Training Camp Notebook: Michael Malone praises the Nuggets' rookies

SAN DIEGO — The Nuggets’ starting five gets all of the headlines. And they should.

It’s a perfect lineup with the perfect combination of scoring, shooting, defense, and overall nasty. The central reason why the Nuggets won last year’s championship is because of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and it’s the central reason why Denver might win it all again this season.

But on Day 3 of Nuggets training camp, Michael Malone shouted out his reserves. In particular, he noted the training camp performances of the three rookies that Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth drafted back in June: Julian Strawther, Jalen Pickett, and Hunter Tyson.

“These young guys are working really hard,” Malone said on Thursday. “I think Julian has been really good. That guy has been not just shooting the ball well, but just picking everything up and doing all of the small things. Jalen Pickett, he’s got 10 assists, 1 turnover going into today’s practice. Talk about taking care of the ball at a high level. Hunter Tyson, he’s like Larry Bird, man. The way he’s shooting the 3-point shot is just tremendous, and he plays so hard.”

Malone also praised the Nuggets’ two-way players, Collin Gillespie, Braton Key and Jay Huff.

“Collin, it’s just great having him back healthy,” said Malone. “Braxton Key I’m a big fan of. That kid, kind of like a Christian Braun, Braxton Key won a National Championship at Oak Hill, won a National Championship at Virginia, won a G League Championship last year. The kid knows how to play. Versatility. And ladies and gentlemen, the reigning G League Defensive Player of the Year Jay Huff, who’s really skilled, can step out and shoot the 3, defensive presence. We have a lot of our young guys who are playing so hard.”

Those young guys are playing and practicing so hard that Malone canceled the Nuggets’ evening shooting session Thursday night because he sensed that they were “dragging” during practice today.

They’re that committed to the grind.

You love to see it.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope wants to visit Serbia

Aaron Gordon made waves when he dropped into Nikola Jokic’s hometown of Sombor this summer to visit the Nuggets’ superstar. But there was almost another Nugget who went abroad to spend time with the two-time MVP.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope revealed that he thought about traveling to Sombor this summer, but he had a daughter coming and wanted to spend more time with his family. He said the team has had conversations before about visiting Jokic in his hometown.

Maybe that’s on tap for Summer ’24.

Peyton Watson is stronger

Watson said at Media Day on Monday in Denver that he’s put on 20 pounds of muscle over the last year. It’s helped him play more physically and is preparing him to defend bigger and stronger players this season when he’s hopefully coming off the Nuggets’ bench and playing real rotation minutes.

“Playing the 3 and the 4, having to guard guys like AG. I don’t need any help,” Watson said on Thursday. “I don’t need a double. I’m holding my own.

Watson logging time at power forward adds an interesting wrinkle to Denver’s potential second unit, which at this point still seems to be up in the air. If Watson can slide to the four and defend that position well, the Nuggets could seemingly roll with him alongside Zeke Nnaji in the frontcourt with Christian Braun, Reggie Jackson, and Jamal Murray, if Malone wants to stagger one starter with the second unit.

Other observations

Owners Stan and Josh Kroenke were at practice for the first time on Thursday. Jokic and Stan Kroenke briefly spoke after practice.

Michael Porter Jr. (left ankle sprain) was held out of practice on Thursday and is unlikely to practice on Friday on the final day of Nuggets training camp. I don’t think this is a serious injury and it’s not something to lose sleep over, but I’d think that his availability for Denver’s preseason opener on Tuesday in Phoenix is up in the air. I’d label him as doubtful for now.

Quote of the day

“Aaron Gordon, that guy, he’s like Marco Polo,” Michael Malone said. “He’s a world traveler.”

Another classic bar from the Nuggets’ coach.