Tyler Cook

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The preseason is inching closer as the Denver Nuggets concluded their penultimate training camp practice Friday morning.

With the team set to participate in a public evening scrimmage (RSVP only), head coach Michael Malone limited his players to light shooting and station drills during the early session. Friday’s night action will see the Nuggets play 12-minute quarters for the first time in 2019-20.

Here are the top storylines to emerge from Friday morning’s media availability:

Will Barton fighting to get back to his best

Barton has been grinding all summer long in an effort to move past an injury-hindered 2018-19  season.

He was in Las Vegas during Summer League participating in voluntary scrimmages. He was a constant visitor to the practice court at Pepsi Center, working on his game with Denver’s coaching staff. And as recently as two weeks ago, Barton was helping several Nuggets rookies deal with grueling workouts at Red Rocks. So, his reaction to his latest setback, a lower body injury, is understandable.

“Definitely a little deflating, especially coming off of an injury-plagued season last year,” Barton explained. “The good thing is I feel good. I'm not really holding back, I feel athletic. Doing the things I like to do. I've got a good rhythm so.”

Barton added, “It's not depressing, but it is deflating because I don't want to hold back. I want to be able to practice fully and play fully and do everything, but it's a process.”

When healthy, Barton is one of the Nuggets’ most versatile players. He can play and defend both guard positions and the small forward spot, showcasing a solid blend of playmaking and scoring. Last season, Barton struggled with the first significant injury of his career and it impacted his play on the floor as he shot the third-lowest field goal percentage (40.2) in his eight seasons as a professional. Still, he is just one season removed from a 15.7 point, 5.0 rebound, 4.1 assist campaign.

“I know when I’m 100 percent healthy, I’m one of the best players around so it’s all about really being healthy,” Barton said Monday at Media Day.

Tyler Cook, PJ Dozier, Tyler Zeller, Elijah Millsap, Jorge Gutiérrez were all invited by the Nuggets to take part in training camp this summer.  All five players are trying to earn a roster spot on the Nuggets or put up positive tape to continue their NBA journeys with other teams. So far, Malone has appreciated the effort shown by the group. He mentioned a few standouts after Friday’s practice.

“Jorge Gutiérrez has been in our gym all September into camp -- what a tough kid,” Malone said. “Competitor, hell of a defender, he doesn't back down from anybody. He pushes all of the guards who are in front of him. 

“Tyler Cook is an NBA player. Obviously, you only have a certain number of spots on your roster, but Tyler Cook is definitely an NBA player. (He’s) very big and strong, very vocal on the defensive end, sets screens and rolls…I'm glad he's on my team right now.”

One of the benefits of the continuity the Nuggets have had on their roster is the overall familiarity with Malone’s gameplan. Now in his fifth season in the Mile High City, Malone appreciates the ability to focus on development as opposed to instructing tactical instructions.

“That allows us to hit the ground running,” Malone explained. “You go back to our first year of training camp, which was here [in Colorado Springs, it was slow going. We were trying to implement, teach and introduce new things --terminology and philosophy. Now, we have a really good sense of that corporate knowledge.”

In a crowded West, filled with teams who made significant moves this offseason, the Nuggets are hoping that familiarity pays dividends during the season.

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Denver Nuggets Training Camp: Takeaways from Day 4

MORRISON, CO – When Bol Bol got to the bottom of the steps at the Red Rocks Amphitheater, he looked up and his jaw immediately dropped. He turned to Monte Morris and asked if the group of Nuggets players on hand would have to run to the top. Morris grinned and emphatically nodded before yelling “EASY MONEY” seconds later.

The Red Rocks Amphitheater is one of the world’s most renowned music venues and a tourist attraction that welcomes over a million visitors a year. For the Nuggets, the 6,435-feet high concert hall represents something else: A rite of passage. It’s a chance for players to experience one of the toughest workout sessions available to help in acclimating to the altitude which they’ll deal with during the NBA season.

Bol was one of four first-timers with Vlatko Čančar, Tyler Cook, Tyler Zeller to take part of the Friday morning training session, joining veterans Gary Harris, Will Barton and Monte Morris.  The players did the famed east stairway, climbing 145 steps and going up 300 feet in the process, four times back and forth. They also did a range of exercises on the venue’s 69 rows, doing leaps and running up 2.7 miles in front of dozens of onlookers. The veterans “welcomed” their rookies to the experience.

“[They said] you’re never coming back or first time and last time you’re here,” Čančar revealed with a grin. “It loosened up the mood and made everything easier.”

The irony of it all is sometimes what appears to be the easier workout, like going up stairs, can present unique challenges to NBA athletes.

“The hardest part is going up the stairs one by one because we're all really tall,” Bol said.  

He added, “It's something different [from what I'm used to]. Even though it's not directly related to basketball, I think it'll help on the court because of conditioning and endurance. I think this helped me a lot today.”

Zeller, a player who has been in the NBA since 2012, called the workout one of the most difficult in his seven-year professional career.

“It’s up there, it’s not something you’re used to,” Zeller said. “It definitely ranks up there.”

Harris, the longest-tenured Nugget, explained why the workout is important as the team gets ready for the upcoming season.

“We play such a high and intense game, there's a lot of up and down. A lot of times, we're tired -- especially playing in the altitude,” Harris said. “This prepares us for the season.”

Felipe Eichenberger, the Nuggets’ Head Strength &amp; Conditioning Coach, explained why the workout is an important part of the offseason workout.

“Well, it's more like a cardiovascular stimulus,” Eichenberger said. “So, any exercise that we do even if it's not a sport-specific for basketball, and this altitude, they're going to have an adaptation. Adapting their physiological system and their physiology to this higher altitude than Denver, it's going to benefit us… So that's the purpose behind everything that we do here.”

When the workout was done and the Nuggets players gathered at the top of the Amphitheatre, Harris was happy with what he saw from his rookie teammates.

“The rookies, they did a great job,” Harris said. “They came in with the right attitude, the right mentality. They killed it today.”

He then added, “It was hard [when I first did it] and it's still hard.”

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Denver Nuggets’ Bol Bol, Vlatko Čančar experience Red Rocks workout for first time

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DENVER, Aug. 13, 2019 – The Denver Nuggets have signed rookie free agent forward Tyler Cook to a two-way contract and free agent guard P.J. Dozier to a training camp contract, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Cook, 6-9, 255, most recently appeared in three games for the Nuggets’ Las Vegas Summer League team, averaging 4.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.00 steals in 11.3 minutes per game. Cook went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft out of the University of Iowa where he played three seasons, averaging 14.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 93 total games (92 starts).

Dozier, 6-6, 205, spent last season on a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics, where he appeared in six games for the Celtics and averaged 3.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 6.8 minutes. He appeared in 46 games (all starts) for the Maine Red Claws of the G League where he posted 21.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.28 steals in 32.0 minutes per game. In 2017-18, he signed a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder where he played in two games for the Thunder and 43 games for the Oklahoma City Blue of the G League. Dozier originally went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft after spending two years at the University of South Carolina where he averaged 10.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.34 steals in 70 total games (63 starts).

Cook will wear #34 and Dozier will wear #35 for the Nuggets.

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Denver Nuggets sign Tyler Cook and P.J. Dozier

LAS VEGAS -- The Nuggets’ Summer League opener on Friday was canceled due to the impact of earthquake aftershock. With the game not being rescheduled, Denver’s Summer League head coach Jordi Fernandez and his players know there’s a lot at stake in the remaining three preliminary games. “That’s the bad part,” Fernandez told CBS4. “I thought the guys deserved to play all four of those (preliminary games) and then the playoff game, but we’re going to make the best of it.”Denver will now begin its Summer League action against the Orlando Magic in what should be a tightly-contested game on Sunday at the Cox Pavilion. 

TUNE IN: Nuggets vs. Magic, 4 p.m. MT, NBA TVHere are the three keys to the game: Who will guard Mo Bamba?The Magic are headlined by 2018 No. 6 pick Mo Bamba, who impressed in the team’s earthquake-shortened opening 75-59 win over the San Antonio Spurs. The forward, who suffered a significant injury that prematurely ended his season, dropped 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting.  While Bamba is still working his way back to fitness, he’s an athletic player who’s showcased some range in Orlando’s opener, hitting 2-of-2 from downtown. The 21-year-old will be a difficult assignment, but fortunately for the Nuggets, there are plenty of options on defense. Jarred Vanderbilt’s quickness and ability to grab rebounds should affect some of Bamba’s effectiveness. Tyler Cook and Thomas Welsh could also see some time against the Magic’s big man. Cleaning up the glassIf there’s one advantage the Nuggets might have throughout Summer League, it could be size. Denver’s starting frontcourt could be Vlatko Čančar (6-foot-8), Jarred Vanderbilt (6-foot-9) and Thomas Welsh (7-foot). “We're actually a pretty tall team, with a lot of big guys,” Čančar told Nuggets.com on Tuesday. “We're the kind of team that's supposed to dominate in rebounding because everyone is a good rebounder.”  Though the Magic dominated the Spurs, leading by as many as 29 points, one area that was relatively close was on the boards. Orlando just edged San Antonio 24-22 on the glass. If the Nuggets can get a healthy edge in rebounds, it could be the deciding factor of the game.  Avoiding a slow start  One unfortunate byproduct of the Nuggets’ canceled game is their opponents already have one game and a win in their pockets. They’ve had an opportunity to work through any early jitters and build confidence. Despite the circumstances, Denver can ill-afford a slow start against Orlando.  There’s been plenty of talk about familiarity and chemistry during minicamp and it is key Fernandez’s team utilizes those aspects early in Sunday’s game. 

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Denver Nuggets vs. Orlando Magic Summer League Preview: Battle of the Bigs

After months of talking about the potential of players like Vlatko Čančar, Jarred Vanderbilt and Brandon Goodwin, Nuggets fans will finally have a chance to see them in extended action in the team’s Summer League opener against the Suns. 

Summer League has been pivotal for the Nuggets in the past as the organization has had several players use it as a key stepping stone in their development. Monte Morris and Malik Beasley, for example, are two players who used strong showings in last year’s tournament to secure impactful roles in the rotation. Prior to the 2018 Summer League, neither player played significant minutes for the team. 

READ MORE: Three takeaways from minicamp  In Denver’s nationally-televised opener against Phoenix, the team is expected to face a squad that will largely feature undrafted rookies and free agents. This is an ideal opportunity for the Nuggets to build some momentum. 

TUNE IN: Nuggets vs. Suns, 9:30 MT, ESPN  Here are some keys to the game:   The Vlatko show:   With Michael Porter Jr. sidelined due to injury, one player who should see increased minutes and shots could be Čančar, the Nuggets’ 2017 second-round pick. Although he recently suffered a minor injury, he took part in practices this week and is expected to suit up Friday night.   “Vlatko will play, he’s feeling better from his ankle [injury],” Summer League coach Jordi Fernandez said.   Čančar is coming off a strong campaign in Liga ACB, largely considered the second-best basketball league in the world. He was named one of its top five young players after averaging 10.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and shot 46.4 percent while playing with the San Pablo Burgos. The key for the 22-year-old Slovenian will be if he can take another step forward in Summer League play.   Last summer, Čančar was essentially the fourth option behind Morris, Beasley and DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell, going for 9.0 points per game on 48.3 percent shooting. This summer, the expectations are a lot higher.   Goodwin vs. Baby Westbrook  Goodwin’s development will be another storyline to follow and he’s got an intriguing matchup in the first game of the tournament. Jalen Lecque, a former New York City high school basketball phenom, is expected to start for the Suns Friday.   Due to an insane 43-inch vertical, the highest in this year’s draft combine, and fierce style of play, Lecque has been called “Baby Westbrook” by observers. The 19-year-old’s decision to forgo college hurt his draft stock as the point guard went undrafted in this year. Still, there is clearly potential in the 6-foot-4 player as the Suns gave him a long-term commitment. 

READ MORE: Goodwin wants to show off playmaking skills  The matchup between the two guards should be one to watch as both have plenty of speed and use their athleticism to be effective around the rim. Goodwin will have the edge due to his experience in college, the G League and NBA, but it’s still an exciting matchup between two undrafted guards with a lot to prove.   Cooking it up  While Porter Jr., Goodwin, Čančar and Thomas Welsh have received their fair amount of attention in the Nuggets’ Summer League minicamp, one player to keep an eye on is former Iowa standout Tyler Cook. He’s been getting rave reviews from coaches and players on the Nuggets.   “He’s one of our [Summer League roster] guys that I see playing in the NBA,” Fernandez said. “His quickness and his body, how strong he is, he’s definitely a kid who is going to have looks [by NBA teams] and have a chance [in the NBA]. We’re happy he’s in our program. He’s here because we believe in him.”   Cook expected to have a chance of being drafted in the second round, but an injury suffered during predraft workouts saw him go undrafted. The Nuggets might have stumbled on another solid prospect in the 6-foot-9 power forward. The 21-year-old averaged 14.5 points and 7.2 rebounds on 51 percent shooting in his final season for the Hawkeyes and hopes to bring some defensive intensity and grit to the Nuggets. 

“I tend to focus on things I can do to help any ballclub and that’s bring energy,” Cook told Nuggets.com. “I’m a physical defender that switch on [positions] one through five. I’m someone who works their butt and does whatever it takes to win games.”  

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Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns Summer League Preview: Can Nuggets get off to a strong start?

EH: Spiderman but if I had my pick of superhero powers, it would probably be Superman.

EH: I didn’t really hear either of them, to be honest.

EH: I really liked MJ because my dad really liked MJ but I’d say probably Vince Carter.

CM: Between Penny Hardaway and Tracy McGrady.

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Draft Prospect Q&A with Ethan Happ, Tyler Cook, Shamorie Ponds, Mustapha Heron, Charles Matthews, and Jon Elmore

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