Training Camp Notebook: Competition for the Nuggets' bench unit heats up

SAN DIEGO — Michael Malone loves a good training camp competition. And that’s what he’s getting this week when it comes to his second unit.

The Nuggets’ starting five is locked in and ready to go. They “haven’t missed a beat,” Malone said after Day 2 of Denver’s training camp.

The film doesn’t lie.

This ball movement from the Nuggets at training camp 😮‍💨

(via @nuggets / IG)pic.twitter.com/A44c62wAZn

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 4, 2023

But who plays off the Nuggets’ bench this season is far from a sure thing. Christian Braun is the only potential member of the Nuggets’ primary bench lineup who was in last year’s playoff rotation. Zeke Nnaji played 10 minutes or more in 36 regular season games last year but wasn’t a regular in the postseason.

Neither were Reggie Jackson or DeAndre Jordan, except Jordan did make two rotation cameos — four minutes in Game 4 vs. Minnesota and three minutes in Game 5 vs. Miami — that both went rather well.

This Nuggets training camp and preseason is about answering one question and one question only: Who joins Braun and comes off Denver’s bench?

“I’m not giving any minutes away. Nothing’s going to be given to anybody,” Malone said on Wednesday. “…If anybody out there, players, think they’re automatically going to be given minutes as a backup, they’re mistaken. You’re going to have to earn that.”

I believe that along with Braun, Reggie Jackson is pretty much a lock for rotation minutes. That’s the direction things seem to be headed. After that, I do believe that nothing is going to be given.

Peyton Watson should have an inside track for a rotation spot, but he’s going to have to earn it. I think that’s the right approach too. He should have to earn his minutes and this preseason should serve as the launching pad for a potential breakout season for the second-year forward.

The same goes for Zeke Nnaji, who I’m expecting to be the fourth member of Denver’s preferred second five.

Here’s more from Day 2 of Nuggets training camp.

Justin Holiday gets acquainted with Nikola Jokic

The Nuggets’ new vet that everyone on the team loves is Justin Holiday, who within his first official week of the season has already expressed a real and genuine appreciation for being in Denver. Holiday, nicknamed ‘The Fireman,’ will be great in the locker room this season. He’s a positive, grounded, and respected voice that will be a strong guiding light for the Nuggets’ youngsters.

But he still might have some juice on the court. On Day 2 of training camp, Holiday got some run in with Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets’ starting five. He says he fit in well with that group and it further cemented how happy he is to be wearing a Nuggets uniform.

“My game is made for the way the Denver Nuggets play,” Holiday said.

“This organization is a championship-caliber organization. Obviously, they just won, but how they do things, what they expect from us, and that’s something I appreciate. After the organization, the players. No egos. You’ve got the best player in the world, the best few players in the world, and guys are cool on the court. They put you in actions with them.”

Everyone, including Holiday, loves being a Denver Nugget.

Michael Malone responds to the Lakers’ talk

The Nuggets’ winning the championship, and how they went about it, pissed the Lakers off. So much so that LeBron James and Anthony Davis had “some conversations” about it and can’t wait to play Denver again. Austin Reaves then said he’s “happy to see Denver” as the first game on the Lakers’ schedule.

That chatter apparently didn’t make it to Michael Malone, who was informed of the Lakers’ comments on Wednesday.

Here’s Malone’s response:

“Oh, they’re talking about us? That was, what, like four months ago? I can’t speak for anybody in LA. I can speak for the 17 players on our team, 18 players now, and our group. If they’re still worried about us, that’s on them.”

“This is a new season, a new challenge. It was a hell of a series against them. I know it was a 4-0 sweep but all those games seemed like they went down to the wire. And as I said after that Game 4. We have tremendous respect for that team. I have tremendous respect for Darvin Ham as a coach and the job that he did.”

“I don’t listen to any of that stuff. I don’t know what they’re saying. And if we’re on their minds, then I guess that’s on them.”

More Observations

Michael Porter Jr. left the practice gym at UC San Diego on Wednesday with a walking boot on his left foot. Porter sprained his ankle at practice and it swelled up, a source told DNVR. But there’s no concern that it’s anything significant.

We’ll see if Porter is back at practice tomorrow, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he took a couple of days off.

It was also Acai Bowl day at training camp. 10/10. Shoutout Acai Roots for the lunch.