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Denver Nuggets: The five best players you’ve never heard of

By Grayson Moore

BOSTON, MA - 1990: Blair Rasmussen #41 of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics circa 1990 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 1990 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - 1990: Blair Rasmussen #41 of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics circa 1990 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 1990 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SACRAMENTO, CA – APRIL 13: Mike Adams #14 of the Denver Nuggets stands on the court during a game against the Sacramento Kings on April 13, 1989, at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1989 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA – APRIL 13: Mike Adams #14 of the Denver Nuggets stands on the court during a game against the Sacramento Kings on April 13, 1989, at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1989 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. PG Michael Adams

Career Stats in Denver(5 seasons): 18.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 7.2 apg, 2.0 spg, 0.1 bpg, 41.7% FG%, 34.2% FG3%, 17.5 PER, 29.0 Win Shares

Michael Adams is one of the best point guards to ever play for the Denver Nuggets.

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His Denver averages of 7.2 apg and 2.0 spg rank 2nd and 4th respectively on the Nuggets all-time leaderboard. He also ranks top-10 all-time in points per game, 3s made and attempted, free throw percentage, offensive box plus/minus and box plus/minus. However, he is so slept on that when you search Michael Adams on Google Images, his face doesn’t appear until almost the 90th photo. When you start looking at other stats, you really start to wonder why that is.

Passing Ability

He was one of the premier passers in the league during the late 80’s and early 90’s. His Nuggets average of 7.2 assists per game should tell you that. But there’s more to it than that.

He racked up the 10th most assists in the league during the time that he played for the Nuggets(2181). Among that group of players, he ranked 4th in total points and 1st in made and attempted 3-pointers. In Denver, he had an assist to turnover ratio of 3.13 while maintaining a 26.4% assist percentage.

In the 1990-91 season, he averaged 26.5 ppg and 10.5 apg. He was the first player to do that since Tiny Archibald in 1972-73 and remains to be the only Nugget ever to put up those averages. He is also one of just 4 players in NBA history to put up that stat line. The other men on that list are Archibald, James Harden, and Oscar Robertson. Not bad company.

Needless to say, he was one of the best passers in Nuggets history.

3-Point Scoring

Adams was an even earlier advocate for 3-point shooting than Abdul-Rauf. From the 1987-88 season to the 1990-91 season, he led the league in 3-pointers made and attempted. And it really wasn’t even close.

In that time period, there were 4 men who made over 400 3-pointers: Danny Ainge, Dale Ellis, Reggie Miller, and Adams. Ainge finished second among those players in 3s made with 474. Michael Adams made 630 3-pointers. That’s a difference of 156 3s.

From the time the 3-point line was originated(1979-80 season) to Adams’ retirement(1994-95), Adams had the 5th most 3-pointers in the league. Of those top 5 players, Adams also played the least minutes and games. He was also the first player ever to top 165 3-pointers in a season.

While Adams may not be able to compete with the likes of Steph Curry in a 3-point shootout, it is fair to call him the first true long distance marksman. That should definitely mean something to Nuggets fans, especially when you combine it with his passing ability.