Sports Illustrated has began their top 100 NBA players for this season and two different Denver Nuggets players have already cracked the countdown.
The Denver Nuggets have one of, if not, the most promising young core in the league. It has now been noticed by Sports Illustrated who already have two key starters from Denver’s rotation in their top 100 countdown for this year.
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Who are these two players who have been ranked so far? The first one came at the 70th spot as Will Barton is the one who will proclaim this ranking for this season.
Barton had a career year last season where he averaged 17.5 points per game along with five rebounds per game and also 4.1 assists per game. Not to mention, he showed some flashes on the defensive end of the floor increasing his steal and block percentage. Barton also had some clutch moments which included a game winning lay up over the Chicago Bulls early in the season.
For the next player, the Denver Nuggets saw their point guard of the future in Jamal Murray come in at the 55th spot on the countdown. Murray increased his scoring average from 9.9 points per game to a nice 16.7 points per game.
He shifted from the shooting guard spot to the point guard position after a battle between him and Jameer Nelson in the preseason for the starting duties. He has became an integral part of the Nuggets’ high scoring offense and was a force to be reckoned with from three and showed the ability to penetrate the paint as well.
Despite some expected growing pains from changing positions, Murray was a bright spot for the Denver Nuggets last year and this ranking is well deserved. It is good to see the Nuggets getting respect on this list and we cannot wait to see where Gary Harris and Nikola Jokic land.
Especially since this will mean the Nuggets will boast two top 50 players for this upcoming season.