Wind Chimes: Zeke Nnaji is looking like the perfect Jokic Ball player

Welcome to Wind Chimes, a notebook of reporting, observations and analysis from me about what I’ve seen, heard and talked to people around the team about over the last week.

Zeke Nnaji looks like a keeper

Here’s what one NBA scout told DNVR about Zeke Nnaji last week: “He’s the perfect role player around Nikola Jokic. High-efficiency, low-usage and defensively versatile.”

Nnaji has his faults for sure. He needs to get stronger around the rim and become a better rebounder. But Nnaji’s strengths are ideal for playing in the Jokic Ball system.

First, he’s an elite shooter. Nnaji leads the NBA in 3-point percentage out of players attempting at least 1.5 triples per game and is banging home 52.2% (36-69) of his 3s this season. He’s such a good shooter that the Nuggets should start running plays to find Nnaji for catch-and-shoot 3s within their offense. The second-year forward also shares a shooter’s trait with Michael Porter Jr. His release is so high and he’s already so tall that defenders really can’t contest his jumper.

This isn’t a wide open 3, but Nnaji can shoot over the 6-4 Jaylen Nowell with ease. Nowell doesn’t bother him at all.

He shoots it without hesitation over 7-footers too. Isaiah Hartenstein is right up on Nnaji in the corner.

Nnaji’s also a really versatile defender for someone who’s 6-11. He can get low, move his feet and hang with smaller ball handlers on the perimeter. Nnaji can check some bigger score-first small forwards as well. The 21-year-old has Denver’s 3rd highest PER this season behind Jokic and Aaron Gordon.

If I’m the Nuggets, I’m very pleased with the progress Nnaji has made in his second season. He’s only played 996 career minutes, the 6th fewest among 2020 first-round picks, but has clearly developed from the player he was his rookie year. He looks like a surefire rotation big, which is a success for a player drafted 22nd overall. Remember: Nnaji was the first-round pick that Denver received in the Malik Beasley, Juancho Hernangomez and Jarred Vanderbilt trade with Minnesota from 2020.

I don’t sense that the Nuggets have much of a desire to trade Nnaji ahead of Thursday’s deadline even though he’s one of their most enticing assets. Behind the scenes, Nnaji’s a grinder and workout warrior. He’s coachable and growing more comfortable between the lines. Here’s what Jokic had to say about Nnaji’s development last week.

Jamal Murray’s inching closer

Before the Nuggets hosted the Pelicans last weekend, I saw Murray execute a practice rep at (what I think was) 100% speed for the first time this season. It was just one rep and only lasted a few seconds. But it was definitely performed at or very close to 100%. Murray had the ball at the top of the 3-point line, jab-stepped, dribbled past a Nuggets assistant coach, accelerated and finished at the rim.

Again, it was one rep but it was done at a pace that I haven’t seen Murray operate at during his pregame workouts so far this season.

Michael Malone has spoken very carefully about the progress Murray has made in his rehab. He has purposely not mentioned a potential return date — even though internally I’m sure the Nuggets and Murray have one in their heads — and has even left the door open that Murray could miss the rest of the year. Now, I don’t think that’s going to be the case. Murray looks to me like someone who’s ramping up to play again this season, but Malone clearly doesn’t want to put any pressure on Murray. It’s the right play from Denver’s head coach.

I previously predicted in Wind Chimes a few weeks back that a Murray return could come around the All-Star break, but a recent bout with COVID paused his rehab momentarily. Because of that, I’d adjust my prediction and say that noise around Murray’s return will pick up heavily after the All-Star break. I’m now thinking we could see Murray on the floor in early-ish March.

There’s a lot more to Aaron Gordon’s game than we thought

Who knew Aaron Gordon could pass like this? He continues to wow me.

When Gordon got to Denver, he said he thought his passing was underrated. He was excited to show off that part of his game with the Nuggets, and Gordon has proved to be a better passer than I thought.

Overall, Gordon looks so much more like a Nugget now than he did over the final months of last season after the trade. He’s so comfortable within Denver’s offense right now. Jokic’s basketball mentality has clearly rubbed off on Gordon too, and he has fully converted to the unselfish philosophy that Jokic Ball is built on. It’s another reason why Murray’s return is so highly anticipated. I can’t wait to see what this version of Gordon looks like next to him and Jokic.

Question of the Week

Last week I asked you for the Nuggets player that you always maintained an irrational amount of love for. Here’s what DNVR Member jjames52 said:

“Wind, I’ll name Ralph Simpson as my guy. I could easily say Alex English, but as I may be the only one who will mention #44, I’ll go with Simpson. I had a chance to watch him as a kid and I admired his dedication to the game, his multiple abilities (scoring, rebounding, passing, and defense), and the role he played with last great ABA team. After the merger he was traded to Detroit for Paul Silas, in my opinion one of worst trades the organization has ever made. His career never was the same again.”

My guy has always been Juancho Hernangomez. First off, he’s got incredible vibes. Some of the best that have graced the Nuggets’ locker room in the Jokic era. Hernangomez ultimately disappointed in Denver, but I still think there’s a useful player in there somewhere. Would I be totally surprised if he had a resurgence in San Antonio? No.

Here’s this week’s question

Imagine you’re Stan or Josh Kroenke. Or imagine you just came into millions and millions of dollars and are now the majority owner of the Nuggets. What’s the first thing — basketball or non-basketball — that you’d do?

Leave your answers in the comments section below.