Jameer Nelson Discusses Re-Signing with the Denver Nuggets

In 2009 and 2010, Jameer Nelson was oh so close to an NBA championship. His Orlando team was a monster in the East, losing to the Lakers in 2009, and then being upset by the Celtics in the ECF of 2010. At the back end of his career, you’d expect a veteran like Nelson to chase a championship by signing with a contender. However, Nelson bucked the trend, re-upping with the rebuilding Denver Nuggets.

Why did Jameer make this decision? He discussed with Nuggets.com.

"The atmosphere in Denver and what’s going on there. It took me back to my Orlando days when I first got there and we had a bunch of new pieces and a new coach. We put things together and we were on the up-rise. Nobody believed we could do it, but we made history down in Orlando. The things we did and the amount of wins that we had. We had a bunch of guys that nobody really wanted. Everybody thought this guy couldn’t play here that guy couldn’t play, but we stuck together and we did things together and we won a lot of games. We all helped turn the organization around."

If the Nuggets can follow what the Magic did from the mid to late 2000’s, then count me in. Orlando drafted well, and added core veterans like Rashard Lewis to a team based around strong defense and a modern up tempo, great shooting offense. Of course, that was made easier by drafting a prime Dwight Howard.