2021-22 Denver Nuggets

In 2020-21, Facundo Campado took the Denver Nuggets by storm when he became an integral piece following the injury to Jamal Murray. He endeared himself to Nuggets Nation with his defensive energy and flashy passing, earning himself a spot in the rotation in 2021-22.

When the new campaign began, Campazzo picked up right where he left off. Defensively, he helped lift Nuggets perimeter defenders to a higher level, while making life slightly easier on Nikola Jokić and Aaron Gordon.

His scoring output also saw a slight bump in the first half of the season, with some impressive performances to his name. As the season progressed, Campazzo's role shifted to more of a leadership role.

Though his minutes decreased towards the latter half of the year, no one can deny Campazzo's impact on the Nuggets in 2021-22.

Campazzo's on-court abilities shined brightest during the first half of the 2021-22 campaign. After his steady performance during the 2021 NBA Playoffs, Campazzo became a regular rotation player as Murray continued to recover from his injury.

He reached an average of 22.3 minutes per game in his first 40 appearances, continuing that same energy and passing flare that made him so popular the year before.

Campazzo had a performance that many NBA players can only dream of in their second season when the Nuggets faced the Houston Rockets on Jan. 1, 2022. In 34 minutes of play, Campazzo finished with 22 points, 12 assists, five steals, four rebounds, and two blocks, a truly complete effort.

Less than two weeks later, Campazzo struck gold again, scoring 18 points, dishing another 12 assists, and nabbing four steals on Jan. 13 against the Portland Trail Blazers. Both of these performances came in massive winning efforts.

Campazzo's minutes began to decrease on Jan. 28, as he played in just 19 of the team's final 35 games. And after a one-game suspension for Game 1 of the Nuggets' first round series against the Golden State Warriors, he played in limited minutes for Games 2-5.

The Argentinian guard appeared in 65 games for the Nuggets in 2021-22, starting in four of them. In that time, he averaged 18.2 minutes per game.

Campazzo finished with statistical averages of 5.1 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.0 steals on 36.1% from the field, 30.1% from three, and 76.9% from the free throw line.

Among players with at least 20 games played, Campazzo was No. 1 on the Nuggets in steal percentage and No. 2 in assist percentage behind only Jokić. He also had the team's second highest defensive box plus-minus behind Jokić.

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Nuggets 2021-22 Player Reviews: Facundo Campazzo

The Denver Nuggets brought in Bryn Forbes as their highlight acquisition of the 2021-22 trade deadline. As an efficient, score-first point guard, the Nuggets were able too use Forbes as a depth piece to help offload the loss of Jamal Murray.

After a productive stint with the San Antonio Spurs to begin the season, Forbes picked up right where he left off when he got to Denver. He hit his three-pointers at a remarkably efficient rate after immediately being implemented into the rotation.

When the Nuggets were in need of quick offensive output in the second half of the season, they turned to Forbes. And when they got to the postseason, Forbes continued that role while also showing off some much-improved defensive chops.

Forbes certainly made the most of his opportunities with the Nuggets despite not making his team debut until late January.

Forbes spent the first three months of the 2021-22 season with the Spurs, where in a consistent role, he was one of the team's most explosive offensive weapons. However, with the trade deadline looming, Forbes was dealt to the Nuggets.

His arrival in Denver came as part of the three-team deal that sent PJ Dozier and Bol Bol to the Boston Celtics.

From there, it didn't take long for Forbes to make an impact. His first double-digit scoring affair came in just his second game with the Nuggets, a 12-point showing on 4-for-9 shooting from the field and 2-of-5 from three.

His best performance of the season came less than two weeks into his Nuggets tenure. Although it was in a losing effort to the Utah Jazz, on Feb. 2, Forbes scored 26 points on 10-for-13 from the field and 4-for-5 from three.

In Forbes' first 15 games with the team -- between the trade and the All-Star Break -- Forbes averaged 10.6 points per game, reaching double figures seven times.

After the break, his production slowed slightly. However, Forbes kept his efficient shooting numbers and a positive mentality despite the role change, ultimately earning himself playoff minutes.

He played 15.3 minutes per game in his five playoff appearances, shooting 36.4% from three and -- as mentioned previously -- playing stronger than anticipated defense against. the three-headed monster of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole.

Forbes appeared in 35 games for the Nuggets, appearing as a starter in one. He averaged 17.4 minutes per game in that span and scored 8.6 points per game.

His shooting splits were impressive, which has become par for the course in his career. Forbes shot 42.4% from the field, 41.0% from three, and 92.1% from the free throw line.

Among Nuggets players who played at least 20 games, Forbes had the third-highest three-point percentage.

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Nuggets 2021-22 Player Reviews: Bryn Forbes

In his second NBA season, Arizona product Zeke Nnaji continued to show promise as a sharpshooting power forward for the Denver Nuggets. However, he also missed significant time with a lingering knee injury in the latter half of the year.

The former 22nd overall pick in the NBA Draft has -- in small doses -- proven himself to be worthy of where he was selected. For his career, he's shooting above 50% from the field and above 40% from three, which is by itself a hugely valuable skill in today's NBA.

In 2021-22, Nnaji took steps forward across the board, becoming an even more efficient shooter and scorer while continuing to develop on the defensive end. Had it not been for his injury, there's no telling how big of a role he could have played by the time the postseason came around.

Now, he'll have the summer to double down on his improvements from this season. Hopefully, he can return stronger, and be ready to step into a larger role for the Nuggets.

With the Nuggets having solid wing depth to begin the 2021-22 campaign, Nnaji was expected to spend another season learning behind Michael Porter Jr., PJ Dozier, and Aaron Gordon. But injuries to the former two thrust Nnaji into an unexpected role.

Nnaji played in just five of the team's first 17 games, scoring 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting in one of those five outings. But when Dozier went down in late November, Nnaji quickly became an every day player.

Over the next 16 games, Nnaji would play in all but one, averaging 16.5 minutes a night during that time. This stretch saw him play his best game of the season, when he dropped 21 points and eight rebounds 7-for-13 from the field in a 14-point win over the New York Knicks.

After missing three games at the beginning of January, Nnaji came back a full-fledged rotation player. He played each of the Nuggets' next 19 games, even making his lone start of the season. He played 18.6 minutes per contest, shooting an insane 62.8% from the field and 52.9% from three. He reached double-figure scoring in five of these games.

Nnaji suffered a knee injury -- luckily not season-ending -- against the Boston Celtics just before the All-Star Break. And while he was fortunate to not need knee surgery, bilateral knee soreness limited him to just two appearances the rest of the regular season.

By the time he returned, he was unable to find a rhythm in time to earn himself a spot in the playoff rotation, meaning it would be a frustrating end to a hugely positive season for Nnaji.

Nnaji finished the 2021-22 season with 41 games played -- one start -- on 17.0 minutes per night, signaling a 7.5-minute increase from his rookie year.

In that time, he averages 6.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game on shooting splits of 51.6% from the field, 46.3% from three, and 63.1% from the free throw line. Outside of free throw percentage, Nnaji improved in every major statistical category from 2020-21.

Among players with at least 20 games played, Nnaji had the team's highest three-point percentage and fourth-highest field goal percentage. Nnaji was second only to Nikola Jokić in win shares per 48 minutes.

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Nuggets 2021-22 Player Reviews: Zeke Nnaji

The Denver Nuggets and JaMychal Green agreed to a two-year contract during the offseason, coming after Green's productive 2020-21 campaign with the team. Last season, Green's shooting made him an integral part of the Nuggets' wing depth, and he maintained that role in 2021-22.

Although Green's three-point shooting numbers took a dip in his second season with the Nuggets, he managed to increase his efficiency from inside the arc, while playing the strong perimeter defense that has been a staple of his eight-year career.

Green was also praised throughout the season for his leadership in the locker room. As one of the older players on the roster, Green brought a strong veteran presence to Denver, and was integral in keeping things together during harder periods of the season.

Like many Nuggets players this season, Green's role changed as the year progressed. When 2021-22 began, low shooting numbers from all phases limited him to under 15 minutes per night for the first 26 games.

But as injuries began to pile up -- especially along the wings with Michael Porter Jr. and PJ Dozier -- Green saw a bump in his minutes and his production.

After missing three games, Green had a strong stretch of 10 games from Dec. 22 to Jan. 11, when he shot 52.5% from the field, 35.3% from three, and 94.7% from the free throw line while starting three games.

He then entered the NBA's health and safety protocols, leading him to miss the Nuggets' next eight games. When he returned, he hit his stride as the team finally found him a more consistent role.

In the remaining two months of the season, Green was hugely productive from within the three-point line on offense. He also did an excellent job providing relief for Aaron Gordon and Jeff Green on defense, taking difficult wing assignments with the team continuing to fight for their postseason spot.

He averaged 18.0 minutes per game in the final 31 contests, hitting 53.8% of his field goals. Green's best game of the year came in a blowout win against the Portland Trail Blazers.

On Feb. 27, Green finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and a block on an incredibly efficient 7-of-8 from the field. The Nuggets defeated the Blazers by 32 points in that outing.

Green played in 67 games for the Nuggets in 2021-22, receiving a starting nod in eight of them. He received an average of 16.2 minutes per night, a slight decrease from his 2020-21 figure.

Defense and leadership were the defining features of Green's season, leaving an impact greater than what was seen on the stat sheet. Green was often a voice for the locker room, speaking publicly when issues arose.

He finished the year with 6.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on 48.6% from the field -- the third-best mark of his career -- 26.6% from three, and a career high 87.1% from the free throw line.

Among players with at least 20 games played, Green finished with the fourth-highest defensive box plus-minus. He also finished with the third-highest win shares per 48 minutes.

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Nuggets 2021-22 Player Reviews: JaMychal Green

Throughout his 10-year career, Austin Rivers has had the uncanny ability to mold to his team's needs. With the Los Angeles Clippers, he was a scorer, reaching averages of 15 points per game. But as he nears his 30s with the Denver Nuggets, he has shifted to become a defensive specialist.

With Jamal Murray missing the entirety of the 2021-22 season, Rivers helped to provide necessary depth at a position of need. At 22.1 minutes per game, Rivers wasn't asked to be a heavy scorer or shooter, something he has done with success at other points in his career.

Rivers was asked to preserve his energy for the defensive end, where he could often be seen locking up the opposing team's best offensive guard. In the playoffs, when facing the three-headed monster of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Jordan Poole, head coach Michael Malone turned to Rivers as his go-to guard stopper.

The impact Rivers had on the Nuggets this season cannot be fully proven on the box score, but there's no doubt he made his mark.

Rivers signed a one-year contract with the Nuggets in the offseason after spending a portion of the 2020-21 season with the team. However, Rivers struggled out of the gates of this campaign.

In his first 11 games, he averaged just 13.7 minutes per night, scoring 1.7 points on 22.9% from the field and 11.8% from three. His fortunes would quickly change, though, after a 12-point outing against the Dallas Mavericks in 29 minutes of play.

Over his next handful of games, he was playing over 23 minutes per night and making threes at a rate of 35.5%. Unfortunately, he would miss the next eight games in the NBA's health and safety protocols.

But when he returned, his continued strong play as a backup combo guard. Between Dec. 17 and Jan. 28, he made a blistering 40.5% of his threes, securing himself a permanent spot in the Nuggets rotation in that span.

Rivers' season high came on Jan. 26 against the Brooklyn Nets, when he finished with 25 points and two steals on 7-for-10 from beyond the arc in a six-point victory.

The rest of the way, Rivers provided quality minutes defensively while still maintaining solid offensive numbers. Malone -- on several occasions -- expressed his belief in Rivers to do the dirty work on the defensive end for the Nuggets.

Which is why when their first round series against the Warriors came along, Malone openly stated that Rivers would play a massive role. And in Games 1-4, he averaged 26.0 minutes per game, with his primary focus being Curry.

In today's NBA, adaptability is a necessary trait. Rivers displayed that and more during his time with the Nuggets.

Rivers played 67 games for the Nuggets during the 2021-22 regular season, starting in 18 of them and averaging 22.1 minutes per contest. In that time, he finished with figures of 6.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists on 41.7% from the field, 34.2% from three, and 72.7% from the free throw line.

Rivers also averaged 0.8 steals per game, the second-highest steal count of his career. He had his second-best defensive box plus minus in 10 seasons, while also continuing a streak of positive defensive win shares.

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Nuggets 2021-22 Player Reviews: Austin Rivers

Nuggets star Nikola Jokić discusses the feeling of head coach Michael Malone and other team executives surprising him with the MVP in his hometown of Sombor, Serbia.

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Nikola Jokić Describes Emotion Of MVP Surprise

Jokić becomes 13th&nbsp;player in NBA history to win back-to-back MVP Awards and first center to do so since Moses Malone in ’82-‘83

Denver, May 11, 2022 – It was announced today that Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić has been named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the 2021-22 season as voted on by members of the media. It is the second straight season that Jokić has earned MVP honors, becoming the 13th player in NBA history to accomplish this and the first center to do so since Moses Malone in 1982-83. 

Jokić, 27, capped off another historic campaign by becoming the first player in NBA history to average 25+ points, 13+ rebounds and 6+ assists for an entire season. He also became the first player in NBA history to record at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in a single season. Jokić also earned his fourth consecutive All-Star nomination this season, his second straight year being named an All-Star starter. He was named Western Conference Player of the Month twice (Jan. and March/April) as well as Western Conference Player of the Week twice (Jan. 24 and Apr. 4).

“It’s been a true joy watching Nikola develop into one of the most special and unique players in NBA history,” said&nbsp;Governor E. Stanley Kroenke. “He is so deserving of this honor. In a season in which other extraordinary players also raised the bar to new heights, this award is freighted with still more weight and meaning. To emerge from the second-round of the draft to become a back-to-back NBA MVP is a testament to Nikola’s work ethic, character and dedication to the sport. He shows up every day trying to improve not only his game and himself but also that of his teammates and the entire organization. His journey is as remarkable as it is inspiring. We look forward to many more great seasons ahead with Nikola as our anchor and leader.”

“Nikola is an incredible player and an incredible person and we couldn’t be prouder to have him represent our organization,” stated&nbsp;President Josh Kroenke. “He is everything the MVP should be about, a truly selfless leader who makes everyone around him better and a tireless work ethic that has made him one of the best basketball players in the entire world. To earn this award in back-to-back years shows how special he is and we’re grateful to have him in a Nuggets uniform.”

Joker again averaged career-highs across the board with 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists in 33.5 minutes per game. He shot a career-high from the field (.583) while adding a career-high 1.47 steals and a career-high .85 blocks per game. He registered NBA season highs with 19 triple-doubles and 66 double-doubles, passing Fat Lever for most triple-doubles in a single season by a Nugget and surpassing his own 60 double-doubles in 2020-21 for most in a season by a Nugget. He led the NBA in PER (Player Efficiency Rating), finished 1st&nbsp;in total rebounds (2nd&nbsp;in rpg), 5th&nbsp;in total points (6th&nbsp;in ppg), 6th&nbsp;in total assists (8th&nbsp;in apg), 10th&nbsp;in total steals (12th&nbsp;in spg), 8th&nbsp;in field goal percentage and 4th&nbsp;in true shooting percentage.

Jokić also led the league in Win Shares (15.2), Offensive Win Shares (10.8), Box Plus/Minus (13.7), Offensive Box Plus/Minus (9.2) and Value Over Replacement Player (9.8). Additionally, Joker led the Nuggets in total points, rebounds and assists for the fifth consecutive season, becoming the first player in NBA history to accomplish this feat (no one had done this in four straight seasons prior to Nikola last year).

“To watch Nikola develop into one of the few back-to-back MVPs this league has ever seen has been truly incredible,” said&nbsp;President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly. “it’s indicative of who Nikola is as a person and a basketball player - hard working, extremely motivated and dedicated to bettering himself and all of his teammates any way he can. We couldn’t be happier for Nikola and his entire family and support system; without them this day isn’t possible.”

“I don’t know what else you can say about Nikola at this point,” stated Head Coach Michael Malone. “He’s consistently improved his game, he’s consistently proven people wrong when they doubt him and he’s consistently the best player on the floor night in and night out. I’ve said it many times before, I’m extremely grateful to coach Nikola Jokić and just as grateful for the bond that we’ve built off the court in our seven years together.”

The Sombor, Serbia native was originally drafted by Denver with the 41st&nbsp;pick of the 2014 NBA Draft. Last season he became the lowest draft position to win the MVP (previous Nash & Antetokounmpo at 15th&nbsp;overall) and the first center to win MVP since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000. Jokić has appeared in 527 career games (486 starts) for the Nuggets and owns career averages of 19.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.20 steals per game. He has also appeared in 48 playoff games (all starts) for Denver, averaging 26.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.00 steals per game.

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NIKOLA JOKIĆ NAMED KIA NBA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE SEASON

The NBA's two-way contract was created to give teams two extra roster spots to use on developmental players that could go freely between the parent team and its G League affiliate. For 2021-22, the Denver Nuggets gave one of those two-way contracts to Davon Reed, who exceeded expectations in every way.

After being selected with the 32nd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Reed had struggled to find a landing spot. He had short stints with the Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers, and even a training camp contract with the Miami Heat before landing in Denver in 2021.

Reed's talent and work ethic as a three-and-D wing is undeniable. But in the NBA, sometimes it all comes down to finding the right fit. In Denver, Reed found a situation where his skillset would be recognized and amplified.

His 2021-22 campaign was filled with moments that showed what he might be capable of, leading to praise from all corners of the Nuggets organization.

After being signed and waived by the Nuggets during training camp, Reed found his way onto the active roster via a 10-day contract in early December. With injuries piling up on the wings -- namely to Michael Porter Jr. and PJ Dozier -- Reed clearly made enough of an impact in the preseason to warrant a call.

Like DeMarcus Cousins, Reed played on three 10-day deals -- one via hardship exception and two standard -- before agreeing to a full-season contract.

In his first of three 10-days, Reed appeared in six games for the Nuggets. In that time, he averaged 16.5 minutes a game, shooting efficiently behind the three-point line and collecting 1.5 steals per night. After a week away from the team, he agreed to his second contract and resumed action on Dec. 22.

This time, he played in three contests, with his breakout night coming in a win against the Los Angeles Clippers. He finished with 15 points on 6-of-8 from the field, earning himself another 10-day contract in the process.

He signed that deal on Dec. 30 and played three more games before the Nuggets offered him one of their two-way contracts, which he agreed to on Jan. 9.

For the remainder of the season, Reed shined off the bench as a sharpshooting wing. He averaged 12.7 minutes per contest, appearing in 36 of the Nuggets' final 45 games. In smaller doses, he brought energy to a team that was in desperate need of depth on the perimeter.

His best outing of the year came against the Golden State Warriors, when he scored 17 points on 5-for-7 from three in a seven-point win.

Since he was on a two-way contract, he was ineligible for the playoffs, meaning he missed the entirety of the Nuggets' first round series against those same Warriors.

In 13.9 minutes per game over 48 appearances and five starts, Reed averaged 4.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. He shot 50.3% from the field and 43.0% from three.

Reed's three-point percentage was second-highest among Nuggets players with at least 20 games played in 2021-22.

Reed averaged career-highs across the board, with his field goal percentage taking a near 20 percent leap from his previous NBA stints. His 62.4 True Shooting Percentage was six points above league average this season.

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Nuggets 2021-22 Player Reviews: Davon Reed

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2021‑22 Denver Nuggets