Denver Nuggets bring back "calm, cool, collected" Axel Toupane for second 10-day deal

After the Denver Nuggets 116-110 victory over the Washington Wizards, Axel Toupane was on his way out of the locker room after talking to reporters. As he approached the doors to exit, Kenneth Faried — on his way out of the shower — stopped him to greet him and told him, “Good job” with an embrace.

Toupane played 19 minutes against the Wizards, shooting 2-5 from the field for eight points (2-4 from 3-point land), but it was again his defense that stood out. He was matched up on John Wall late and came away on the night with three steals and two blocks.

“I was just trying to be aggressive, without being to close on him,” said Toupane of his defensive assignment on Wall. “because I know he’s one of the fastest players in the league. So, I was just trying to play with him and it worked well tonight.”

It worked well indeed. The Nuggets will bring back Toupane for a second 10-day contract, according to Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post and confirmed by BSN Denver.

(Here’s video of Toupane reading the passing lane on Wall and getting one of his three steals.)

“Yeah, Axl Rose man,” said Malone, comparing Toupane to the Guns n Rose’s lead singer. “The guy’s so calm, cool, collected. He doesn’t try to do too much, doesn’t get out of control, doesn’t rush. He made some great plays (versus the Wizards), hit two big threes, made a great pass, plays good defense, gets the steal, gets to the foul line. We feel really good about what Axel has done for us. He’s been a very positive addition for us, not just one the court, but in the locker room and the culture we’re trying to create. And Axel really fits in with that.

“Axel has been great for us,” said Malone. “coming off the game against Phoenix he scores 10 points. He has a very high IQ, his father’s a coach back in France — grew up around the game. He’s been everything, if not more, that we could have asked for.”

Malone wasn’t definitive when asked about Toupane’s possibilities for playing time ahead of his first 10-day contract; but, like he has done with Sean Kilpatrick, JaKarr Sampson and D.J. Augustin, he played Toupane in his first game with the team. In all he averaged 13.5 minutes per game for the Nuggets, and that playing time increased in each of the five games he has been on the team and his comfort levels are rising on each end of the floor.

“Both defense and offense,” Toupane told BSN Denver after the Wizards game on his comfort levels. “In the last two games the shots went in, so that makes a difference.”

While talking with Toupane in the locker room post-game, Gary Harris chimed in on where Toupane can continue to get comfortable by interjecting that he just needs to keep shooting the ball. Finding your role with a team as the new guy can be a difficult proposition, as you don’t want to step on anyone’s toes, but Toupane’s teammates have been very encouraging.

“I’m so happy to be here, everybody does a good job to put me in a good situation — the coaches, the players,” said Toupane. “I’m just here enjoying and trying to give everything I have every time the coaches call my name.”

Ahead of the Wizards game, Malone said he’d need to get with GM Tim Connelly to make a decision on Toupane post-game. After the Wizards game — where Malone played Toupane the entire fourth quarter that saw the Nuggets outscore the Wizards 41-17 — Malone indicated that he’d be pushing Connelly to keep Toupane around.

“I’m happy to hear him say that.” said Toupane.

“(Malone) did a great job to put me in a good situation,” said Toupane. “He told me he knew me before I came, he just wanted me to play my game.”

The Nuggets play the Miami Heat Monday night, and Toupane’s audition will continue with that second 10-day contract.

Toupane the passer

One aspect that the Nuggets like about Toupane’s game is that he’s a playmaker with the ball. In five games with the team he has five assists, with at least one in four of the five games and two coming against the Suns. Here is a pretty bullet pass to Nikola Jokic that threaded the needle perfectly.

Toupane the shooter

As indicated above, Gary Harris was encouraging Toupane to let it fly in the locker room after the Wizards game. Harris also had to learn this lesson early in the season, and Toupane is now 4-8 from 3-point land in Denver’s last two games after going 0-5 to start his stint with the team — showing comfort and growing confidence.

Here’s his first fourth quarter three vs. the Wizards:

And his second fourth quarter three to put the game well out of reach: