Here are some takeaways from the Denver Nuggets media day on Thursday: Nikola Jokic can grow a great beard/goatee, Jamal Murray wants to be an MMA fighter, and Aaron Gordon had an outstanding yard sale this summer while cleaning out his closet.
Oh, and no one was happy about not defending their crown. They’re ready to return to the NBA summit but with a new look. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Jackson have both left the team. Dario Saric and Russell Westbrook have been brought in.
Of course, there are the mainstays: Jokic, a three-time NBA MVP, and Murray, who recently signed a four-year, $208 million max deal extension. The Nuggets are coming off a season in which they tied the franchise’s NBA record for victories (57), but were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by Minnesota. Denver blew a 20-point second-half lead in Game 7 at home.
“After a season where everybody says we failed, it’s my job to make sure that we don’t believe all that (expletive),” stated Nuggets coach Michael Malone, who led the franchise to its first NBA championship in 2022-23. “We are a good squad. In the previous six years, no one in the West has come close to what we’ve accomplished. Remind yourself of this while simultaneously challenging yourself to not be satisfied. Push yourself and your teammates to become even better.”
The time is now.Calvin Booth, the Nuggets’ general manager, projected that Jokic had a 10-year prime contention window, which they are roughly halfway through.
“You hit one of them, it’s great,” Booth remarked. “It’s going to be incredibly hard to win another one.”
Booth is scheduled to negotiate a contract extension with Gordon, which he can do beginning Friday. Gordon is coming off a season in which he averaged 13.9 points and 6.5 rebounds while playing a variety of roles.
“I really love this organisation,” Gordon stated. “I hope we get it done.”
Gordon changed his jersey number to 32 this season in honour of his brother Drew, who died in a vehicle accident in Oregon four months ago. Aaron Gordon stated his teammates helped him get through it.
“These guys have been there for me every step of the way,” Gordon told me. “These guys have really developed into people that I would call my brothers.”
Yard sale.Gordon has been a long-time fan favourite. That was clear when he offered up his clothes to followers this summer. His pop-up event was enthusiastically attended.
“Just a yard sale,” he quipped. “It just got out of hand.” It’s an awesome community. They accepted me, and I’m grateful for that.”
Murray wasn’t exactly in an expressive mood on Thursday, but he did express his love of mixed martial arts on the platform. He works out alongside former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.
“I might have a career there after this,” said Murray, who battled with Team Canada in the Paris Games this summer. “But I’m doing this right now.”
Dynamic duoMurray creates a strong on-court relationship with Jokic, who arrived with a beard/goatee that he is already considering shaving off. Jokic starts training camp after helping Serbia win a bronze medal at the Olympics in Paris. He’s already picked up his first assist of the season, helping bring Westbrook to town.
“Great, great player for us,” said Jokic, who won his third NBA MVP title in four seasons with a regular season average of 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and nine assists. “He’s going to bring us all the good stuff.”
Westbrook joins the Nuggets hoping to add a title to his impressive CV.
“As long as we as a team put our best foot forward, we can live with the results,” Westbrook told the media. “If it is a championship, I am grateful. If not, I am grateful for the opportunity.”
Media Day FunWestbrook was in a good mood Thursday, mimicking Murray’s iconic “Blue Arrow” pose while Murray took photos. Murray grinned.
This is just Westbrook’s personality.
“People confuse intensity with competitiveness,” Westbrook added. “When I’m on the floor, I don’t want to stroll around shaking hands or kissing newborns. I am there to kick some (butt). Of the floor, I’m relaxed.”
Notes: Altitude announced an agreement to stream Nuggets and Avalanche games, as well as a few local broadcasts. Altitude TV has been in a long-running battle with Comcast, the state’s major cable provider, who have not carried Altitude since their previous arrangement expired in 2019. Christian Braun and Julian Strawther appear to be potential starters alongside Murray, Jokic, Michael Porter Jr., and Gordon. Porter, who has previously experienced back problems, took advantage of a healthy summer by putting in more time on the court.