2018-19 Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets’ 2019-20 season is underway and there is a considerable buzz in the Mile High City after the team won 54 games last season. There’s also a lot of questions surrounding Michael Malone’s team. How will Jerami Grant fit in? What are the expectations for Michael Porter Jr.? Where can the Nuggets take the next step in their development?

Nuggets.com writers Alex Labidou and Eric Spyropoulos are happy to answer those questions and more throughout the season. Leave your questions below in the comment box or Tweet using the #AskNuggs hashtag!

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Denver Nuggets mailbag: Ask your questions about the 2019-20 season

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

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – As the Denver Nuggets prepared for their first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs in April, head coach Michael Malone knew exactly who to call upon to inspire and calm the team’s young core of players.

“I go back to the shootaround before we played San Antonio in Game 1, and I asked Paul to speak to our team,” Malone said, following Friday’s practice. “And I told him that the night before, and his words were just so uplifting and empowering for our young players.”

Millsap’s leadership style isn’t one that leans on an overpowering voice in the locker room. The veteran forward knows when to pick his spots and speak up to the team, as well as how to take young players under his wing to teach them the ins-and-outs of the league. On Friday, Millsap spoke to Nuggets.com about the 2019-20 season, Denver’s defensive potential and more.

“Paul is one of our leaders,” Will Barton said following Friday’s practice. “He’s quiet, but when he says something, you know it’s important that we all listen.”

Millsap is preparing for his 14th season in the league, and while his per-game production doesn’t jump off the page at this stage of his career, he still provides balanced play on both ends of the floor. In the 2019 playoffs, the 34-year-old averaged 14.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.

“You know, I think because he's a 14-year vet, people forget about the importance of his contributions on and off the court,” Malone said Friday. “He does it in a very understated manner, but when you look at the three-day box score, you say ‘well Paul is having one hell of a camp.”

On Media Day, Millsap admitted that he continues to learn when and how to pick his spots in Denver’s offense. “Yeah, you know, coming from a guy who had the ball a lot in Atlanta to here, you know, it’s more about picking my spots and finding an open spot,” Millsap said. “I'm still learning, you know, if I have this advantage, whether it’s a slip or cut or whatever, He (Jokić) is going to throw it. Then you just got to be ready for the ball.”

In the second round against the Portland Trail Blazers, Millsap enjoyed several matchup advantages and averaged 17.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game for the series. Given Millsap’s physicality at 6’8” and 246 pounds, he is able to take smaller defenders in the post, but he also continues to work on his 3-point shooting.

“Yea I feel more comfortable with my shot,” Millsap told Nuggets.com Friday. “It’s something I’ve been working on over the summer and the past couple of years. I think last year was one of my career years from three, so I’m always trying to get better (from three).”

Increased 3-point shooting will continue to allow the former second-round pick to be selectively assertive on offense and benefit from playing in a more off-ball role. While Millsap can certainly continue to be an effective offensive player, it is the defensive versatility and awareness that he brings to the table that can take Denver to the next level.

After Millsap missed more than half of the season during the 2017-18 campaign, he was able to play in 70 contests last season and the Nuggets made major strides defensively as a result. Denver jumped from 23rd to 10th in the league in defensive rating as Millsap posted strong defensive statistics. The Nuggets were 5.1 points per 100 possessions better defensively when Millsap was on the floor last season, while his +1.9 defensive box plus-minus was a significant improvement from the 2017-18 season.

While a lot of defensive responsibilities were placed on Millsap in recent seasons, the addition of Jerami Grant will help on that end of the floor. With Gary Harris and Torrey Craig returning for another season, Millsap is excited about the team’s defensive potential.

“We’ve got a lot of good players that can play different positions,” Millsap told Nuggets.com. “(Jerami) just adds to that, as a player that can guard one through five, he’ll add to the depth and talent that we already have.”

On Media Day, Millsap was focused on the room for improvement for Denver’s defense. “We're definitely you know, a top 10 defense,” the 14-year veteran said. “We know that we just established that last season and we want to be a really good defensive team again this season.”

When asked about the difficulty of improving on a top-10 defense from last season, Millsap said he believes it may actually be easier than improving the defense from their No. 23 spot in the previous season. “I think it's easier now. You know, going from nearly last (in the league) to 10th is hard. It started as a mentality change. It's a mindset shift. And we overcame that. And, you know, we feel that we're a good defensive team. As long as we feel like we're a good defensive team, we're good out there and we’ll play defense to the best we can.”

The Nuggets are equipped with the most defensive talent the team has had in years, with Millsap continuing to serve as an anchor on that end of the floor.

Given Millsap’s age and experience in the league (he has played in 945 NBA games), as well as the term “load management” gaining traction throughout the NBA as it relates to veteran and star players resting throughout the regular season, he is more than ready to accept a reduced role as Denver focuses on preserving his energy for playoff basketball.

“Well, I mean, if they want to manage my load, by all means, go for it,” Millsap said on Media Day. “I'm not going to turn it down. But you know, at this point in my life and career, my body is at its best. I'm moving a ton better than I have in prior years, so I'm really excited to get out there and put together a full season.”

“I think he (Millsap) knows his body,” Malone added on Friday. “He knows how to get ready; he’s been doing this so long. He knows how to prepare himself throughout the summer so he’s coming into camp in great shape. And this is just another example of that. So, you know, Paul's been terrific.”

Regardless of how many games or minutes Millsap plays, the Nuggets feel safe in knowing the impact that he will continue to have in his third season with the team. While some veterans across the league may shy away from leadership roles, the soon-to-be 35-year-old understands and appreciates the importance of teaching others around him.

“I'm always going to be a leader and always try and set up a positive example day in and day out so I can so the young guys hopefully pick up on it,” Millsap told Nuggets.com “In the end, I want to try to be myself.”

Ahead of his third season with the Nuggets and 14th overall in the NBA, the veteran continues to appreciate the start of each new season, as it presents an opportunity to continue growing.

“You appreciate it for the time where you get adjusted with your teammates,” Millsap said. “You try to learn and get better. The older I get, the more I'm saving the day. It's always good that we've got training camp in time before the season so we can get ready for that.”

With the regular-season opener just 19 days away, there isn’t much time left for Millsap to reflect on his NBA journey up until this point. When the first tip-off of the 2019-20 season is underway, all the focus for Millsap will turn to leading this Nuggets group on and off the court.

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Denver Nuggets’ Paul Millsap opens up on leadership, defense and his 14th season in the league

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –  After years of seeing some high-flying NBA teams like 90s Golden State Warriors’ Run TMC, the 2000s Los Angeles Clippers’ Lob City, the Pepsi Center is about to have its own version this season.

Introducing the 2019-20 Denver Nuggets bench.

Malik Beasley, Mason Plumlee, Jerami Grant and potentially Michael Porter Jr. headline a talented and athletic group who should be authoring a few posters this season. Monte Morris, the second-unit’s point guard and one of the NBA’s most efficient playmakers, is excited about the group’s potential on the fast break.

“It’s big time, we all know how Malik can jump. Then you got Mason and those guys [Grant and Porter Jr.], their verticals are pretty high too so it’s going to make the game a lot easier for me,” Morris said. “I’m just excited to get out there and get stops [on defense] so we can get on the break and display all of that.”

The Nuggets’ improvement on defense and their ability to score in the paint (fourth in the NBA at 52.1) were significant reasons why the team finished second in the West with 54 wins. If there was one area where the team needed to make positive strides, it was creating easier chances to score – especially in transition.

While Denver was an extremely efficient offensive team, evidenced by its 111.4 rating in that area, it was 15th in pace of play (97.69), 15th in fast break scoring (12.6), and 20th in overall scoring at 110.7 points per game. Porter Jr. already has two viral dunks after just three days of training camp and several Nuggets have commented on how impressed they are with Grant’s ability to leap from a standstill position. The pair should add a new wrinkle to the Nuggets’ offense this season.

“I think we’re going to be great,” Morris explained. “I think last year, we were really good, but this year, adding those two pieces gives us more length and versatility.

“Mike can handle the ball and post up and Jerami can handle the ball and push it and get into the offense. You add that with me, Malik and Mason, I think how everyone is growing their games, we can take it to another level.”

Beasley agreed with Morris’ assessment.

“We got way better from a versatility [standpoint],” Beasley. “Also, the remainders from last year, we’ve got the same chemistry [and] we know better [due to experience].”

Last season, the Nuggets’ bench was fifth in assists (9.3), eighth in field goal percentage (45.8), ninth in steals (3.0), 10th in plus/minus (0.9) and 13th in scoring (37.7). Nuggets head coach Michael Malone is looking forward to seeing the growth of his reserve unit this season.

“I thought we had one of the better second units [in the NBA] last year…Now we have some new faces, Jerami Grant, namely Michael Porter [Jr.] – those guys are talented and they fit into what we’re trying to do,” Malone said. 

He added, “I know full well Monte Morris is going to have a better season and playoffs because he’s gone through it. Malik Beasley was great for us last year. But now he needs to do it at a higher level. So I think we had a great unit last year off the bench. I think this year, I’m even more excited about that bench unit and what they are going to bring every night.”

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Denver Nuggets' athletic bench could be among NBA’s elite

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – With training camp in full swing for the Nuggets, the competition and intensity has continued to rise as preseason action approaches. With just five days before Denver opens up the 2019-20 preseason against the Portland Trail Blazers, the team continues to spend time going over offensive sets, finding different lineup combinations and more.

After some sloppy play to open up camp, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said the past two days of practice have been cleaner on the offensive side of the ball. Although the Nuggets brought back the entirety of their playoff rotation, there are still new pieces to fit into the puzzle, most notably Jerami Grant and Michael Porter Jr.

Let’s take a look at some takeaways from the third day of training camp.

The small forward position battle continues

There may be no more intriguing storyline than the battle for the starting small forward spot. On Media Day, Malone admitted that an open competition for that spot would take place during training camp and the preseason games. With four of the five starters comfortably penciled into their roles, it is up to Will Barton, Torrey Craig, Juancho Hernangomez and Porter Jr. to step up and impress in the coming days and weeks.

Following Thursday’s practice, Malone said Barton participated more in the team drills but repeated that he still hasn’t been doing full contact drills or scrimmages. As a result, Craig and Hernangomez have both received plenty of opportunities to play alongside the other starters.

Craig spent a lot of time in the offseason working on his jump shot, which is key for his role in the offense as a result of playing off-the-ball. “I always felt like I was good shooter but it was just a confidence thing,” Craig said Thursday. “Toward the end of last season and playoffs I kind of got my confidence back so I had a good summer shooting the ball and it's been pretty good.”

A career 31.7 percent 3-point shooter, Craig brings defense, rebounding and good court awareness to the starting lineup. An improvement in 3-point shooting would go a long way in making Craig a feared off-ball player in the starting lineup, which opens up more defensive opportunities for a lineup that also includes Harris and Paul Millsap.

Craig is certainly not shying away from any competition he will face for minutes. “I mean, it's always good when guys compete,” he said, following the third day of camp. “Because (when) we compete we bring out the best in each other and that’s best for the team so as long as we approach every day the right way and compete at a high level to make each other better that’s all that matters.”

One thing is for sure, all eyes will be on the small forward position throughout the upcoming preseason games.

An underdog mentality still fuels the team

Although the Nuggets are coming off a season in which they won 54 games and seven playoff games, there is no satisfaction from anyone on the team. As Denver’s core players continue to grow together and develop, there is certainly plenty of motivation left to drive success in the upcoming season.

“There’s a little bit more of a killer instinct in all of us,” Malik Beasley said, following Thursday’s practice. “Because people think that what we did was a fluke last year, so a lot of us are still motivated, a lot of us are underdogs still out to prove to the world who we are.”

With several teams in the Western Conference loading up on star-powered duos, the Nuggets must continue to thrive with their unselfish offense predicated on ball movement, while also ensuring that strides are once again made on the defensive end of the floor.

“I want our guys to have a championship mentality,” Malone added on Media Day. “They come to work every day, every film session, every player development session, every practice with a championship mentality. If we do that, we're going to give ourselves a chance.”

Gary Harris suffered through an injury-plagued 2018-19 season. It was a campaign that saw his shooting percentages fall and his time in the lineup continued to fluctuate throughout the year. After focusing on staying slim throughout the offseason, Harris is once again healthy and looking to make an impact on both ends of the floor.

"I think because of the injuries that he had last year and just such a frustrating year for him, he knew that he had to come into camp not only in great shape, but lighter, to lessen the load on his body and his muscles," Malone said following Thursday's practice. "But you know, Gary is just a natural athlete, he's strong (and) physical. If Gary can play as close to 82 games as possible, that's going to be big for him."

“(He can have) an amazing impact,” Monte Morris said Thursday. “He's moving faster, he's already in game shape so he looks really good.”

During the 2017-18 season, Harris averaged 17.5 points per game and shot 39.6 percent from beyond the arc. If the 25-year-old is able to stay healthy and bounce back in the upcoming season, the Nuggets are that much more dangerous on both sides of the floor.

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Denver Nuggets Training Camp: Takeaways from Day 3

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- It was an 11-second moment that made its rounds on social media. In a clip posted by the NBA Tuesday, Michael Porter Jr. bounced a pass to Tyler Zeller, who fed the rookie on a give-and-go near the basket. Then, in a split-second, Porter Jr., who looked completely undaunted by a double team from Gary Harris and Nikola Jokić at the rim, went in for a thunderous slam. Those in attendance at the basketball courts at U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Center went wild.

What is frightening is Porter Jr. appeared to be unfazed by the moment, which received almost 2,000 retweets and 15,000 likes on Bleacher Report's Twitter  account.

“It was cool, I didn’t think it was that crazy,” Porter Jr. said Wednesday. “People kept sending it to me, but yeah, it was just a regular thing.”

It is that ice-cold scoring ability that made Porter Jr. an easy selection for the Nuggets with the No. 14 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, despite some concerns over his injury history. Since Porter Jr. was essentially redshirted in his first season as he worked his way back, this is his first official training camp. So far, he’s certainly had his share of growing pains as he tries to adjust to an atypical situation for a highly-touted rookie.

While most lottery picks have room for mistakes on rebuilding teams, Porter Jr. joins a deep roster that won 54 games last season. If he’s going to play, he’s going to have to fit in and earn minutes. In training camp, there have been moments of brilliance like Tuesday’s dunk and then there are times where he’s still trying to learn the Nuggets’ offensive and defensive sets.

“Michael is a great kid, he really is, but he’s going to do some things that are going to make my hair and beard get a little bit grayer,” Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said jokingly Wednesday.

Jokić has been impressed with what he’s seen from Porter Jr. so far, but gave a detailed explanation of where the forward needs to improve.

“He’s really talented, but he’s still learning,” Jokić said Wednesday. “Like you can see him looking for the basics of where he’s supposed to be [on plays].”

Jokic explained Porter Jr. won’t need much time to adjust due to his vast potential, but said the 21-year-old's ability to think on the fly, especially on cuts, will get better as he gets used to the Nuggets’ system. Porter Jr. was arguably the top high school prospect in the nation and he won the McDonald’s All-American MVP in 2017. He’s used to having offenses tailored to his strengths as a scorer, but it will be his off-the-ball skill and defense that will determine his time this season on the Nuggets. Porter Jr., for his part, appears excited to play with a unique facilitator in Jokic.

“It’s crazy, sometimes you won’t even think he’s looking at you, but then he’ll throw a perfect pass to you,” Porter Jr. said. “Like he told me I could be the best cutter on the team because I can finish above the rim. Nikola has such good vision so I just have to keep moving.”

Despite Porter Jr.’s obvious talent, he is competing for minutes in arguably the Nuggets’ deepest position on the roster: Small forward. Torrey Craig is an impressive defender who continues to improve offensively, Will Barton is one of the team’s most versatile players and Juancho Hernangómez is a long-range threat who can help keep defenses honest. But considering how far Porter Jr. has come, battling several injuries over the past two years, he’s appreciative of being able to finally participate in a training camp and raring to go for potentially his first NBA action – next Tuesday’s preseason game against the Trail Blazers.

“We have such a great team already. I’m a first-year player, [I] don’t know everything that’s going on. I probably won’t get the huge role that I want off the bat,” Porter Jr. said. “Every player started slow. I mean look at Kawhi [Leonard] when he was first in San Antonio [with the Spurs]. So for me, it’s about being mature, accepting my role and excelling in that.”

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Denver Nuggets' Michael Porter Jr. enjoying first official training camp

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The Nuggets got more into their stride in Day 2 of training camp as the team’s first preseason game is quickly approaching.The team vastly improved in the turnover department as Nuggets head coach Michael Malone revealed there was 36 overall on the first day. There was also a heavily-contested shooting competition between Juancho Hernangómez and Malik Beasley, with Beasley taking home a WWE-styled belt for his win.  Juancho making a case for a bigger role Hernangómez might have lost his bout with Beasley, but he’s winning some favorable impressions early on in camp. The fourth-year forward was Spain’s third-highest scorer in its run to winning the 2019 FIBA World Cup and it appears his assertiveness and confidence from the tournament has carried over into the Nuggets’ scrimmages so far.   “He’s coming into camp feeling great about his body, his health, and then couple that with a gold medal, playing at a high level and shooting with confidence [for Spain],” Malone said. “So, I do sense a more confident Juancho Hernangómez right now, which is great for him and more importantly, for us.”   Hernangómez is one of four players (along with Will Barton, Torrey Craig and Michael Porter Jr.) competing for the lead small forward spot. The 24-year-old didn’t hurt his chances Wednesday as he practiced with the starting five and impressed. In 25 starts last year, Hernangómez averaged 11.2 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 48.1 percent from the floor and a sizzling 42.1 percent from downtown. The key for Hernangómez will be staying healthy as he dealt with a core muscle injury all last season. He’ll also need to show steady play on both sides of the floor.   “Can he shoot the ball consistency? Last year, he was somewhat up and down in that regard. Can he guard…and can he rebound? I think he’s more than capable of doing all of those things,” Malone said.   On Media Day Monday, Hernangómez tried to deflect questions about his role, preferring to illustrate the differences between national team duty and his situation in the Mile High City.   “When you play for your country, I started, and I knew I was going to play a lot of minutes. Here is different, I know my role is helping each other as a team as much as I can,” Hernangómez explained. “So, it’s going to be interesting and it’s going to be exciting [this upcoming NBA season].   He added, “We haven’t talked yet about roles. We’ve been together for a lot of years. We know what to do and who the leaders are on this team. We have to build a team. Everyone knows his role. And that’s how you win…when everyone accepts his role and does the best for the team. That’s how you win.”    Still, Nikola Jokić, who considers Hernangómez to be like a brother, is happy to see the Spaniard getting off to a positive start at camp.   “He won a world championship with Spain and he came back here and is playing with a lot of confidence right now,” Jokić said. “I think it’s because he won something [a gold medal]” Nikola reflects on training camp  With some new rookies and veterans trying to earn minutes or a spot on the team, Jokić reflected about how much his own training camp experience has changed since his arrival in Denver four years ago. The Serbian came into the NBA as a largely unheralded second round rookie and admitted his first training camp was pressure-filled as he tried to establish himself.    “I remember my first year, I was so nervous,” Jokić said Wednesday. “Every day, I was doing 100 percent. I was winded after every drill.”   Jokić has certainly come a long way from his first season. He went from averaging 10 points and seven boards in his rookie campaign to becoming an All-NBA First Teamer last season, putting 20.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists a night.   “Right now, everything is slower for me,” Jokić said about his fifth training camp.   Not bad for a player whose highlights weren’t shown due to a fast food commercial when he was selected at No. 41 in the 2015 draft.   Focus on ball movement, interior defense  The Nuggets were second in the NBA in assists last season, a big component of their 54 wins last season. Considering how significant ball movement is for this team, a sluggish start on Tuesday’s opening day of training camp meant there was a lot of focus on moving the ball effectively on Wednesday.   “Today I felt was a much-improved practice from yesterday,” Malone said.   Time off and some new faces are partially responsible as several players are still trying to get acclimated to each other. As familiarity and comfort level increases, ball movement will be a benefactor.   “I saw a lot of improvement from yesterday,” Jokić said. “We were really sloppy…So today, we were a lot better and the energy was really, really good again.”   Another area the Nuggets have been focusing on is their in-the-paint defense. Last season, the Nuggets were 14th in that area, allowing 48.6 points per game. With the addition of Jerami Grant, the team hopes it’ll make a similar marked improvement as they did with their three-point shooting last season.   “The paint is something we need to defend,” Jokić explained. “You could see two years ago, we were 30th in three-point defense, last year, we were first. So maybe we can do something like that this year.” 

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Denver Nuggets Training Camp: Takeaways from Day 2

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Fresh off signing a new contract and entering a pivotal fourth season in the NBA, Jamal Murray knows he has to keep evolving. “It’s time to be a leader,” he said Monday at Media Day. His head coach, Michael Malone, would like to see that evolution happen from the first tipoff of the Denver Nuggets’ 2019-20 campaign. Malone revealed a conversation he had with Murray at end last season, sharing a challenge to his starting point guard to improve his offseason regimen. “I had actually gone out and I printed out his [stats from the] last three Octobers and you know, he wants to be an All-Star as well. All-Stars don’t play poorly in October into November,” Malone said. “They bring it every night, they produce every night and it has to be consistent.” He added, “So I said ‘Something’s got to change. It can’t be the same offseason as it’s been over the last couple of years because something’s not working.”

READ MORE: - Nuggets Training Camp: Takeaways from Day 1- Nuggets’ Media Day: Three Takeaways- Nuggets Embracing Title Aspirations Murray has averaged 11.8 points and 2.9 assists on 37.4 percent shooting in the month of October in his first three years of his career. November and December are usually where the guard starts picking up momentum as he’s scored 14.9 points per game and shot 43.4 percent from the field. The 22-year-old guard really gets going in April, a month where he’s put up 17.3 points and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field. Murray, to his credit, acknowledges increased attention to detail could be the difference in elevating his game to a more consistent level. “Just being disciplined, not letting the little things slide,” Murray said Tuesday after the first session of Training Camp.  Murray’s actions might speak even louder than his words. During the offseason, he went to a voluntary invite-only camp from one of the most detail-focused players to ever grace the game in Kobe Bryant. During his time at the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, Calif, Murray did as much as he could to soak up Bryant’s valuable insight and implement it into his own game.  “That was a very, very good experience to have that much talent in the gym, watching film, weight room, playing scrimmages with those guys, getting a feel for them, getting a feel for Kobe’s mentality,” Murray said Monday. “I asked him a lot of questions. It was one of my favorite highlights this summer.”  Malone has certainly noticed the difference.  “I think he made a conscious effort to change his offseason regiment,” Malone said. “Working a bit harder, being a bit more focused. Obviously, with us giving him that contract, that we’re well aware of, we’re showing him a great commitment. Well, on the other side of that coin, he’s got to show us the same type of commitment. He’s ready for that, he’s aware of that and he’s not going to run from it.” Murray echoed those sentiments. “For me, as a fighter, as a mental guy, this is not the end for me,” Murray said Monday. “I want to do more, I want to be better, be more consistent, be better defensively. There’s a lot of things I got to improve on even though this is a great deal for me.”

denver-nuggets-jamal-murray-focused-on-starting-season-on-a-strong-note

Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray focused on starting season on a strong note

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Western Union

Come out to the Denver Nuggets 2022-23 Draft Party Thursday, June 23rd @ 6:00 p.m. at Tom's Watch Bar, presented by Miller Lite! 

Watch your Denver Nuggets make their pick, win team signed gear, and meet Super Mascot Rocky! For more information <a href="https://www.nba.com/nuggets/watch-parties">Click Here</a>

2018‑19 Denver Nuggets