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Denver’s back court of the Future

By Jordan Reid

Feb 17, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; World Team guard Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets (27) celebrates winning the MVP during the Rising Stars Challenge at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 17, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; World Team guard Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets (27) celebrates winning the MVP during the Rising Stars Challenge at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 24, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris (14) in the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris (14) in the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Denver has a very underrated back court.

A year ago, Denver believed they had their point guard of the future in Emmanuel Mudiay. The question though, after drafting the young shooting guard- Jamal Murray, was who will win the start at the two-guard position.

Between the great sophomore season from Gary Harris, the explosive breakout season from Will Barton, and the promising future of lottery pick Jamal Murray, starting two-guard would be a position fought for. And it was.

Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets /

Denver Nuggets

However, surprisingly between injuries and a sophomore slump, Emmanuel Mudiay struggled and lost his starting position at point. Jameer Nelson took his position for much of the year, but Murray also got some starts.

Now, a year later, Jamal Murray has not seemingly stolen Gary’s position at the two, but has taken Mudiay’s spot. It appears Murray may be the Nuggets point guard of the future. The shooting guard role looks like it will continue to belong to Gary Harris.

Murray and Harris can become one of the most explosive back courts in the NBA.

Gary Harris was 9th in the NBA in 3-point percentage this season at 42%. And despite a rough shooting start for rookie Jamal Murray, he began to find his stroke from deep as the year went on. Murray won the Rising Stars MVP by draining nine 3-pointers.

Harris is Denver’s best perimeter defender. Harris also led the team in steals. Murray needs work but showed potential as a defender.

These two young guards also fit Denver’s system perfectly because they are both great at moving without the basketball. This is a crucial skill for guards in Denver because the true floor general in the mile-high city is a 7-ft. center named Nikola Jokic. In his second season in the NBA, Jokic is already regarded by many as the best passing big man in the league.

It is safe to say the Joker will be starting in Denver for a very long time. When the Nuggets are running their offense through their Serbian big man and Harris and Murray are cutting to the basket, good things happen. Denver finished the season with a top-five offense in the league by using this approach.

Must Read: How the Draft Lottery will shape the Nuggets

Denver has a long off-season ahead of them. Many roster changes will be made, but Murray and Harris should be Denver’s back court of the future.

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