Jameer Nelson continues to be awesome, writes op-ed for Players' Tribune

Every few years the Nuggets sign someone who I come to adore. This player usually isn’t the most talented on the roster — he might not even be in the rotation — but when he plays he always gives it his all and epitomizes what’s truly great about raw, professional competition. In the past this prototype has been manifested through guys like Corey Brewer, Arron Afflalo and Chauncey Billups. Now, heading into the 2015-16 season, I can undoubtedly say: Jameer Nelson has firmly taken over this spot in my heart.

Nelson has done nothing but awesome things since arriving in Denver last winter. Recently he paid for the entire Nuggets squad to fly to Philadelphia for a week-long private workout. He also finished fifth in the NBA’s annual Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award voting this past season. And just a few days ago he wrote a great article for The Player’s Tribune about the role guards play in today’s NBA. Here are some paragraphs that standout from that piece:

I obviously have a bias, but I honestly believe the rise of elite guard play is a good thing for both the league and the fans. Guards make the game more exciting. We are the ones taking control of the game, determining the pace and making the most significant decisions on the floor. As a guard, you have to think for yourself as well as the team as a whole. You have to get your teammates to buy into the coach’s system…

I’d argue that the point guard position has changed the most of any position over recent years. In the past, point guards were expected to act primarily as distributors. Today’s elite point guards are still great passers, but they’re also masters of disrupting the defense with their scoring prowess and aggressiveness…

Guys like Steph Curry, Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook have proven that you can be a great scorer and distributor at the same time. In fact, if you’re going to be a great guard nowadays, it’s basically a necessity to have both of those qualities. Look at Russell Westbrook. Some people talk about him being too focused on scoring and taking too many shots, but I disagree. Look at all the triple doubles he had last year — his aggressive play is what allowed him to get 10-plus assists in those games. His ability to attract double-teams makes the game easier on his teammates.

As a high-scoring point guard at St. Joe’s, I often heard similar criticisms. Coming out of college, people told me that because of my size, I had to become a “traditional point guard” in order to last in the NBA. Now, heading into my 12th season, I’m excited to see the way “scoring point guards” are taking over the league…

It’s also important to study the games of your peers and those who came before you. I always had guards I wanted to play like. The players that had the biggest impact on my understanding of the game, if I had to pick just a couple, were Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups and Baron Davis…

Chauncey taught me so much every game I faced him. The leadership he displayed was on another level. He instilled confidence in his teammates and eventually made them champions…

I’m now entering a veteran position in my career. Spending more than a decade in this league teaches you a lot. With the league shifting as it has, I’ve had to make adjustments to my own game as well. I still have my quickness and my speed, but I’ve learned I have to use both more wisely now. These younger point guards are extremely fast, and really strong and talented. So I have to use my veteran knowledge of the game and my strength to slow guys down…

The Nuggets repeatedly stated how much they desired to change the locker-room culture after the departure of Brian Shaw, and with guys like Nelson I think it’s pretty safe to assume they’ve succeeded. Nelson might not be the most lethal backup point guard in the NBA, but he’s still a solid option off the bench, and most importantly: He’ll be an excellent mentor for Emmanuel Mudiay.

Nelson has already won me over, and I’m assuming he’s doing the same for Nuggets Nation with each passing deed like the ones mentioned above. But when you’re consciously denoting Denver basketball legend Chauncey Billups as one of your idols, you immediately go from human-who-says-good-things to demigod — at least amongst Nuggets fans.

Denver definitely has a winner in Nelson.