Nuggets to sign P.J. Dozier

With the NBA’s transaction window opened, the Denver Nuggets are signing P.J. Dozier for the rest of the season.

P.J. Dozier had been on a two-way contract with the Nuggets and appeared in 21 games with the team, averaging 11 minutes per game. Dozier has established a reputation around NBA circles as a hard-nosed, tough individual who has made a name for himself as a gritty two-way player.

Dozier was originally undrafted out of South Carolina in 2017, and latched on with the Dallas Mavericks in the summer league. He then signed a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He played in just two games with the Thunder before signing the same type of deal with the Boston Celtics in 2018.

He was named to the All-NBA G League team, which is the league’s equivalent of being named to an All-Star team. Dozier played in six games in Boston, before the team declined to extend his contract. He later agreed to play with the Philadelphia 76ers on their summer league roster. As Dozier continued to bounce around though, he developed a reputation as a strong perimeter defender who made up for what he lacked in raw talent with brute strength and effort.

Dozier signed another two-way deal with the Nuggets in August of 2019. He was then sent to the Windy City Bulls for the beginning of the G-League season. In a January game against the Charlotte Hornets, Jamal Murray left the game near the end of the first half with a left ankle injury. Dozier, having since been recalled to the NBA, filled in admirably in his team debut with 12 points.

Before the game had even ended, a hobbled Murray took to social media saying, “All I’m sayin is y’all better be ready to see my boy @Dozier_Kid shine. … dat boy can hoop!!” After the shocking news of Nikola Jokic‘s positive test for coronavirus, the Nuggets suddenly became a more active team in the league’s open transaction window, and brought Dozier in on a full contract for the rest of the season.