Erick Green Looking to Impress the Nuggets in Summer League

May 16, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Erick Green is interviewed during the NBA Draft combine at Harrison Street Athletics Facility. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

A little over a year ago, Erick Green had just left Virginia Tech after four years at the university, following a season in which he led the entire NCAA in scoring. He became a member of the Denver Nuggets organization when the team acquired his rights from the Utah Jazz during the 2013 NBA Draft.

After being drafted, Green was part of the Nugget’s Summer League roster and then he spent the 2013-2014 season playing for Montepaschi Siena in the Italian League, where he averaged a little more than 11 points per game. Now, as he gears up to run with the Nuggets as part of their Las Vegas Summer League squad, Green is hoping to show off how far he’s come since being drafted and grab the attention of executives in Denver and around the league.

In an interview with Aaron Lopez of Nuggets.com, Green said he hopes his ability to be both a scorer and distributor at the point guard position will earn him the opportunity to make Denver’s roster for the upcoming season:

"“Last year, I had people telling me that I wasn’t a point guard. I’m a scoring point guard. I’m going to score. I’m going to make things happen. I think I got away from that and tried to show people things that weren’t me. I can do both. Last year, they wanted me to [be a scorer] and instead I was showing them I could be a passer. Not this year, though. I’m going to be who I am – score the ball and make plays. Let’s get it done this year.”"

Green’s college resume should be enough to get Nuggets fans excited at what he might be able to bring to the team off the bench, and with a full season of overseas ball under his belt, it’s likely his skill set has expanded. I’m eager to see what he brings to the Summer League team, and I’d love to see him break-out and turn some heads in Las Vegas. The team could use a backup point guard to challenge Nate Robinson for minutes, and if Green can show even a fraction of the scoring ability he showcased during his time at Virginia Tech, he could evolve into the caliber of player who could one day serve as Ty Lawson’s successor.