Denver Nuggets: 3 players to watch in the 2022 Summer League

Collin Gillespie, G – Villanova Wildcats

We’ll start things off with the player already signed to a two-way deal with the Denver Nuggets, Collin Gillespie. Who the Nuggets were seemingly eager to sign almost immediately after the Villanova product went unselected in the 2022 NBA Draft. Reaching an official agreement just hours after the draft ended, per Adrian Wojnarowski.

Gillespie is easily the most intriguing undrafted prospect on the Denver Nuggets’ Summer League roster, as a well-rounded and proven talent with championship experience, albeit at the college level. Nevertheless, his progression over the last five years has been special, and he ends his collegiate career with one of the better resumes in the country.

While he was only a freshman reserve on Villanova’s 2018 NCAA title team, Gillespie played a pivotal role in the program’s Final Four run this past year. Averaging 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.0 steals in 34.2 minutes per game on .434/.415/.905 shooting splits.

All of which was good enough to earn him the Bob Cousy Award as the nation‘s top senior point guard and named to the AP All-American Third Team for the 2021-22 season.

He’s also improved each year with the program, going from averaging less than 5 points per game in his freshman year, to over 10 points a game as a sophomore and then 15 as a junior, a number which he’s maintained over the last three seasons. All while improving his assist and rebounding totals, and never shooting less than 40 percent from the field or 35 percent from deep.

Over his five-year career with the Wildcats, Collin Gillespie has put together not just one of the best portfolios in college basketball, but also one of the more impressive in Villanova program history. Totalling 1,858 points, 482 assists, 449 rebounds and 154 steals in 156 games played.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, “why should I care about another point guard when the Nuggets already have Jamal Murray and Bones Hyland?” Well, for starters, Denver just traded away their lead floor general in Monte Morris, who (behind Jokic) was the team’s top facilitator.

Sure, Murray and Hyland both have the court awareness and vision to move the ball and lead an offense, but neither is regarded as a “true point guard” by any means.

Not only that, but with Murray’s recent injury history and Hyland still in the developmental phase of his career, it’s never a bad idea to have more depth at the position moving forward. Above all else, it provides head coach, Michael Malone, with more flexibility to mix and match his rotations.

Additionally, Gillespie has an incredibly versatile skill set as a player who can play on or off the ball with success, which could see him drift down to the two position as well. Particularly with his quick release and high efficiency in catch-and-shoot scenarios from long range, averaging over 38 percent from beyond the arc over his five-year career with the Wildcats.

However, perhaps his most valuable asset is the level of maturity he carries and his experience developing under one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history. After all, he wouldn’t be the first Villanova product to thrive in the NBA (ex., Kyle Lowry, Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Saddiq Bey, Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, etc.).

Gillespie’s recent two-way deal means that he’ll either be getting paid an NBA salary, should he remain with the Denver Nuggets next season, or a lesser G League salary if he were to spend the year playing for the Grand Rapids Gold instead. Regardless, it’ll be interesting to see how he meshes with the rest of the group this summer and how he develops over the course of the next few years.