Josh Kroenke gives a behind-the-scenes look at Nuggets’ “no-brainer” decision to draft Michael Porter Jr.

On Wednesday afternoon around 24 hours before the NBA Draft, Josh Kroenke was in Las Vegas for the NHL Awards. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar was up for the Jack Adams award, which goes to the league’s top coach, and star centerman Nathan MacKinnon was a finalist for the Hart Trophy, which is given to the league’s Most Valuable Player.

Kroenke had been keeping in close contact with the Nuggets’ front office — mainly president of basketball operations Tim Connelly and general manager Arturas Karnisovas — in the lead up to the NBA draft but was surprised when his brain trust informed him Thursday morning when he arrived at Pepsi Center that a certain prospect could be falling out of the top 10 and might be available at 14.

“We need to talk about Michael Porter,” Connelly and Karnisovas said as they delivered Kroenke their latest draft intel. “He might be there.”

“Seriously?” Kroenke replied.