DENVER, Feb. 19, 2015 – The Denver Nuggets have signed rookie forward Joffrey Lauvergne, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.
Lauvergne, 6-11, 220, was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 55th pick of the 2013 NBA Draft and was then subsequently traded to the Denver Nuggets along with Darrell Arthur in exchange for Kosta Koufos.
The 23-year-old native of France most recently played for BC Khimki of the Russian Super League where he appeared in 27 games (seven starts), averaging 9.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 17.5 minutes per game. In 2013-14 Lauvergne appeared in 69 games (68 starts) for Partizan Belgrade where he posted 14 double-doubles and averaged 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds in 31.2 minutes per game.
Lauvergne played for the French National Team in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, averaging 9.2 points and 5.3 rebounds en route to the Bronze Medal. He also helped his country win the Gold Medal at the 2013 EuroBasket Tournament.