The vibes at Denver Nuggets media day 2022 were exceptional, undisturbed, and focused as Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and the rest of the Mile High crew zero in on a hopeful championship run with a healthy and stacked roster to begin the season.
Head coach Michael Malone has a veteran lineup to work with and some added sizzle with names like Bones Hyland and Michael Porter Jr. ready to cook defenders on the offensive end. Jokic’s experience and laid-back nature have everyone, including the versatile Blue Arrow and Denver media members, at peace entering the 2022-23 campaign.
The Nuggets’ challenge this year will be keeping such a lethal rotation healthy for the length of the season and dialing in the chemistry with some new faces like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown in time for a daunting playoff push. One that could certainly include a rematch with the revamped Golden State Warriors that just disposed of Denver in five games last postseason without James Wiseman.
Here are the three best and most awkward moments from Denver Nuggets media day 2022.
3. Awkward: Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. answer questions about their health
Everyone knows Nikola Jokic can’t do it all by himself. He’s going to need some help if he is going to achieve the unthinkable and bring a championship to Denver. Nuggets fans have hoped for years that help has arrived with a return to full health for guard Jamal Murray and forward Michael Porter Jr.
The two superstar scorers have grown tired of answering questions about their backs and their knees and any other body part. They are simply ready to get back to playing basketball alongside Big Honey. MPJ reportedly has no limitations and should add some spice to the Nuggets’ flavorful array of scoring options, as well as athleticism and anticipation on defense.
Some have questioned if MPJ remains as close with the team as some of the other guys, but that is irrelevant if his game shows up on a nightly basis. Porter Jr. has been working hard to put the spinal ghosts to bed.
Murray has been under Nuggets Nation’s microscope after informing the team he was not ready to come back from a knee injury during the playoffs last year, but in 2022 the Kentucky product is ready to rock. The mental hurdle is the final one to conquer for Murray and he sounds ready to go by all accounts.
Murray is focusing on picking up where he left off and establishing himself as one of the most dangerous guards in the league. He mentioned at media day his strength and confidence have increased in the offseason.
2. Best: Jokic grabs grapes for Jamal
During their media day press conference sitting side by side, Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic looked over at each other and their unspoken chemistry we often see on the court shined through once again, this time in front of the press as Jokic immediately knew Murray wanted a grape.
Big Honey got up and made his way across the room to the snack section set out for media and players alike. “Grab me a grape, bro.” Murray shouted jokingly as he tried to remember where media members were last left off in regard to his recovery process.
Jokic is hilarious and knows how to keep the mood light and to keep Murray in good spirits as he is drilled with tough questions about his recovery. Recovering from an injury can be frustrating, and surely it was killing Murray not being out there with Jokic during their playoff matchup with the Warriors last year.
The Blue Arrow seems focused and determined in 2022, and Jokic always seems to put him in a good mood. If the unspoken relationship between them continues to blossom as it did with the grapes, the sky is the limit in the Mile High.
1. Awkward: Calvin Booth trusting Michael Malone early on
As Calvin Booth settles in for his first year as general manager of the Denver Nuggets, the feeling seems to be that Michael Malone will be trusted to run the team and make big decisions early on as Booth gets more and more comfortable.
This will allow Malone to take the reigns of a roster that has a few new pieces and gives him a chance to show that he is guiding this team in the right direction, a direction Booth can get on board with if the Nuggets are successful and winning games early on.
Malone is no-nonsense this year, stating “don’t talk about it, be about it.” Malone would like to see even more maturity out of Bones Hyland and even more leadership from back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic.
Malone wants the team to be smart and savvy defensively, challenging them to be a top-5 unit in defense this year. Booth sounds confident in Malone and ready to see what his new roster can do, collaborating with Malone on free agency decisions and mentioning that his guiding philosophy is to find versatile players.
The Nuggets are focused on 2022 and ready to prove that they belong on top of the Western Conference with a fully healthy rotation and some maturity to boot. They have a plan for Jokic, Murray, and Porter Jr. in the preseason and surely Nuggets fans are ready to see the full arsenal unleashed once again.