The Denver Nuggets are headed into a crucial 2024-25 NBA season where they're looking to prove they're one of the best teams in the NBA. Ahead of their first preseason game against the Boston Celtics in Abu Dhabi, head coach Michael Malone spoke to Fadeaway World about multiple topics including the team's potential starting five this season and the battle for the starting shooting guard spot on the roster.
"Yeah, four of those guys won a championship two years ago. They've played together for a long time in Jamal (Murray), Mike (Michael Porter Jr,), Aaron (Gordon), and Nikola (Jokic)."
"As far as the two-guard, we have Christian Braun and Julian Strawther, we have other guys like Peyton Watson and Hunter Tyson all competing to see who'll be that guy. Right now, we're giving CB a chance to play with that unit and he's doing a great job."
Coach Malone has been coaching the Nuggets for a decade, and with good reason. He understands what his players need and is willing to evolve his philosophy to maximize the tools at his disposal.
Even with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope leaving the franchise , it seems Malone has created healthy competition amongst all the young players on his roster to earn a starting spot on one of the best teams in the NBA.
Denver Nuggets Training Camp Went Well According To Malone
While in conversation with Malone, I also asked the championship-winning head coach about the team's expedited training camp back in Denver. Malone seemed very satisfied with the work his players had done before coming to Abu Dhabi and the work they've continued to put in on this international trip.
"It's been great. We had four practices before we came over here. Guys came in shape, came in committed, and I think everyone used the sting of losing to Minnesota last year to come back as better players. It's been great so far, we've had great practices here yesterday and today in preparation for tomorrow night. That's our No. 1 goal - find a way to get better every day and we've done that so far."
Malone also gave a straightforward answer when I asked him about Karl-Anthony Towns' being traded away by the Minnesota Timberwolves , the team who ended the Nuggets bid for back-to-back championships.
"No, we're worried about us. We don't concern ourselves with what's going out beyond our gym, we're worried about the Denver Nuggets and what we need to do on a daily basis."
The loss to the Timberwolves last Playoffs naturally stings the coach, but he's trying to make his players channel those energies into their play so this never happens again. From what I observed in 30 minutes of practice , the players are communicating with each other on the court while playing hard, even in preseason practice.
The Nuggets are still expected to be one of the top four teams in the West, with their biggest kryptonite in the West dismantling itself with the Towns trade. If one of the young stars who ultimately earns the starting shooting guard position can be a major contributor, the Nuggets will continue competing for championships for years to come.
Read more from my coverage for Fadeaway World at the 2024 NBA Abu Dhabi Games - Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets.
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