Monte Morris

With injuries ravaging the Denver Nuggets throughout the 2021-22 season, a number of players had to step into larger roles than what they or the team had planned for. And perhaps no player had a greater undertaking due to injury than point guard Monte Morris.

For the first four seasons of his career, Morris routinely averaged between 22 and 25 minutes per game. He never once averaged more than nine shot attempts or three three-point attempts per game. His second season saw his highest point average with 10.4.

But this year, he got nearly 30 minutes per night, over 10 shot attempts -- nearly five of them from three -- and scored more than he's ever scored in the NBA. The injury to Jamal Murray forced him to be a full-time starter, a role that the Nuggets did not intend on him playing.

However, the pressure of being a starting point guard for a playoff team -- after being a reserve for four seasons -- never seemed to faze Morris. Instead, he gave the Nuggets heart and hustle every night, building confidence throughout the campaign.

Now, as Murray gears up to eventually return, the Nuggets know they have a strong backup who's capable of taking over a game if the moment demands.

With the knowledge of Murray's injury, Morris began the year as the Nuggets' starting point guard. It was a show of faith from the coaching staff that their second round draft pick from 2017 was ready for the next step in his career.

As it would be the case for any player undergoing a massive role change, though, Morris struggles out of the gates. He failed to reach double figures in six of his first 12 games, shooting just 30.4% from three in that span.

But those 12 games were all it would take for the Nuggets' guard to heat up. Over his next 20 games, Morris shot a scorching 41.8% from three, averaging 13.9 points and 4.5 assists and reaching double figures 17 times.

Within that stretch was a 22-point, six-rebound, five-assist performance that served as one of the most complete of Morris' season. In a six-point win over the Washington Wizards, he was a plus-13, signaling the impact he had on Dec. 13.

After missing three games at the end of 2021, Morris returned to his season-high in three pointers made, going 5-of-9 for 20 points against the Utah Jazz. Despite it being a losing effort, Morris was one of just two Nuggets players to have a positive plus-minus, leading the team with a plus-3.

From there until the end of the regular season, Morris was a model of consistency. he shot 40.7% from three over his last 43 games, and only had a negative plus-minus in 13 of those outings. In a difficult situation without their star guard, Morris became a hugely reliable piece quicker than anyone could have expected given the circumstances.

In the final games of the regular season, Morris had a pair of back-to-back season highs. It started with points against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 1, reaching 23 on 8-of-12 from the field. Then, on April 3, he dished out 10 assists in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

In the Playoffs, Morris continued to be one of the Nuggets' most consistent performers. In the five games against the Golden State Warriors, Morris averaged 14.0 points and 5.4 assists on 49.0% from the field and 42.3% from three.

Now, as he heads into his sixth NBA season, the confidence he's built for 2021-22 should allow him to take yet another leap forward.

In 2021-22, Morris was tied atop the Nuggets leaderboards for games played, appearing in 75. He was a starter in 74 of them, averaging 29.9 minutes per game. Morris finished the season with 12.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game on 48.4% from the field. 39.5% from three, and 86.9% from the free throw line.

His minutes, points, rebound, and assist figures all represented career highs. He also had his most efficient shooting season, with career highs in Effective Field Goal percentage and True Shooting percentage, both of which stood significantly above league averages.

Morris finished third on the Nuggets in three pointers made, and was second in offensive box plus-minus and offensive win shares. He also had the Nuggets' second-highest Value over Replacement Player.

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Nuggets 2021-22 Player Reviews: Monte Morris

Monte Morris is one of the most consistent reserve guards in the NBA and is on one of his hottest stretches of the season, averaging 12 points on 54.3 percent shooting over the last 10 games. Earlier this week, the 24-year-old shared some of the rituals that keep him going with men’s fitness publication Ask Men. Here are some of the things he had to say:

 It changes depending on who we are playing but some artists that are consistent on my pump up/pregame playlist are Future, Lil Baby, Gunna, and 21 Savage.”

Any guy who plays for more than 20 minutes has to stay back and stretch or get treatment after the game. An intense workout for me is anything 45 minutes or longer (high speed, high intensity) so it’s pretty important to have some sort of routine afterward for muscle recovery, too. For me, it varies from time to time but I do things like hot/cold baths, NormaTec, stretching with a trainer, etc.”

To find out what candy Morris eats as part of a long tradition and other aspects of his recovery program, check out AskMen’s article here.

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Denver Nuggets’ Monte Morris shares pre and post-game secrets with AskMen

Coming off a breakout 2018-19 season, Monte Morris hopes a similar approach in his third season will help him continue to grow on the court.    “I want to be the same Monte. Lead my unit [the Nuggets reserves] and the rest will take care of itself,” Morris told Nuggets.com in Portland ahead of the team’s season-opening win vs. the Trail Blazers.     If there was one player on the Nuggets who best symbolized the team’s unexpected turn as a No. 2 seed last season, it was Morris.    The Nuggets guard came into the 2018-19 season as the No. 3 point guard, behind Jamal Murray and Isaiah Thomas, and having played a grand total of three NBA games. With the former Iowa State standout being selected 51st in the 2017 draft, there weren’t a lot of expectations for the second-year guard. Similar to Denver’s basketball team, that quickly changed once the season started.    With Thomas sidelined while recovering from injury, Morris seized an opportunity as the Nuggets backup point guard and became one of the most efficient players in the NBA. He was second in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (5.7) and shot an impressive 49.3 percent from the field, including 41.4 percent from downtown. Entering his third season, can he build on that breakout performance? Nuggets head coach Michael Malone is confident he will.     “He had a great offseason, the guy was here more than anybody,” Malone said last Sunday. “The guy puts so much time into his game. I think what motivated Monte is obviously in the playoffs he struggled…He wants to be better this year. And when we get to the playoffs, he wants to be an impact player.”    In the latest edition of Five Questions, Morris spoke with Nuggets.com to share his expectations for the new season and explained why Denver has the best bench in the league.    Here are his responses:    Going into this season, where do you want to see improvements in your game?   I'm not really a guy who's got personal goals. I feel like if I do everything the right way, the goals will find me -- the achievements will find me. So if I come out there and run my team and play the same basketball [I did last season], we'll be just fine.    How do you like the bench this year?    I feel like we're the best bench in the league. Watching [preseason] has me really excited. As far as going deep, we're not even talking about the other five [the starters]. Just having a bench like that, it's amazing. It gives coach [enough] talent that he can throw anyone out there and we won't miss a beat. That's big time.   Nikola Jokić and coach Malone have been praising your performances in training camp. What's behind that?    [Jamal Murray injects]: Really? I've been giving him buckets!    [Laughs] It's been cool. I'm just trying to get stronger and run, finish better. I think me growing and having that year in the league definitely helped. Going up against Jamal every day, one of the top 10 point guards in the league, I get to lace up against him every day and learn from him is good for me.    Anything unique you did this offseason to grow your game?   Just a lot of reps on my shots. I think I got my legs a lot stronger so I can make more shots and not die down late in the season like I did [last season]. Last year is last year and I'm ready to display what I've been working on all summer.    Final question, this is a successful season for you if ________   If we definitely go to the playoffs and if I'm better defensively. Get more steals and lead my group [effectively]. Try to outplay every team's bench every night. That's my goal and if we can do that, I feel like we'll be in a good position. 

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Denver Nuggets Five Questions: Monte Morris

PORTLAND – The Nuggets held a morning shootaround at the Moda Center ahead of their Wednesday night season-opening matchup against the Trail Blazers.

Grant was the Nuggets’ prized offseason recruit after arriving in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Denver’s President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly has mentioned several times the 25-year-old power forward has been long-coveted by the organization and Grant projects to be an impact reserve for the team. After several months of discussing his potential fit in Malone’s gameplan, Grant is happy to finally get the season going.

“Definitely excited [for my first game as a Nugget],” Grant told Nuggets.com. “This is a good opportunity for us to show what we can do as a team.”

Throughout the preseason, Grant has looked a seamless fit. He was second in scoring during exhibition (12.0 ppg) and shot 58.3 percent from downtown in four games. Grant appreciates what he’s seen from his teammates during training camp and is excited about the potential of the group.

“We work extremely hard as a group and the coaching staff as well,” he explained. “The sky is limit for us.”

Grant has also enjoyed his brief time with Nuggets head coach Michael Malone as well. Grant has worked with some reputable coaches, including Brett Brown and Billy Donovan. The forward pointed to Malone’s ability to communicate and receive feedback as the head coach’s strongest suit.

“He’s definitely a player’s coach and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win,” Grant said. “He takes feedback and he’s a good overall coach.”

He added, “He listens to what you have to say and he takes it into consideration when he’s going over the gameplan. He knows that we have experience on the court and he’s willing to listen to it.”

The Trail Blazers have won a league-record 18-straight home openers, proving just how difficult it is play at Portland. Malone, however, believes his team is ready for the task at hand.

“This is a division rival, a team we have a tremendous amount of respect for and we’re going to have to play a hell of a game to come in here and win,” Malone said. “They’ve won [18] straight home openers, which is a league record, we’re hoping to end that.”

Months after a frustrating and often chippy playoff series against the Blazers, Monte Morris is glad the Nuggets finally have an opportunity to move on from the team’s heartbreaking Game 7 loss in the West semifinals.

“If you’re a competitor, it still should sit deep in your soul that you were that close to going to the Western Conference Finals. But we can’t dwell on last year,” Morris explained to Nuggets.com. “We’ve got to learn from it and move forward. It’s a new year and we have to prove ourselves.”

Morris is confident that he and his teammates will show that from the opening tip of the season.

“It’s big time [for the season to start], just to have the good vibes back and be back in this environment. Everyone is ready to go,” Morris said. “We should come out with a lot of energy and get our wind back that we dropped in May.”

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Denver Nuggets Shootaround Takeaways: Oct. 23, 2019

It might have been just preseason, but the Nuggets showcased why they feel confident in their team for the 2019-20 season in a 105-94 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at Veterans Coliseum.

Paul Millsap had a game-high 14 points on 66.7 percent shooting to go along with five rebounds and two steals. Jerami Grant, the Nuggets top acquisition of the offseason, looks a seamless fit in his first game with the team, dropping 13 points, three rebounds and two blocks in the victory. And Michael Porter Jr. made his long-anticipated debut after an essentially red-shirted 2018-19 season. Portland was led by Mario Hezonja, who had 12.

READ MORE: Twitter goes wild for MPJ's debut

Denver’s defense impressed throughout the game as it held Portland to 34.1 percent shooting, including just 20 percent from downtown. The Nuggets now travel to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Thursday.

“Like most preseason games, I thought there was a lot of good things and a lot of things we need to clean up,” Nuggets head coach Michael Malone told reporters after the game. “We did some good things and a lot of guys got a chance to play. That was also a positive.”

Porter Jr. has waited almost 572 days to get back on a basketball court for an official game. It finally happened Tuesday night as he checked in at 4:30 mark in the third quarter.

Porter Jr. received a round of applause from the Portland crowd and rust didn’t appear to be a factor when he checked in. Within his first minute of action, Porter Jr. received the ball from behind the arc, drove in and did a step back from just inside the arc to convert his first bucket. The Nuggets bench went wild, clearly enjoying the moment that was essentially 18 months in the making.

“To finally be out on the court, it’s such a blessing,” Porter Jr. told Altitude Radio 92.5 FM after the game.

The rookie forward, who was drafted with the No. 14 pick in the 2018 draft, finished the game with nine points and three rebounds on 57.1 shooting in 17 minutes. As exciting as Porter Jr.’s first preseason game was, he will need to gain more familiarity with the Nuggets’ concepts on both sides of the floor if he wants to secure a consistent spot in Malone’s rotation.

“My biggest takeaway is he’s got to give the defensive end just as much attention to detail as he does on the offensive end,” Malone said. “He’s a gifted scorer and he can make big, big shots in tough spots but he’s got to be locked in on defensive end. If he does that, he’s got an chance to be an excellent player.”

Overall, Porter Jr. displayed the natural scoring ability and athleticism that made him arguably the best high school player in the nation just two years ago.

“Going into tonight, I know there were a lot of expectations on me,” Porter Jr. said. “I didn’t get in until the third quarter and I was thinking I’m going to go out there and have fun. I haven’t been on a basketball court for a while, so it felt good.”

Both the experienced Millsap and the emerging Grant impressed in the Nuggets’ preseason opener, as the pair alternated to showcase a tantalizing mix of skillsets. Millsap showed an unrelenting craftiness in the low post and was equally as deadly from behind the arc – going 2-for-2.

Nuggets President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly has long coveted Grant and the 25-year-old shined in his first action as a Nugget. Grant’s ability to get end to end quickly and impact both sides of the floor with his athleticism will be a welcome addition this season and his three-point shot was as advertised as he hit 3-of-5 from behind the arc.

 The fact that both men are solid defenders and have unique skills on offense provides Malone with opportunities to tinker with matchups and alter the Nuggets style of play when needed. The coach also provided another wrinkle to consider as he played both men together at the end of the second quarter in a small-ball lineup. The pair sparked an 8-2 run to finish the quarter and give Denver a 52-50 lead heading into halftime. It will be fascinating to see how the pair is utilized throughout the season.

The Nuggets won’t be happy with their overall assist-to-turnover ratio (0.8), but Monte Morris’ steady hand remained in a strong preseason opener. The team’s sixth man and reserve unit facilitator was active Tuesday, scoring 12 and adding four assists. More importantly, the 24-year-old showed an assertiveness in wanting to drive into the lane to create opportunities or earn trips to the line (he shot 3 of 3 from the charity stripe).

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Denver Nuggets 105-94 Portland Trail Blazers: Three takeaways from preseason opener

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

Standing in front of a dozen reporters in Manilla, Philippines, Monte Morris got a firsthand look at just how much the Denver Nuggets and his own profile has grown thanks to the successes of last season.

The Nuggets reserve guard is in the Philippines’ capital to promote the NBA’s NBA 3X PHILIPPINES three-on-three local tournament which takes place on Aug. 3-4. Morris reflected on the Nuggets’ 54-win season and believes there’s plenty to build on heading into the 2019-20 season.

“I think the sky is the limit,” Morris told reporters. “I feel like [if] we put it all together and have the same approach as last year [we can improve]. Just knowing we had so much success [in the regular season last year] and having that playoff taste, we know what we have to do to take it to another level.”

READ MORE: Morris, Bogues headline NBA 3X Philippines 

He added, “There’s no excuses, we got to win and we control our destiny. Despite different teams teaming up and getting a lot better, I feel like I’d still put us high in the rankings no matter what just because we got everybody back and added a few more pieces.”

Much of the Nuggets’ success this campaign will be determined by the team’s young core continuing to develop and improve their game. Morris has spent this offseason trying to improve upon an impressive second season in the NBA, where he became the Nuggets’ key facilitator for their bench unit. The 24-year-old has previously discussed wanting to improve his physical conditioning, but in Manilla, he also pointed to the technical aspects he’s been focusing on. Morris revealed he’s been working out with nine-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul during the offseason.

“I’ve been working on coming off screens, in terms of turning my body and shooting off the fade,” Morris said. “[Also] focused on shooting it deeper – from like the four-point line. I’m just trying to add that to my game and keep my in-between game sharp…Learned a lot of things there [at Paul’s camp].”

With the FIBA World Cup a month away, there is some focus on Nikola Jokić [Serbia], Jamal Murray [Canada] and Mason Plumlee [USA] as all three players have been called up by their national teams. While Murray hasn’t confirmed if he will play in the tournament and Plumlee is competing for a spot on Team USA’s roster at training camp, Morris is happy all three players will have a chance to showcase their games on a global stage.

“Those guys got the opportunity to represent their countries and I feel like they are going to go out there and ball,” Morris said. “They’re going to do what they got to do and show the other side of the world that they can play.”

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Denver Nuggets’ Monte Morris: Sky is the limit for this team

The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today that Denver Nuggets’ Monte Morris and NBA legend Muggsy Bogues will attend the NBA 3X Philippines presented by AXA from Aug. 3-4 at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall and the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Forum Tent.  

Since its launch in 2011, the NBA 3X event will feature a 3-on-3 tournament featuring men’s and women’s teams with interactive fan activities and authentic NBA entertainment that will include performances from the 2019 NBA Champion Toronto Raptors mascot, the Raptor.  The competition consists of divisions for boys (under-13, under-16, under-18, and open category), girls (under-18 and open category), an invitation-only Celebrity Division featuring local personalities, and an AXA division exclusive to employees and distributors. 

Registration for NBA 3X Philippines 2019 is live at www.nba3x.com/philippines on a first-come, first-served basis and runs until all slots are full.  Registration fees for the age divisions cost Php 1,000 per team, while open divisions are Php 1,600 per team, which will provide each participant with an NBA 3X jersey and special prizes for the overall winners of each division. 

“I’m excited to experience the lively basketball culture of the Philippines and witness their unique style of play,” said Morris.  “NBA 3X will set an amazing atmosphere for fans to celebrate the game.”

“Returning to the Philippines is a great opportunity to reconnect with the passionate fans,” said Bogues.  “As the game continues to evolve, I’m eager to see how this translates to the 3-on-3 competition and look forward to a highly entertaining weekend of basketball lifestyle.”

“We at AXA Philippines are always excited to support NBA 3X Philippines year after year, and this one is no exception,” said AXA Philippines President and CEO Raul Hora.  “Because of how much basketball is loved in this country, the game has become a great platform for us to encourage people to create a game plan in life – to take charge of their future by being prepared – and highlight our common principles of teamwork, integrity, courage, and innovation.”

Morris was selected 51st overall in the 2017 NBA Draft and averaged 10.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game with the Denver Nuggets this season.

Bogues was drafted 12th overall by the Washington Bullets in the 1987 NBA Draft and as a member of the Charlotte Hornets, led the franchise in assists and steals.  After playing 14 seasons in the league, Bogues was named the head coach of the Charlotte Sting during the 2005 WNBA season.

NBA 3X Philippines presented by AXA follows the launch of AXA’s newest brand campaign, “Know You Can,” which reminds its customers that a better life is within reach if they believe it can be achieved.  Aligned with AXA’s mission of empowering people to live better lives, the campaign will feature a prominent sports figure who embodies self-belief on and off the playing court.

AXA Philippines is the presenting partner of NBA 3X Philippines 2019.  In addition, Gatorade, Nike, PLDT-Smart, and Vivo will serve as official partners.  Official NBA broadcast partners are ABS-CBN S+A, Basketball TV, and NBA Premium TV.

For more information on NBA 3X Philippines 2019 and the registration process, fans can visit www.nba3x.com/philippines and follow on Facebook and Twitter.

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Denver Nuggets' Monte Morris and NBA legend Muggsy Bogues headline NBA 3X Philippines

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