The Denver Nuggets added another ball-handler to the mix by selecting Penn State's Jalen Pickett with the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Pickett, a 6'2' guard, played five seasons in college. His first three collegiate seasons were at Siena College where he was selected to the All-MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) team three separate times.
Pickett then transferred to Penn State for his fourth and fifth college seasons. There, he made the All-Big Ten team in the 2022-23 season. Pickett was named a Consensus All-American and collected a Wooden Award All-American amongst other awards in his storied college career.
His final college season in 2022-23 was by far his most impressive. Pickett averaged 17.7 points, 6.6 assists, and 7.4 rebounds. His shooting efficiency was remarkable—38.1 percent from three, 54.6 percent from two-point range, 50.8 percent overall from the field, and 76.3 percent from the free throw line.
Nuggets' general manager Calvin Booth was busy leading up to draft night. First, he and his front office made an ultra-rare trade during the NBA Finals and acquired the 37th overall pick in the 2023 draft, a 2024 first-round pick, and a 2024 second-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder for Denver's 2029 first-round pick.
Denver then made a secondary deal and used that 2024 first-rounder from Oklahoma City and their own second-round pick at #40 to acquire the 29th and 32nd overall picks from the Indiana Pacers.
Both deals were done to maximize Denver's title window with Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray by infusing the roster with young talent. One of the Nuggets' possible needs heading into the draft was ball handling, and Pickett fills that void. Moreover, he comes with a reasonable amount of experience and pedigree as a heavily-awarded 23-year-old.
Pickett's got an unorthodox game. He's a post-up guard at 6'2, making him a rarity in the NBA. Some have compared him to former Nugget Andre Miller because of his uniqueness as a scorer. Still, he's a bucket-getter that leans heavily on his ability to fade away for jumpers, make floaters, and splash home hook shots. Plus, he became a reliable floor-spacer by the end of his time at Penn State and shot 38.1 percent from the college three-point line.
He's a fairly careful passer and produced a 2.89 assist-to-turnover ratio in his final season. Defensively, he uses his 198-pound frame to bother his matchups, and he's particularly effective on the glass by grabbing a ridiculous 7.4 rebounds per contest. Just amazing for his 6'2 size.
Denver is precisely the type of ecosystem that a player with such a unique style of play could fit in. Players are encouraged to play to their strengths amidst a roster that's balanced and talent-laden. Plus, the Nuggets have a storied history of developing prospects. 2022 first-round pick, Christian Braun, played major minutes and contributed in the NBA Finals as a rookie.
To get a better feel for his game, here are Pickett's highlights from the Big Ten Network.