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Kiki Vandeweghe: An underrated Nuggets legend

By Mathew Huff

SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 8: Kiki Vandeweghe, Vice President of Basketball Operations for the NBA speaks during the Tissot press announcement as part of the 2016 Global Games - China at Mercedes Benz Arena on October 8, 2016 in Shanghai, China. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 8: Kiki Vandeweghe, Vice President of Basketball Operations for the NBA speaks during the Tissot press announcement as part of the 2016 Global Games - China at Mercedes Benz Arena on October 8, 2016 in Shanghai, China. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Of the many great players the Nuggets have had, one who is often overlooked is Kiki Vandeweghe.

Kiki Vandeweghe is one of the best players to ever dawn a Denver Nuggets jersey. However, when one brings up the Nuggets’ legends, he is often forgotten on a list which includes the likes of Alex English, Dikembe Mutombo, Dan Issel, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups and Fat Lever.

Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets /

Denver Nuggets

Vandeweghe was a key part of the Nuggets squad back in the 1980’s. The small forward came into the league in 1981 and averaged a nice 11.5 points per game in his rookie season according to basketball-reference.com.

In his four year stint with Denver, Vandeweghe put up a scoring average of 23.3 points per game along with a 5.3 rebounding average and a 54.1% field goal percentage. The peak of his career came in the 1983-84 season which saw him put up a scoring average of 29.4 points per game, a 56.2% effective field goal percentage, 36.7% shooting from the three point line and an outstanding offensive rating of 122. It is hard to believe Vandeweghe is a forgotten former NBA star with crazy offensive numbers like these.

For his career, he ended up averaging 19.7 points per game, a 52.5% field goal percentage and offensive win share of 66.8.

Kiki Vandeweghe also was a part of an intriguing big three in the 1983-84 season which featured him along with Alex English and Dan Issel. They only got to the second round of the playoffs, but imagine what they could have done if this trio was together a bit longer and/or when they were all in their prime.

Vandeweghe may be more known now in today’s NBA as a front office type of guy, but true Denver fans remember him as the outstanding small forward who gave the team four great years.

Next: What's going on with Wilson Chandler?

Kiki Vandeweghe is one of the most underrated Denver legends of all time.

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