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It’s not uncommon for several players from the same team to show up together. But the arrival of more than a dozen Nuggets was an unusually vast assembly. “My understanding (at first) was that it was going to be four or five of us,” Christian Braun said. “It was just the players, man,” Wallace said. “The players took matters into their own hands.” They stayed for half a week of runs, which lasted about 90 minutes to two hours each day. Other pros came and went. The UCLA men’s basketball team showed up one day. Aaron Gordon made room in his schedule despite having just finished a tour through Asia for his shoe deal. “AG was balling, definitely showing a lot of iso, step-back 3s and stuff like that,” two-way wing Spencer Jones said. “Jamal was playing really well. P-Wat was dunking all over the place.” “We haven't done stuff like that since I've been here,” third-year guard Jalen Pickett told The Post. “... Just for Jamal to send out a text, or some of the vets to say they were going to come out and play, I thought that was cool.”
And at the eye of the storm, the heart of this conflict that led to Denver firing its head coach and general manager in the span of a few minutes, was a reserve guard who’s played 76 games in his NBA career. “To be mentioned in these things, it’s kinda crazy,” second-year point guard Jalen Pickett told The Denver Post on Friday after he was asked if it was strange to see his name explode amid sweeping change. “But growing up, you always want to be on this stage. So you gotta just accept everything that comes with it, at this point.”
In a decisive win over Sacramento, where it looked like the Nuggets were finally connected and playing for each other, Westbrook's 16:45 minutes of game time were officially the least amount he's played since early December. It is also a far cry from his season-long per-game average of 28. Rather than let the older Westbrook play his way through chaotic extended stints — which has killed Denver on the court lately — Adelman wasted no time pulling the plug on the veteran point guard the moment he started playing out of control in both of his bench stints. This allowed second-year point guard Jalen Pickett (18 points, 5-of-7 from 3-point land) to flourish in an expanded role in a much-needed victory.
Vinny Benedetto: Nuggets win it 124-116. Got a little dicey late, but the Nuggets win a massive one. Christian Braun leads Denver with 25 points. Michael Porter and Aaron Gordon score 21 apiece. Nikola Jokic with 20-12-11 and 4 steals. Jalen Pickett with 18 points on 5-7 3PT. Zach LaVine 27 and 11 assists for the Kings.
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Jalen Pickett is a good example of this, according to league sources. Booth was dismayed that Malone went with Russell Westbrook over Pickett down the stretch of multiple games last week. On a macro level, Booth and Malone disagreed on several things.
Vinny Benedetto: Nikola Jokic is once again listed as questionable for Friday's game against Dallas for personal reasons. Vlatko Cancar (left knee sprain) and Aaron Gordon (right calf strain) are also unavailable. Jalen Pickett and Spencer Jones on in the G League.
Grand Rapids Gold: The @nbagleague has announced that Jalen Pickett has been named the G League Player of the Week for games played Nov. 8 through Nov. 17. Pickett currently averages a double-double with 26.5 PPG, 10.8 RPG, and 9.0 APG. He has recorded a double-double in three of his first four games this season.
Vinny Benedetto: Nikola Jokic is questionable (personal reasons) for Sunday's game in Memphis. Aaron Gordon remains out. Vlatko Cancar is probable with a right ankle sprain. Spencer Jones and Jalen Pickett are with Grand Rapids Gold.
Vinny Benedetto: Jamal Murray is out for tonight’s game, as he’s still in the concussion protocol. Looks like Jalen Pickett has been recalled from the G League. Aaron Gordon is probable with a knee contusion/calf inflammation. Vlatko Cancar is doubtful with an ankle sprain.
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Ryan Blackburn: The Denver Nuggets announced their Summer League roster today. DaRon Holmes, Jalen Pickett, Julian Strawther, and Hunter Tyson are the roster guys. Trey Alexander and PJ Hall are the two-way contract guys. The rest are likely competing for that final two-way spot. pic.twitter.com/zQuKha9vHL
The Denver Nuggets announced their Summer League roster today.
— Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn) July 7, 2024
DaRon Holmes, Jalen Pickett, Julian Strawther, and Hunter Tyson are the roster guys.
Trey Alexander and PJ Hall are the two-way contract guys.
The rest are likely competing for that final two-way spot. pic.twitter.com/zQuKha9vHL
Jokic’s comments had to sting for Booth and the Nuggets, especially when considering that ex-Nuggets GM Tim Connelly is the one who drafted Jokic, built the roster around him, then left for the Timberwolves to construct a title hopeful shaped to defeat his own creation. Maybe the Nuggets had to lose this season for Booth and Malone to get on the same track long term. But all season, Denver lacked organizational alignment, a worrisome reality for a franchise that just won its first title with a historic player who’s still in his prime and who this season won his third MVP in four years. Putting the blame solely on Booth would be an error, though. Booth also added Kentavious Caldwell-Pope the prior offseason, and his first rookie class of Braun and Peyton Watson proved to be fruitful. Braun made pivotal plays as a rookie on Denver’s way to a title, which carried over to this season. Watson didn’t play meaningful minutes as a rookie but flashed excellent two-way abilities this season before his lack of a reliable jumper led to his benching against the Timberwolves. The three rookies Booth drafted this year—wing Julian Strawther, guard Jalen Pickett, and forward Hunter Tyson—were all upperclassmen that he hoped would play during the season and then be ready for rotation minutes come the playoffs. Just like Braun last year. But for one reason or another, it didn’t happen.
Vinny Benedetto: Jamal Murray (left ankle sprain) and Nikola Jokic (low back pain and left hip inflammation) are questionable for Saturday’s game in Portland. Zeke Nnaji, Jalen Pickett and Vlatko Cancar are out.
