After signing Jack White to the final roster spot, the Denver Nuggets have completed their 2022 offseason. What will the final addition bring to the roster?
The Australian forward had an impressive showing during the 2022 NBA Summer League and essentially “won” the final roster spot that was available, joining Collin Gillespie as the second Two-Way contract on the roster.
The Denver Nuggets are signing Australian F Jack White to a two-way contract, sources tell ESPN. White had a strong Summer League performance for Denver.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 17, 2022
I wrote before Summer League kicked off that White has the opportunity to crack the final rotation with his blend of 3-point shooting and defense essential in the modern NBA. Not only did he hit his wide-open shots, but he also pulled down a fair chunk of rebounds across his appearances.
Mike Singer, The Denver Post adds that the front office loved his effort on both ends, especially on the glass. Against the Cleveland Cavaliers, he put up eight points, 15 rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and a steal and then followed it up with 14 points, five rebounds, and two steals.
Speaking with his former club’s (Melbourne United) media team, Jack White says it’s his “dream” to make it in the NBA:
"“This is an amazing opportunity for me to take another step towards living out my dream of playing in the NBA, so I couldn’t be more grateful to the Nuggets for giving me a shot.”"
United chief executive, Nick Truelson, says the organization is proud that one of their own making it in the NBA:
"“We could not be more proud of Jack. We have seen the incredible amount of work he has put in, and with the talent he has we had a feeling that this was a real possibility for him when he was selected to play in the Summer League.“Jack is a fantastic person, athlete and player, and we can’t wait to see what he can do now that he has been given this opportunity in the NBA.”"
What will Jack White do for the Denver Nuggets on the court?
Being on a Two-Way contract, White is limited to only 45 days with the Denver Nuggets, splitting his time with the Grand Rapids Gold. It’s a significant first step for young players hoping to make it in the NBA but it’s still an uphill climb for playing time.
Lucky for White, his road to playing time might be easier in a Nuggets uniform than usual. This past season, Two-Way player Davon Reed played well enough to earn himself a second contract this offseason and there are some who believed he should’ve been converted to an NBA contract by the playoffs.
Law Murray, The Athletic reported that Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. will be on a minutes restriction to start next season, meaning Michael Malone will have to reach deep into his bench for part of the season.
On top of that, the Nuggets are established title contenders who have reached high seeds in the Western Conference in the past, there’s no urgent need to win games in the present and the team could focus on development early on.
In the absence of MPJ and Murray, Jack White should see backup minutes behind their replacements in Bruce Brown, Jeff Green, Davon Reed, and Christian Braun. That’s a lot of players to jump, assuming the starters miss entire games, but if given the opportunity, he should thrive, just as he did in Las Vegas.
As a 3-and-D wing, White is strong enough to defend bigger forwards and has a nose for rebounding the ball. That’s a pretty solid baseline to start from but the big question will be whether his jump shots fall or not.
He has worked hard enough to win this roster spot and there’s every reason to believe he’ll carry this momentum over to the NBA. If he can hit his high watermark, the Denver Nuggets might have another versatile forward on their roster.