Denver Nuggets: One Legend Each Starter Could Learn From

2. Paul Millsap & Larry Bird – Passing

Paul Millsap could learn a ton from Larry Bird. Bird is considered one of the greatest shooters of all time, and he’s considered one of the greatest players all-time in general. Millsap could work on his shooting, but that’s not what he’s learning from Larry Legend. He’s here to work on his passing. For his career, Millsap averages just 2.8 assists per game, and he’s never averaged more than 3.9 in a single season. Bird, on the other hand, retired with a career mark of 6.3 per game.

Bird was an elite all-around player for the Boston Celtics during his time in the NBA, and his passing was something special. Millsap has always been a solid player in just about every facet of the game, but his passing has never caught on. NBA teams have been working more and more passes into their game which helps spread the defense out and create more scoring opportunities.

The Nuggets already have one elite passing big, Nikola Jokic, who we’ll get to in a minute. What would be the harm in having one more? There is none. The ball would move more crisply and create more advantageous offensive situations. Bird improved his passing with age as his athleticism decreased, and Millsap could look to do something similar. If he could do it now though, it’d be a boon for Denver in 2019-20.