Davon Reed

Ron Gutterman

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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