DENVER, September 14, 2016 – The Denver Nuggets have announced the promotions of assistant coaches Wes Unseld Jr., Micah Nori and Ryan Bowen as well as player development coach Ognjen Stojakovic and assistant video coordinator Tommy Massimino Jr. In addition to these promotions, Denver has hired assistant coaches Jordi Fernandez and Chris Finch, player development coach Stephen Graham and head video coordinator Travess Armenta.
Wes Unseld Jr. joined the Nuggets prior to the 2015-16 season after spending the previous two seasons with the Orlando Magic and one with the Golden State Warriors (2011-12). He began his coaching career with the Washington Wizards where he spent 13 seasons (1998 to 2011) in various capacities, the final six as an assistant coach. In his new role, Unseld Jr. will be Michael Malone’s lead assistant on the bench.
Micah Nori also joined Denver’s staff prior to the 2015-16 campaign. He was previously an assistant coach in Sacramento from 2013 to 2015. Before arriving in Sacramento, he spent a total of 15 years with the Toronto Raptors organization, the last four as assistant coach. With this promotion, Nori will move to the front of the Nuggets’ bench.
Ryan Bowen returned to the Nuggets’ coaching staff for the 2015-16 season after also spending two seasons in Sacramento. Bowen was selected by the Nuggets in the second round of the 1998 NBA Draft and spent the first five years of his 10-year playing career as a fan-favorite in Denver. He also spent two years on Denver’s coaching staff from 2011 to 2013 before heading to Sacramento. Bowen will now be the first coach behind the Nuggets bench going into the 2016-17 season.
Ognjen Stojakovic began working with the Nuggets prior to the 2013-14 season, serving as the assistant video coordinator for three seasons. Stojakovic, a native of Belgrade Serbia, has been promoted to player development coach.
Tommy Massimino Jr. came to Denver in the role of video intern for the 2015-16 season after serving as the assistant video coordinator for the University of Iowa Men’s Basketball team in 2014-15. He also spent four years (2009 to 2013) as team manager for the Villanova Wildcats Men’s Basketball team. Massimino has been promoted to assistant video coordinator.
Along with the above promotions, the team has hired Jordi Fernandez as an assistant coach. He comes to Denver after spending six seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers organization, most recently as head coach of their NBA D-League affiliate, the Canton Charge.
The Nuggets have also added Chris Finch as an assistant coach heading into the 2016-17 season. Finch joins Malone’s staff after serving as the head coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers from 2009 to 2011 and as an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets from 2011 to 2016.
Joining John Beckett and Ognjen Stojakovic in the player development department will be Stephen Graham. Graham enjoyed a long playing career, including six years in the NBA with Cleveland, Houston, Chicago, Portland, Indiana, Charlotte and New Jersey. He also spent one season playing for Fort Wayne of the D-League and finished his career with two seasons overseas. Graham served as an assistant coach for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in 2015-16 before joining the Nuggets staff. Also, his twin brother, Joey, played for the Nuggets during the 2009-10 season.
Additionally, the Nuggets have hired Longmont, CO native Travess Armenta as head video coordinator. Armenta arrives on Denver’s staff after working as the assistant video coordinator for the Sacramento Kings from 2011 to 2016. Armenta played basketball and received his degree from the University of Northern Colorado.
An updated and finalized listing of the Denver Nuggets’ coaching staff for the 2016-17 season is as follows:
Head Coach: Michael Malone
Asst. Coach: Wes Unseld Jr.
Asst. Coach: Micah Nori
Asst. Coach: Jordi Fernandez
Asst. Coach: Ryan Bowen
Asst. Coach: Chris Finch
Player Development: John Beckett
Player Development: Stephen Graham
Player Development: Ognjen Stojakovic
Head Video Coordinator: Travess Armenta
Asst. Video Coordinator: Tommy Massimino Jr.