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Denver Nuggets: Top six “glue guys” since 2000

By Kevin Oestreicher

DENVER - DECEMBER 3: Nene #31 and Chauncey Billups #1 of the Denver Nuggets sit prior to the game against the Los Angeles Clippers on December 3, 2010 at the Pepsi 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 2010 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER - DECEMBER 3: Nene #31 and Chauncey Billups #1 of the Denver Nuggets sit prior to the game against the Los Angeles Clippers on December 3, 2010 at the Pepsi 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 2010 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo By John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
(Photo By John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

Glue Guy #5: Mike Miller (2015-2017)

Mike Miller was a veteran who was brought in for the purpose of mentoring an inexperienced Nuggets team. He was a solid player for years, and is one of the best three-point shooters in NBA history.

Miller has always been considered a player with a high basketball IQ. Although he didn’t play many minutes during his time in Denver, he was instrumental in developing game strategy, as well as helping both the coaches and the players when the team was struggling. Malone has even said that he turned to Miller for his advice during games. In a game against Minnesota, Malone asked for Miller’s advice to close out the game. From Mile High Sports:

"“They’re switching pick and rolls,” Miller said, according to Malone. “Let’s put (Danilo Gallinari) Gallo in a pick and roll so we get Kevin Martin to guard Gallo. He can’t guard Gallo.”"

Malone drew up a play centered around Gallinari, and Gallinari hit a shot that was a dagger. Those kind of contributions from Miller show how instrumental he was to the Nuggets. From Mile High Sports:

"A long line of coaches have trusted and gained insight from Miller. The 36-year-old’s basketball intelligence has long been known throughout the league…That game, Malone says, embodies what Miller brings to the Nuggets: Experience, leadership and intelligence. “A lot of guys don’t have all that. When you have experience, leadership and intelligence, $3.5 million, whatever he’s making, I think every penny is worth it,” Malone says."

Miller made everyone around him better, whether it be players or coaches. His coaches and teammates around the league say he is a stand up guy, and a guy who helped them grow as a basketball player as a person.

Related Story: Most electric personalities in Denver history

You can never have too many of those kind of guys on a team, and the Nuggets know that.

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