig, and Michael Porter Jr.  Here’s what the quartet did in the opening game:   Barton: Seven points, four rebounds, two assists, 42.9 percent shooting, 16:17 minutes played  Craig: Five rebounds, one block, 7:43 minutes played  Hernangómez: Three rebounds, three assists, three steals, 16:16 minutes played  Porter Jr.: Nine points, three rebounds, 16:30 minutes played  After struggling with a minor injury in training camp, Barton impressed with some good mobility and made impact plays on both sides of the floor against the Blazers. Craig impressed defensively, recording a block against the 7-foot Hassan Whiteside. Hernangómez struggled offensively, but he showed some assertiveness on the other end of the floor and created plays for others. Porter Jr. showed his natural scoring touch but lacked familiarity with the Nuggets’ defensive concepts at times. Odds are Malone will continue to shift starters throughout preseason to get a good look at each player.  Beasley growing his game  On Tuesday, Malik Beasley shot 4 of 11, but he proved to be a more versatile player than he’s shown during his first three years in Denver. The 22-year-old handled the ball well and went inside for scoring opportunities. He also showed an improved interior presence, grabbing five rebounds and even blocking two shots.    Thursday’s game against the Clippers gives Beasley another opportunity to show how much he’s grown his game throughout the offseason.   Can the Nuggets starting backcourt take a step forward?  Jamal Murray and Gary Harris both had positive moments Tuesday, but there was also some disjointed play from Denver’s starting backcourt pair.   Both played 22 minutes with Murray shooting 3-of-10 and having three turnovers while Harris went 2-of-5 to combine for 15 points. Although neither were at their offensive best, there were some solid signs on defense. The two men had five of the Nuggets’ 11 steals on the night, with Murray having three and Harris adding two. They also helped contain the Blazers’ star duo of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum to a combined 5-of-15 night. 

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Preview: Denver Nuggets travel to Los Angeles to face Clippers in preseason

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The preseason is inching closer as the Denver Nuggets concluded their penultimate training camp practice Friday morning.

With the team set to participate in a public evening scrimmage (RSVP only), head coach Michael Malone limited his players to light shooting and station drills during the early session. Friday’s night action will see the Nuggets play 12-minute quarters for the first time in 2019-20.

Here are the top storylines to emerge from Friday morning’s media availability:

Will Barton fighting to get back to his best

Barton has been grinding all summer long in an effort to move past an injury-hindered 2018-19  season.

He was in Las Vegas during Summer League participating in voluntary scrimmages. He was a constant visitor to the practice court at Pepsi Center, working on his game with Denver’s coaching staff. And as recently as two weeks ago, Barton was helping several Nuggets rookies deal with grueling workouts at Red Rocks. So, his reaction to his latest setback, a lower body injury, is understandable.

“Definitely a little deflating, especially coming off of an injury-plagued season last year,” Barton explained. “The good thing is I feel good. I'm not really holding back, I feel athletic. Doing the things I like to do. I've got a good rhythm so.”

Barton added, “It's not depressing, but it is deflating because I don't want to hold back. I want to be able to practice fully and play fully and do everything, but it's a process.”

When healthy, Barton is one of the Nuggets’ most versatile players. He can play and defend both guard positions and the small forward spot, showcasing a solid blend of playmaking and scoring. Last season, Barton struggled with the first significant injury of his career and it impacted his play on the floor as he shot the third-lowest field goal percentage (40.2) in his eight seasons as a professional. Still, he is just one season removed from a 15.7 point, 5.0 rebound, 4.1 assist campaign.

“I know when I’m 100 percent healthy, I’m one of the best players around so it’s all about really being healthy,” Barton said Monday at Media Day.

Tyler Cook, PJ Dozier, Tyler Zeller, Elijah Millsap, Jorge Gutiérrez were all invited by the Nuggets to take part in training camp this summer.  All five players are trying to earn a roster spot on the Nuggets or put up positive tape to continue their NBA journeys with other teams. So far, Malone has appreciated the effort shown by the group. He mentioned a few standouts after Friday’s practice.

“Jorge Gutiérrez has been in our gym all September into camp -- what a tough kid,” Malone said. “Competitor, hell of a defender, he doesn't back down from anybody. He pushes all of the guards who are in front of him. 

“Tyler Cook is an NBA player. Obviously, you only have a certain number of spots on your roster, but Tyler Cook is definitely an NBA player. (He’s) very big and strong, very vocal on the defensive end, sets screens and rolls…I'm glad he's on my team right now.”

One of the benefits of the continuity the Nuggets have had on their roster is the overall familiarity with Malone’s gameplan. Now in his fifth season in the Mile High City, Malone appreciates the ability to focus on development as opposed to instructing tactical instructions.

“That allows us to hit the ground running,” Malone explained. “You go back to our first year of training camp, which was here [in Colorado Springs, it was slow going. We were trying to implement, teach and introduce new things --terminology and philosophy. Now, we have a really good sense of that corporate knowledge.”

In a crowded West, filled with teams who made significant moves this offseason, the Nuggets are hoping that familiarity pays dividends during the season.

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Denver Nuggets Training Camp: Takeaways from Day 4

After months of waiting, training camp is finally here. Ahead of the first morning session, here’s a look at some of the biggest storylines to emerge from Monday’s Media Day.

Can Nikola Jokić become this season’s MVP?

Jokić became the Nuggets’ first All-NBA First Teamer since the legendary David Thompson did it twice in the late 1970s. His ability to see plays happen way in advance is akin to a veteran point guard, but he’s only 24. It’s scary when considering the center has plenty of room to grow, especially after a campaign where he averaged 20.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists. Will that mean a Most Valuable Player award could be in the cards for this season?

Jokić’s coaches and teammates certainly believe he’s capable of it.

“Going into the year, I don’t know how you can have an MVP conversation without mentioning his name,” Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said.

Gary Harris added, “I think he should average a triple-double this year…I mean why not?”

The key for Jokić will be his continued growth as a leader.

“For Nikola to have a great year for us, it’s going to be does he embrace being a leader of this team? Can he handle his emotions,” Malone explained. “Nikola Jokić as we all know is emotional. I love it, I don’t want to change who he is. I want the best version of Nikola Jokić…If he does those things [handle emotions] and be a better leader and handle adversity, that’s going to allow him to have a better season.”

Jokić, for his part, insists he’s not focused on individual awards, but team goals.

“If I can choose, I want to win a championship,” Jokic said. “I never put [individual] goals in front of me. I just want to go out there, try to win games and have fun.”

Will Barton, Torrey Craig, Juancho Hernangómez, Michael Porter Jr.– these are the five players who are vying for starting small forward position. Malone made it clear in his press conference on Monday the spot is up for grabs, meaning it’ll likely be the most watched storyline during training camp and preseason.

“I think competition is healthy,” Malone said. “I don’t believe in giving anything to anybody – you have to earn it.”

Last season, Barton opened as the team’s starter at the position, but his struggles with injuries saw him lose some form and opened the door for Craig during the postseason. On Monday, Barton appeared confident in his ability to prove himself this season.

“I know when I’m 100 percent healthy, I’m one of the best players around so it’s all about really being healthy,” Barton said.

Craig, who had a strong defensive postseason as the team’s starter, expects a tough competition this training camp.

“As long as you go out there and make each other better, that’s the good that can come from it,” Craig said. “[Compete] every possession, the whole camp, everyone will go into the season prepared.”

As mentioned, Porter Jr. is among the names competing for minutes at small forward and he is arguably the Nuggets’ most exciting rookie since Carmelo Anthony’s arrival in 2003. After being sidelined with injuries for almost two years, the 21-year-old is looking forward to finally playing in his first NBA preseason game.

“I’m so excited, I guess it’s all been a journey up to this,” Porter Jr. said before later adding, “I would just say I’ve definitely had to be patient.”

Porter Jr. is in a unique situation as a highly-touted rookie who will be joining deep roster which is expected to contend in the Western Conference. It is atypical as usually talented first-year players join teams in the process of rebuilding. Malone believes Porter Jr., the 2017 McDonalds’ All-American MVP, could have a learning curve on the Nuggets.

“Michael, since he was a young kid, he’s been the best player in every gym he’s ever been in,” Malone said. “He’s had the ball in his hands at all times. So now can you find a way to play without the ball? When you do have the ball, can you find a way to make a play for your team – understanding that the team you’re joining is second in assists, we play for each other.”

Porter Jr. acknowledged he’s getting acclimated to playing within an NBA offense.

“With this team, you have so many talented players,” Porter Jr. said. “Last year, I got the chance to just watch the game and see how I fit in with the team and find my niche – my role will be different.”

He added, “A couple of days ago, me and Jokić got a chance to be in the same team in scrimmages, it was so easy. All I had to do was move and cut and I will get the ball [for] wide open shots.

He also is learning how to defend on the NBA level.

“It’s been an adjustment because you’re playing against such good players,” Porter Jr. explained. “I’ve been getting better and better and the coaches have been giving me tips. I really just use my length [Porter is 6-foot-11] to help other people. I’ve been getting better for sure.”

One thing is for certain, if Porter Jr. can adjust quickly, the minutes will be there for the No. 14 pick in the 2018 draft.

“We have to find a way to give him a chance to play, he’s going to have to earn it. But we have to find a way to get him out there because the talent is there,” Malone said.  

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Denver Nuggets’ Media Day: Three Takeaways

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