Denver Nuggets Summer League Camp News and Notes

The Nuggets held their second day of Summer League Camp at Pepsi Center, preparing their young roster to play in Vegas later in the week.

Mudiay’s shooting a work in progress

The one knock on Emmanuel Mudiay‘s game coming into the NBA is his shooting ability.

Here’s a video from Colorado Sports Guys of Mudiay shooting at camp yesterday, and it isn’t the prettiest.

We also got to watch him shoot a bit today and it was more of the same.

#nuggets Mudiay working on threes at Summer League Camp pic.twitter.com/3vccvA0nFR

— Adam Kinney (@AdamKinneyRadio) July 7, 2015

 Nuggets coach Mike Malone isn’t worried about where that part of Mudiay’s game is at, because he brings so many other things to the table. 

Malone re: Mudiay “play making, vision, his ability in the pick and roll game at such a young age gives him a leg up” pic.twitter.com/oH2FCv7kCG — Adam Kinney (@AdamKinneyRadio) July 7, 2015

Malone added “There are so few players at that young an age with a developed shot.” Mudiay will be able to do many other things well as he learns to develop his outside game.

Even if that part of his game never really develops he could still play at an extremely high level. Derrick Rose has shot .304% from behind the arc in his career and John Wall, who Mudiay is often compared to, has shot a similar .305% from three, yet both are regarded as two of the top point guards in the league for their physicality and playmaking ability.

Gary Harris excited for sophomore season with Denver Nuggets

When the Nuggets traded for Gary Harris on draft night 2014 many fans hoped he would have a big impact on the team, but Harris’ rookie campaign focused more on his development than impact on the floor. Harris played in 55 games for the Nuggets, averaging 3.4 points, 1.2 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game.

Harris just entering his second season, is already one of the more seasoned players on the Nuggets summer league roster and is hoping he can his coaches eyes. “It’s been good just to get to work with and know the new coaching staff,” Harris said. “Just trying to make a good impression going into the regular season.” Harris should be featured heavily in the Nuggets summer league contests, but regarding his role, he said he will do whatever his coaches want him to do to help the team win.

Harris will also likely get ample amounts of playing time with Nuggets first round pick Emmanuel Mudiay, and Harris has liked what he’s seen so far. “He’s a strong, quick guard that likes to distribute the ball. He has a real presence on the court.” A Mudiay-Harris starting backcourt in Denver could come sooner rather than later, and Harris is excited about that prospect. “I would love that, we just need to continue to make strides during summer league and use that as a stepping stone going into the season.”

Nurkic returns to light shooting

Although Jusuf Nurkic wont be playing with the Nuggets Summer League team this year, he did take to the practice floor to get some light shooting in. Nurkic underwent surgery to repair a partially torn left patellar tendon on May 20th, but is expected to be ready in time for training camp.

The Bosnian center started 27 games for the Nuggets in 2014-15, mostly after Timofey Mozgov was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In his 62 games played, Nurkic averaged 6.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game.

Nurkic was limited in his movement so he shot mainly flat footed, but was able to make the majority of the elbow jumpers he was taking.

Coaching up the coaches

Mike Malone spent the last few minutes of practice going over some things with his newly formed coaching staff. Malone told us after practice Summer league is a great opportunity to allow your assistants to coach, then collaborate after and give them feedback. “We’re looking for a better understanding for players at Summer league. We’re always communicating, trying to figure our ways we can do things better.”

Malone said aside from coaching his daughters fourth grade team, this is the first real coaching he’s had to do since he was fired by the Kings on December 14th of last year. “Being back in a gym with NBA players, teaching, learning, sweating, this is my comfort zone.”

The Nuggets will open their Summer League season on Friday, when they play the Atlanta Hawks at COX Pavilion in Las Vegas, 6:00 p.m. MT. The game will be televised on Altitude.