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Why Paul Millsap is a 4x All-Star

By Mathew Huff

DENVER, CO - JULY 13: The Denver Nuggets Introduce Paul Millsap during a press conference on July 13, 2017 at the Montbello Recreation Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JULY 13: The Denver Nuggets Introduce Paul Millsap during a press conference on July 13, 2017 at the Montbello Recreation Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Denver Nuggets are getting a solidified star in Paul Millsap for this upcoming season and the numbers show how great he really is on both sides of the court.

Denver Nuggets power forward Paul Millsap is one of the lesser known stars in today’s NBA. In a league that is powered by the three ball and electric sensations like Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook and LeBron James, it’s easy to see why a talent like Millsap would go generally unnoticed.

Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets /

Denver Nuggets

However, we Nugget fans have been paying attention and realize how dynamic he is about to make this young team. And no, I am not just talking about the infamous Carmelo Anthony dunk he had over him while Millsap was in Utah. Millsap was the anchor for many years in Atlanta. That was just one reason why he became a 4x All Star. The numbers also prove it as well.

Per basketball-reference.com, Millsap averaged 17.4 points per game in his four years with the Hawks. He is also coming off a season where he averaged a career high in points per game at 18.1. Millsap does a lot of other things well though.

In the 2014-15 season, Paul had a defensive rating of 99, which was followed up in the Hawks’ famous 60 win year where Millsap improved this rating to 96. Millsap can guard multiple positions which will make him an extremely versatile defensive weapon for the Nuggets. There was one year while he was with the Jazz where he nearly averaged three blocks per game! Oh, and being third in defensive box plus/minus (4.2) in the league during the 2015-16 season does not hurt either.

One of the most overlooked aspects of Millsap’s game is his passing. Paul averaged 3.7 assists per game last year and has always been a fluent passer for a big man. Is he perfect in this category? No, but playing alongside a point center like Nikola Jokic means that he does not need to be the best passer. Besides, I’m sure he will have a few nice dimes to Jokic himself anyway.

Next: Nuggets reportedly sign Torrey Craig

All of these reasons are why Millsap is a 4x All-Star and it is time to stop overlooking this star power forward.

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