Tim Connelly

Ron Gutterman

Nuggets' President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly speaks with the media regarding the team's 2021-22 performance and their outlook heading into the offseason.

nuggets-media-availability-tim-connelly

Nuggets Media Availability: Tim Connelly

Eric Spyropoulos

Tommy Balcetis wasn’t sure what exactly he was walking into when he accepted an offer to join the Denver Nuggets front office back in 2013.

After all, Balcetis had only been working in the NBA for a year, in which his main responsibility was selling media rights to various networks throughout Europe and Africa.

Denver’s new Assistant General Manager ended up in that role following a desire to work in basketball after playing competitively through his teenage years. A native of Vilnius, Lithuania, Balcetis first visited the United States when he was 13 years old, and a trip to the United Airlines Center – home of Michael Jordan’s Bulls – cemented that basketball would be in his future, in some shape or form.

That role with the league saw Balcetis work for the NBA offices in London, but it also introduced him to Tim Connelly, then the Assistant General Manager for the New Orleans Pelicans.

The first meeting between the two took place at a 2012 Basketball Without Borders event in Moscow and was the start of a fruitful working relationship and friendship. Fast forward one year later, and here was Connelly calling Balcetis about joining him in this new Nuggets front office, one that Connelly had just recently been hired to run.

“When I first joined, there wasn't an analytics department per se,” Balcetis told Nuggets.com back in 2019. “I think the NBA had just started looking into analytics more seriously. The first couple of years, it was about carving out a niche and creating some sort of analytics capability within the Nuggets.”

MORE: An inside look into the Nuggets' analytics department

A role focused on analytics made sense for Balcetis, the Harvard University graduate who has a degree in economics and previously served as a business consultant at Fidelity Investments.

After continuing to work his way up through the organization over the past seven years, Balcetis is once again talking to Nuggets.com, only this time, as mentioned earlier, he’s doing so as the Assistant General Manager.

“When I joined, I was just happy to be part of a front office,” Balcetis said over a Zoom call earlier this week. “I’m incredibly lucky to be in this situation.”

Given his skill set and previous work experience, Balcetis figured that focusing on analytics would be the right approach to jumpstart his career in basketball operations.

“When I started, analytics was just becoming a thing in the league. I thought it would be a good way to jump on early,” the Harvard University alumnus said. “I didn’t quite know that it was going to be a very important decision-driving machine as it is now, but it did seem that it was probably going to become a more important piece of how front offices work.”

As Balcetis continued to focus on growing the Nuggets’ analytics capabilities in his role, advanced metrics became widely accepted as teams focused on generating modern shot charts, with an emphasis on 3-point attempts and shots at the rim.

However, there are also ways to use analytics and advanced numbers in big-picture analysis, which is exactly what Balcetis was tasked with during the early stages of his Nuggets tenure.

In fact, Balcetis remembers the exact first project he was tasked with back in 2013, which involved a statistical analysis ahead of the upcoming free agency period.

“We had a player that was potentially leaving our team, and (the question was) should we pay him a certain amount?” Balcetis revealed. “I remember thinking ‘this is going to be tough’ because I had no idea what was going on, but I’m just going to give it my best shot.”

Balcetis took all of the publicly available statistics and metrics and produced a report with a recommendation for how much to potentially pay the player based on the current numbers and a projection of the player’s statistics over the ensuing three-to-four years.

“I remember feeling pretty good about myself after that,” Balcetis explained. “That’s when I really felt that I could do this.”

Since then, the projects and software used have evolved as the Nuggets’ analytics department has grown. Layne Vashro joined the group in 2019 as a senior analyst, and the two have worked hand-in-hand in crunching the numbers and executing research projects for the front office and coaching staff. Vashro in particular has extensive experience in R&amp;D (research and development) analytics, projects that tend to focus on building infrastructure rather than immediate relevance.

Now in the assistant general manager role, Balcetis does spend more time on other areas of front office work, including salary cap management and scouting. However, it has been a seamless transition for the Vilnius native following years of experience working under Connelly.

“Tim is really good at not siloing people into specific roles,” Balcetis said. “I’ve been able to do a little bit of everything prior to this role, as have many people in the front office.”

Balcetis later explained that perhaps the biggest change in his day-to-day as assistant general manager is his ability to dive deeper into a variety of different areas of the business, as opposed to narrowing the focus on one aspect, as he had done early on with analytics in his tenure.

While Balcetis travels more with the team now and delegates various responsibilities, one thing remains constant: his love for analytics and the value that line of work has.

“(Analytics) have served me well. It has shaped and formulated my way of looking at the game and at players, whether we’re scouting college players or NBA players. It kind of shaped my identity in the way I think about the game. I’m not planning on dropping it, although I have to do other things now in this role, analytics will still have a big part of my heart.”

It also helps when your work can be a calming presence as everyone navigates the uncertainty of these COVID-19 times. For Balcetis, that means getting in front of the computer and getting to work.

“Programming, it’s kind of like meditation sometimes,” Balcetis revealed. “It’s just you and your laptop, with numbers in front of you. It soothes me, in a way. But at the same time, it’s incredibly useful. You get big data and insights so quickly.”

The Nuggets front office has been a model of efficiency in recent years, despite not owning the largest staff across the league. From the success the team has had through the draft (See: Jokić, Nikola), to the various additions through free agency and trades that have yielded a young roster that has won three playoff series over the past two seasons, Denver has successfully re-tooled over the past five years to become a Western Conference contender.

A lot of that success can be placed on the versatile skillsets within the front office and the relationships that have developed during this time. With members of the staff consistently being exposed to all facets of basketball operations, seamless transitions can be made during times of change, such as this past offseason, when former General Manager Artūras Karnišovas departed the organization to become the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Chicago Bulls.

Following the departure, Calvin Booth was promoted to Karnišovas’ old role, while Balcetis took on Booth’s former role of assistant general manager. And just like that, the ship kept moving forward as Denver looks to navigate the tough Western Conference.

This transition is a result of the strong relationships formed between the front office members over the years, starting back in 2012 in Moscow and only growing since.

“Tim is one of my closest friends,” Balcetis revealed. “We basically created that relationship back in Moscow in 2012. And that relationship is still strong, to this day. It's one of those rare things where, hey, you meet somebody, you immediately get along, and that hasn't changed for so many years now.”

Connelly certainly isn’t surprised by Balcetis’ growth within the organization in recent years.

“Tommy has been an integral part of our success,” Denver’s President of Basketball Operations told Nuggets.com. “He has a fantastic work ethic, really knows the game, and is extremely forward-thinking and creative. When you combine his passion, intelligence, and selflessness it’s easy to see why he has made such a big impact on the organization.”

As the relationship between Balcetis and Connelly grew over the years, the addition of Booth to the front office in 2017 only further diversified the perspectives and approach that Denver’s front office took.

“Calvin is one of my favorite people, period. Both as a basketball executive and as a friend, he's been such an incredible boost for us,” said Balcetis. “As soon as he joined (the front office), I remember, he reached out early.”

Although Balcetis and Booth weren’t super close prior to their working relationship beginning in 2017, Balcetis knew what the Nuggets were getting in the then 41-year-old Booth, who had carved out a 10-year career in the NBA.

“When he joined, I immediately understood why. I mean, the guy is extremely smart, he's very savvy, and I think one of his best attributes is just, he is such a people's person. I don't know a single person who doesn't like Calvin Booth.”

With Connelly, Booth, and Balcetis leading the way, Denver’s front office is set up for sustained success in the years to come.

It’s no secret that the Nuggets got off to a slow start to begin the 2020-21 season. A 1-4 record was highlighted by the team’s struggles on the defensive end.

“We started the year a little slow, understandably,” Balcetis explained. “Guys are tired. It's so hard to end of the season the way we did and then two months later, you’re playing real games again.”

Balcetis was also quick to point out that the numbers paint a brighter picture than Denver’s record may suggest.

“I mean, we're 12-8, and I think we've been playing great basketball over the last 12 games. And there are a few bounces of the ball here and there and we should be like 14-6 and at 14-6, aren't we the best team in the league right now? It's very easy to kind of overreact to record. I think in terms of the net rating, and in terms of the way we're playing, we're one of the top five teams in the league, and it's where we want to be.”

Balcetis is nearly spot-on in his assessment, as Denver would be expected to have 13 wins on the season based on their +5.0 net-rating, which is tied for fifth in the league.

A lot of the growth this season has come on the defensive end. Despite the early season struggles on that end of the floor, there was never any panic from Balcetis or the front office after looking at the numbers.

“Yes, there was in fact, like a small little project that that Tim and I did, it was basically like a let's not panic, this is where we are (project),” Balcetis revealed. “And I think we did it maybe five or six games ago now. And certainly, you can see the reason why we didn't panic. It did pan out the way we thought it would.”

A big factor in Denver’s defensive struggles to being the season was improbable shooting percentages from opponents, specifically around the rim and from beyond the arc. Opponents have shot 7.6 percent higher than the league average around the basket against Denver this season and 4.1 percent higher on corner 3-pointers compared to the league average (per Cleaning the Glass).

“Defensively, as well, if something is really killing us, from one perspective, that thing is probably going to come down,” Balcetis explained. “The net rating for us was actually much better than our than our record would indicate, which is also another way of looking at it like, hey, we're actually playing well, we probably just, you know, we lost a few close games that we probably shouldn't have lost.”

Over the month of January, the Nuggets went 11-5 and ranked 13th in defensive rating as the offense continued to produce at a high level.

With the season in full swing now, fans have shifted their focus to the upcoming trade deadline. However, given the big-picture mindset and the approach of Denver’s front office over the years, there’s no reason to expect fireworks from the Nuggets' end during this season.

“Whether we're in the midst of a losing streak or a winning streak, we always try to make our team better,” Balcetis said.

“We love the guys that we have, we really absolutely do,” he continued. “I mean, you know, we are one of the better teams in the league, I think, for a reason. And sometimes, the itchy finger in terms of (making) deals is not always the best thing. I think we've had some success growing with the guys that we've had.”

Speaking of additions, JaMychal Green’s fit in the rotation has been nearly seamless, which is exactly what Balcetis and the front office expected upon signing him in free agency.

“We thought he would complement the team very well, with his kind of defensive tenacity with his ability to rebound and stretch the floor,” Balcetis explained. “I mean, that's, that's the type of player that works with Nikola and other guys very well. And yes, he was a target for a little while, and we were very happy that we ended up finally getting him.”

Green’s +7.6 net-rating this season ranks third on the team, and the veteran forward is one of only two players on the team in which both the offense and defense have improved when he has been on the court this season (the other being Monte Morris).

The old saying is “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and while Denver’s front office will always be on the lookout for the next move to increase the team’s championship odds, the current group brings satisfaction to Balcetis and the front office when reflecting on the work that was put in to create the team’s core and overall roster.

“It is really, really rewarding and satisfying to see the guys that you drafted or you acquired in a way, or somebody who signed with you, and those guys actually ending up jelling and performing. We're very happy because the team that is succeeding is the team that we grew with.”

from-moscow-to-the-mile-high-city-an-inside-look-into-the-career-of-nuggets-assistant-general-manager-tommy-balcetis

From Moscow to the Mile High City: An inside look into the career of Nuggets Assistant General Manager Tommy Balcetis

No, this isn’t your parent or high school guidance counselor instructing you on the importance of maintaining quality associations throughout your professional career.

But when it comes to working in sports, particularly in the competitive field that is basketball operations, who you know often plays a driving force in carving out a successful path.

For Calvin Booth and Tim Connelly, a bond established in the late 1990s continued to grow over the ensuing two decades, and the two now find themselves as the lead decision-makers in the Denver Nuggets’ front office.

Booth had just been drafted 35th overall by the Washington Wizards after a successful college career at Penn State, where he won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Connelly was beginning his first season as an assistant video coordinator after spending the previous three seasons as an intern in the Wizards’ basketball operations department. Connelly initially secured that position after writing letters to several NBA teams, to which Chuck Douglas of Washington’s college scouting department responded.

“It goes back a long time, the relationship with Tim,” Booth told Nuggets.com. "We kind of sparked a friendship from that standpoint and it's definitely evolved from that standpoint.”

As Connelly became a full-time scout in 2000, Booth was nearing the end of his first run with the Wizards. The 6’11” big man would eventually be traded to the Dallas Mavericks during the 2000-01 season and would go on to play for five other teams over his 10-year playing career.

However, the two would maintain their relationship during this period. Connelly eventually left Washington’s front office in 2010 to become the Assistant General Manager for the New Orleans Pelicans (then known as the Hornets).

Two years later, Booth joined Connelly in the Pelicans’ front office for the 2012-12 season as a scout. It was a natural starting point for Booth, who knew that he wanted to work in basketball operations after his playing days in order to stay in and around the game he loves.

After a year in New Orleans, Booth joined the Minnesota Timberwolves’ front office, eventually working his way up to Director of Player Personnel.

During this time, Connelly had been named as the Nuggets’ EVP of Basketball Operations. Just a few months after being promoted to President of Basketball Operations in June of 2017, Booth was brought into the front office to serve as the team’s Assistant General Manager.

Less than three years later, the two serve as the lead minds in Denver’s front office, as Booth was recently promoted to General Manager following Artūras Karnišovas' departure to lead the Chicago Bulls’ front office.

“Calvin is one of the brightest basketball minds in our league,” Connelly said in a press release about Booth’s promotion. “We are very fortunate to have him as part of our organization and are extremely excited for his new role.”

Booth also understands and appreciates Connelly’s approach to the job, specifically his focus on development.

When fans think about the development of a team, the first thought is about the progression of young players. While that has certainly been the case in Denver over Connelly’s tenure, the development of front office and coaching minds has also been at the forefront.

Therefore, it’s no surprise to hear the names of some of Denver’s lead assistant coaches or front office executives come up when other teams in the league have openings.

For Booth, this only further inspires him to sharpen his craft.

“As I continued to ascend up the ranks of the front office, it became how can I do my job the best?” Booth explained to Nuggets.com. “What facets go into that person, the candidate that gets potentially in the future a President's job and gets to run their own program.”

Given Connelly’s desire to develop on-and-off the court, Booth understands that a time may come for the two to part ways if an exciting opportunity arises for the 44-year-old former player.

“Obviously, I'm going to enjoy every moment and second that I get to be with the Nuggets and I hope I'm here for a really long time, but I think Tim is really into growth and development. He wants to prepare me for that moment if I ever have the opportunity to take on that position.”

For now, fans can rest assured that Denver’s front office continues to progress and develop at a similar rate to the players on the court.

While the development of Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokić and Denver’s other young players has caught the league’s attention, one can’t overlook the importance of development throughout the front office.

for-denver-nuggets-calvin-booth-and-tim-connelly-a-strong-relationship-has-helped-form-a-dynamic-front-office-combination

For Denver Nuggets’ Calvin Booth and Tim Connelly, a strong relationship has helped form a dynamic front office combination

The Denver Nuggets' President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly sat down with Ryan Harris, Scott Hastings and Josh Dover on 92.5FM on Altitude Sports Radio to discuss the two trades that the Nuggets made this week, the strong play of Nikola Jokić and the team's outlook on the season.

To listen to the full interview, click below.

nuggets-tim-connelly-discusses-trade-deadline-moves-on-altitude-sports-radio

Nuggets' Tim Connelly discusses trade deadline moves on Altitude Sports Radio

admin

The Denver Nuggets have grown tremendously as an organization over the past decade, going through changes in the front office, coaching staff and of course, on the court. The decade began with plenty of success and several trips to the postseason before the team retooled during the middle stage of the decade. That transition period gave way to this current iteration of the team, which is led by a dynamic young core and head coach Michael Malone, who is in his fifth season as the team’s leader.

Given the amount of change that Denver has gone through over the past decade, Nuggets.com writers Eric Spyropoulos and Alex Labidu have built a list of the most influential figures inside the organization from the decade as the Nuggets look forward to bigger and better things in 2020.

Chris Marlowe has excited Nuggets fans with his play-by-play commentary on Altitude since 2004. Marlowe joined Altitude and the Nuggets after calling then-Pacific 10 Basketball for FOX Sports Northwest in addition to handling USC Trojan play-by-play duties for FOX Sports West.

Meanwhile, Scott Hastings has spent a combined 25 seasons as a player and broadcaster for the Denver Nuggets and currently serves as the team’s color commentator on Altitude broadcasts. Hastings was formerly a color commentator for the Denver Broncos and entertains Denver sports fans through various Altitude Sports Radio shows.

Harris is the Nuggets’ longest-tenured player on the current roster, which has helped shape his perspective on how the franchise grew during the second half of this past decade. While Harris put up impressive scoring numbers and 3-point shooting percentages in his first couple of seasons, he has now developed into one of the elite perimeter defenders in the NBA, earning the nickname “First Team” throughout the Nuggets’ locker room (referring to the NBA’s First Team All-Defense accolade).

Masai Ujiri’s successful navigation of the Carmelo Anthony trade helped build the 57-win Nuggets team for the 2012-13 season, which is still the most wins in a single season in franchise history. Ujiri’s successful draft picks included Kenneth Faried and Evan Fournier, while his ability to play a role in the Dwight Howard trade in the summer of 2012 further shaped Denver’s roster for the 2012-13 season. As a result of the team’s success that year, Ujiri was named Executive of the Year.

A key piece in the aforementioned Anthony trade, Chandler arrived in Denver in February of 2011 and would remain a key player for the Nuggets up until 2018. Chandler’s seven seasons with the Nuggets are by far the most he has spent with a single team in his career, and he was very active in those years, posting averages of 13.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game as a Nugget. Although Chandler didn’t experience much postseason success in Denver, he was a stabilizing presence for the franchise in the years following Anthony’s departure and helped transition several new head coaches into the locker room.

The Blue Arrow arrived in Denver for the 2016-17 season as a final piece to the Anthony trade (Denver selected him with a first-round pick it received from New York) and has captured the attention of Nuggets fans through his incredible shot-making and penchant for hitting clutch baskets. Murray has improved his play in each of his first four seasons in the league and is a key piece of Denver’s future after signing a five-year contract this past summer. Murray’s arrival in Denver occurred during the same season in which Nikola Jokić was handed the reins to the offense, and the rest has been history. The one-two punch between Denver’s center and point guard has fueled a lot of success for the Nuggets and should only continue to do so in the coming decade.

The Italian swingman was one of several key pieces acquired in the move that sent Carmelo Anthony to New York and quickly emerged as a favorite in the Mile High City due to his professionalism and class.

Gallinari was a Nugget for six seasons, averaging 16.2 points and 4.9 rebounds in 303 games. His best season might have been in Michael Malone’s first season as Denver’s head coach as he emerged as the team’s leading scorer at 19.5 points per game. Gallinari refused to let an transitional period affect his mentality as a teammate. He is often credited for being an early mentor to future superstar Nikola Jokić. Gallinari recently reflected on his time in Denver:

Coach Malone has the third-best winning percentage (54.4) in the Nuggets’ NBA history after George Karl and Doug Moe. Malone is also third in NBA wins for the franchise at 196. With the continued ascent of the team’s young core, those two numbers will continue to climb.

Attention to detail on defense and developing young players have been two of Malone’s strongest qualities since joining the Nuggets in 2015. Malone ensures his players fully understand his concepts before giving them minutes on the court and Jamal Murray, Gary Harris and Nikola Jokić are among the benefactors of the approach. An impressive seven of the Nuggets’ 10 players in their rotation (Murray, Harris, Jokić, Malik Beasley, Monte Morris and Michael Porter Jr.)  were drafted by the organization. That says a lot about the synergy between the team’s current front office and coaching staff.

How a team fares on the court typically starts at the top and the Nuggets have had two successful rebuilds in the past decade. When Josh Kroenke was given the reigns to the franchise by his father Stan in 2010, he immediately acted with an assertive hand on several key moments for the franchise.

It was Kroenke who insisted on being aggressive with Anthony’s trade request, fighting to ensure the Nuggets would get the maximum assets for an All-Star player. It was also Kroenke’s early backing of Tim Connelly that enabled the Nuggets executive to have autonomy when it came to making bold draft choices, including Jokić, Porter Jr. and Bol Bol this past summer. It is rare that an NBA franchise can build two sets of contending teams as Denver did in the early part of the decade and with its current roster. It comes down to the buy in from ownership and Josh and Stan Kroenke are a big reason why the future is bright for basketball in the Mile High City.

The Nuggets got a lot of quality assets in their trade of Anthony in 2011, but they spent years to trying to find their next franchise-caliber player. That all changed when Jokić arrived in Denver in 2015.

Not much was known about the Serbian center back then and even a fast food commercial was played when his selection was announced in the second round of the 2014 draft. Yet, once Jokić got on the court, he instantly displayed signs of his can’t miss potential. Incredible hands, great footwork offensively with an almost John Stockton-like court vision that has become his standout trait.

READ MORE: How the Nuggets discovered Jokić

At just 24, Jokić is already ninth on the NBA’s all-time triple-doubles list – surpassing legends like Bob Cousy and Michael Jordan. He is also the first Nuggets player to receive a spot on the All-NBA First Team since David Thompson did it twice in the late 70s. The lists of accolades continue to grow for Denver’s new basketball superstar and its scary considering he hasn’t reached his prime yet.

Tim Connelly’s ability to adjust on the fly might be his greatest quality as an NBA executive and the reason why the Nuggets appear set to contend for the next decade.

Connelly will be the first person to acknowledge some of the early challenges of his tenure in leading the Nuggets organization. In a league where some executives are reluctant to move on from missteps, Connelly has admirably been able to quickly pivot and course correct when needed.

Connelly also deserves credit for building a strong front office, which includes well-respected General Manager Artūras Karnišovas and up and coming assistant GM Calvin Booth. The strong emphasis on scouting allows the Nuggets to maximize on their draft capital. As mentioned previously, the Nuggets have seven players in their rotation who were drafted by the team and the organization is constantly praised for having some of the top young players in the NBA.
Under the revitalized culture from Connelly's leadership, players on the current roster have shown a willingness to commit to the team's future with both Murray and Jokić signing early long-term extensions.

It’s an exciting time to be a member of Mile High Basketball and Connelly’s impact is a big reason behind that.

denver-nuggets-top-10-influential-figures-of-2010s

Denver Nuggets: Top 10 influential figures of 2010s

DENVER, Dec. 24, 2019 – The Denver Nuggets and Head Coach Michael Malone have agreed to a contract extension, Vice Chairman of KSE Josh Kroenke and President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today. Per team policy the details of the extension were not released.

Malone is coming off a season in which he led the Nuggets to a 54-28 record, their second-best overall record in franchise history, en route to the #2 seed in the Western Conference. The Nuggets also advanced to the second round of the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2008-09. Since Malone took over prior to the 2015-16 season, the Nuggets have improved on their win total by a total of 24 wins (+3 after first season, +7 after second, +6 after third and +8 after fourth), making Denver the only team in the NBA to increase their win total in each of the last four seasons. The Nuggets previously agreed to a contract extension with Coach Malone on Oct. 17, 2018.

“This season and team has been about continuity, with Coach Malone being the first piece of that,” stated Josh Kroenke. “We are thrilled to continue to have him lead this promising young roster and are excited about what the future holds. Coach Malone has been pivotal in this organization’s success and will continue to be so.”

“We have been very fortunate to have Coach Malone lead our resurgence. His tireless work ethic and passion are clearly reflected in the continued improvement of our roster,” said Tim Connelly. “We are all extremely excited for him to continue to lead our team as we try to build a championship level organization.”

Through 357 games as Denver’s head coach, Malone has compiled a record of 194-163 (.543), ranking him fourth in franchise history in wins among head coaches.

“I would like to thank Josh, Stan and the entire Kroenke family, along with Tim Connelly and the front office, for continuing to believe and trust in me as their head coach,” Malone said. “None of this would be possible without the hard work, dedication and trust from our players as well as the entire coaching staff. I’d also like to thank the amazing fans in Denver who have helped make Pepsi Center one of the toughest places to play in the NBA once again. I look forward to continuing our ultimate goal of winning NBA Championships.”

denver-nuggets-and-head-coach-michael-malone-agree-to-contract-extension-2

Denver Nuggets and Head Coach Michael Malone agree to contract extension

denalabidou

As the Nuggets approach their 20th game of the season, Tim Connelly is feeling good about how his team has performed in the first quarter of the season.

"We're off to a strong start and our defense has been fantastic. We've had a lot of really good wins," He told Nuggets.com ahead of the Nuggets' game against the Lakers. "There's a couple of games that we kind of let get away from us [but] it's hard to say you're not happy with a 13-4 record."

READ MORE: Nuggets Quarter Season Review: MVP, Top Performance and more

The President of Basketball Operations sat down with Nuggets.com to give his assessment of the first quarter of the season. In the one-on-one, Connelly gave his insights on Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray's growth as a leader and Will Barton's resurgence among other topics.

[Editor's Note: Responses have been edited for clarity and brevity purposes]

What has been the biggest positive development of the season so far?

It's continued growth. Mostly on the defensive end. I think our offense will continue to get better, we have a couple of guys who aren't making shots as they are accustomed to, but that will come.

Certainly, Nikola is our best player and we go as far as he's going to take us. Jamal and Gary [Harris] are taking on bigger voices in the locker room with leadership. I think the expected uptick with continuity has all come to fruition from players to the basketball operations staff. It's fun to see that we didn't come into the season content off of last season's return to the playoffs.

Everyone has been asking this: When will we see Nikola Jokić back to being his best? What is your assessment of his season so far?

I think Nikola plays to win. As long as we're putting a lot more dashes on the left box then the right box, Nikola has been [fine]. I think coming into this season, we were aware of [the toll] of a long playoff season. Fourteen games, he had never done that. Then he played with the [Serbian] national team, it was a grind for both him and Juancho Hernangómez. I think we're cognizant that those heavy minutes matter.

I don't think enough people are talking about Nikola's impact defensively. We're certainly not 13-4 without Nikola. He's all about winning. You'll see him improve his percentages [offensively]. He'll make more shots -- that will come. In terms of superstars, he's the most winning-centric guy that I've been around regardless of his own personal numbers. He really doesn't care about that, he just wants to win. I think that's a testament to his team-first mentality.

This offseason, you renewed Jamal Murray's contract. Are you happy what you're seeing from him on defense and leadership?

I'm not surprised because part of the appeal of Jamal, even from the draft process, was his mental toughness and his willingness to embrace responsibility.  I think Mo [coach Malone] has done a fantastic job.

We can't hide [Jamal Murray] defensively. You're too important to our team and you're too good of a player. You have size, toughness, strength, good instincts, you should be a really good defensive player. I think Jamal really takes to a challenge. He knows he doesn't want to be the weak link out there defensively and he's done a fantastic job on that end. I think the sky is the limit for him as a defensive player. He's going to keep getting better and better.

Are you surprised at all of what you're getting from Will Barton III and Paul Millsap this season?

I think the return of a healthy Will [has been phenomenal], he's really taken the challenge on the defensive end. As good as he's been offensively, I think he's defending at a level he's never defended at for a consistent time. Having Paul back, that calming influence and his improved touch from outside the three-point line has been very helpful.

If you look at how Will was playing going into the final stretch two years ago, when we just missed the playoffs, there weren't many guys playing at a higher level in the NBA. In the last 10 games, his numbers were certainly All-Star level. We know he's a worker and he's obsessed with basketball.

Paul is the ultimate professional. He's the rock on our team, he's so reliable. He brings the defensive IQ and swagger that is invaluable [for us]. He made a real conscious effort this offseason to become more proficient as a three-point shooter. The results speak for themselves 17 games in.

Last question, you spoke throughout the summer about how you've long coveted Jerami Grant and were happy to finally acquire him. How do you think he's fit in so far?

I think he's fit in as seamlessly as possible. To go from a rival to another team that has some expectations this year [he's done well]. I think you'll continue to see him get more and more comfortable. It's not easy going from the role he had in Oklahoma City to the role he has here. I think the best is yet to come for Jerami. He's exactly [what we thought were getting] in terms of the player and the guy.

nuggets-quarter-season-review-tim-connelly-discusses-nikola-jokic-jamal-murrays-development-and-more

Nuggets Quarter Season Review: Tim Connelly discusses Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray's development and more

The Nuggets enter the 2019-20 season possessing some of the most exciting rookies in franchise history. Former McDonald’s All-American MVP Michael Porter Jr. is set to see some action this season, while Bol Bol has drawn a lot of attention with his potential as a 7-foot-2 center with range. Nuggets President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly believes fans will also be impressed with what they see out of recent European import Vlatko Čančar.

“Vlatko has done of great job of developing since we drafted him,” Connelly said in an interview with Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM on Thursday. “He’s going to surprise people with his ability to guard several positions. He’s a really bright kid, a really tough kid, a humble guy that will continue to develop.”

He pointed to Čančar’s success in the Spanish top division along with the forward winning the European Championship with Slovenia last year as important strides in his development. While Čančar developed a reputation as solid shooter, it was his defense that stood out during this year’s Summer League. It was his progress in that area along with his versatility that likely led to his earning an NBA contract this summer.

Connelly joined the radio station to promote his upcoming charity ping pong fundraiser and shared his view of basketball’s growth worldwide. With the Nuggets continuing to be praised for their approach to international recruitment, Connelly discussed the evolving nature of the NBA and why more global standouts are joining the league.

“We see the numbers [of international players] increase every year.” he said. “The majority of the NBA is still American players but what I think is neat about basketball, and maybe soccer, is its global appeal…Basketball has an international feel to it and the ability to be liked and played worldwide.”

It is due to that sentiment of global appeal and pride that Connelly was happy to see a trio of Nuggets’ players in the tournament. He insisted he’s not worried about Nikola Jokić’s involvement at the World Cup, despite the center playing a lengthy campaign for the Nuggets last season.

“We’re proud of all of the guys who play on national teams -- Mason [Plumlee], Juancho [Hernangómez] and Nikola” Connelly said in an interview with Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM on Thursday. “The key for Nikola is him having fun. We want to make sure we have an environment where he can really enjoy [himself]. He’s grown up in that with Denver.”

Jokić and Hernangómez played significant roles in the summer’s tournament, with the latter’s Spain receiving Gold Medal honors as the competition’s winner.

denver-nuggets-tim-connelly-vlatko-cancar-will-surprise-people

Denver Nuggets’ Tim Connelly: Vlatko Čančar will surprise people

Presented by

none

ibotta

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>