Josh Scott works out for Nuggets, shifts focus towards NBA

DENVER — After an illustrious career at the University of Colorado, Josh Scott is ready for what’s next. Scott, who grew up in Colorado Springs and played college ball up the road in Boulder, worked out in front of Nuggets executives and coaches Friday morning at the team’s first pre-draft workout of the summer.

“It’s kind of surreal,” Scott said of donning the jersey of the team he grew up watching.

Scoring over 1,700 points and grabbing close to 1,000 rebounds in college usually gets you a look from some NBA team, but Scott’s future at the next level hangs in the balance. He’s a gym rat with a basketball IQ that’s off the charts, had a top-30 PER in the country last year, per RealGM, and is reliable around the rim. However, it’s his lack of athleticism and unreliable jumper that are causing scouts to project him to go undrafted.

Scott’s aware of those deficiencies and he’s spent the summer trying to prove those pundits wrong.

“The big thing for me is showing I can shoot,” Scott said. “I wasn’t really known as a shooter in college and think that’s important to show people that I’m a 6-foot-10 guy that can shoot.”

Scott only shot 16 threes during his career at CU and was never much of a threat beyond the elbows. If he intends to play at the next level it will be imperative that he can stretch the defense, especially since he’s being looked at as a power forward by NBA scouts.

It’s hard to think of a modern-day four-man who’s predominantly post-oriented like Scott was in college. Zach Randolph and Jahlil Okafor are two starters that come to mind but both their outlooks are murky at best. Randolph saw him minutes cut drastically in Memphis this year as he couldn’t guard more athletic fours and the 76ers were more than 10 points per 100 possessions worse with Okafor on the floor. A move to a more perimeter-oriented game is likely in Scott’s future and will undoubtedly benefit him going forward.

“I probably won’t be in the post as much next level,” Scott said. “I was in the post kind of out of necessity at CU.”

Impact Basketball in Las Vegas has been Scott’s home away from home this summer. The world-renowned training center which has helped improve the game of some of the league’s best during the offseason, including Kawhi Leonard, John Wall, Kyle Lowry, and more.

Scott’s been putting in the work on his jumper, speed, and athleticism- the three areas where he has to improve on the most if he wants to make an impact at the next level. The 240-pound Scott is also looking to get stronger. He wants to get up to 250 pounds so he can bang inside for rebounds at the next level.

He’s getting great feedback during his workouts on the strides he’s made.

“I shoot it better than they thought,” Scott said. “They’re a little worried about my athleticism, but my answer to that, is it got me through high school, it got me through college pretty well. Other than that they like how I compete, how I go for loose balls, how I rebound, so it’s just about continuing doing what I do.”

What Scott does, is simply play basketball.

He’s never the flashiest guy on the floor, but there’s usually a roster spot out there for players who hustle, don’t make mistakes on defense, are coachable, and can produce when called upon.

“Coach Boyle and his staff really instilled in me that you have to contribute when you’re not scoring,” Scott said. “Sometimes you might not be given an opportunity to showcase your offense. You can always play defense, you can always rebound, and that’s something that I always pride myself on and continue to pride myself on.”

Scott already worked out for the Rockets and Lakers before coming to Denver and is off to Dallas and Los Angeles again to meet with the Mavericks and Clippers next week.

The 6-foot-10 big man wasn’t invited to the NBA combine last week where he could have met with up to 13 teams, so he knows these workouts are crucial to determining if he can latch onto a roster for Summer League in July.

“I knew it was going to come down to workouts regardless if I was at the combine or not,” Scott said. “So really I look at every one as urgent and important.”

If Scott wants to continue playing professional basketball next season he’ll have the chance. If he doesn’t sign on with an NBA team this summer, he should have a slew of overseas offers to sift through.

However, playing in the NBA is Scott’s goal, his dream. And if that opportunity came about with the Nuggets, it would special.

“It would be surreal [to play in Denver],” Scott said. “Watching them since I was a kid kind of gives me goosebumps. Chauncey did it. It would be a blessing to be here, that’s pretty much all I can say about that. It would be a dream for sure.