Written by Jonathan Peter on November 16, 2022.
The Denver Nuggets are playing some of the most beautiful basketball during the young season. Through 13 games, the Nuggets are averaging 28.9 assists per game, which is tied for first in the league.
The Nuggets success passing the ball has allowed them to be the best shooting team in the NBA. Currently, Denver leads the league in field goal and three point percentage at 50.4% and 42.3%. But their league leading assists average is indicative of a principle embedded in this team.
For years, Coach Michael Malone has fostered an objective for his teams to play with a selfless attitude. This season, that goal could become the reality the Nuggets live in.
When your team is led by one of the most unselfish players, this objective can be easy to accomplish. Nikola Jokic is the epitome of ideal Nuggets basketball because of his approach to the game on a nightly basis. As the team’s leader, Jokic has been consistently looking to get his teammates involved on every offensive possession, especially this season as he averages a career high in assists per game with 8.9. His reluctance to look for his own shot and decrease in scoring can bring frustration to fans, but his style of play should be appreciated.
When teammates share the court with Jokic, there is an understood concept that everyone should be looking for the best shot possible. This means passing up a good look for yourself because your teammate has a better shot. If the Nuggets have this collective mentality, it can bring them the highest levels of success. Jokic might be the best player on this team by a wide margin, but keeping everyone constantly involved on offense can lead to increased trust in each other, eliminating any ego-driven decision-making. Trust leads to players feeling empowered and playing comfortably.
Individual’s ego is another area where the Nuggets’ selfless identity is imprinted throughout the team. There isn’t a more clear example of this than Michael Porter Jr. being on the bench during the closing stretches of multiple games this season.
Coach Malone has opted to go with Bruce Brown in the closing lineups of multiple games this season, most likely for defensive purposes. This means Michael Porter Jr. has been benched during crucial end-of-game situations. A player of Porter Jr.’s caliber who makes about 5x more in salary than Brown, would rarely find himself in a situation like that. These kinds of coaching decisions have frustrated many players who have been in this scenario and it leads to frustration throughout the organization.
When asked about his decision after win against the San Antonio Spurs, Malone gave a response echoing the teams’ mantra.
“That’s a big part of our culture. Being selfless, get over yourself. It’s not about you, it’s for the good of the team,” Malone said.
Needless to say, Porter Jr. has handled it well and with the right attitude. He is always cheering on his teammates whether he is playing or not. It’s refreshing to witness a player handle it this way in a league where everyone is ready to fracture relationships for their own gain.
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Some bad news: The Nuggets are going to be without Nikola Jokic for some time because he has entered the NBA’s Health and Safety protocols. The team has been without Bones Hyland who was also in protocols. Also, when multiple players go down with Covid, it’s just a matter of time before more teammates get it as well. It might be a couple of rough weeks for the Nuggets, but there is no reason to panic.
Will the Nuggets be able to continue their “share the ball” mentality without the reigning MVP? Hopefully, they will.
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