6 Worst Denver Nuggets starters of the Carmelo Anthony Era

5. Shelden Williams, Denver Nuggets Center, 2010-11

Shelden Williams had himself a banner year in 2006. He was named the NABC Defensive Player of the Year, he earned consensus All-American honors, and he was drafted fifth overall by the Atlanta Hawks. He started 31 games that season but lost the job halfway through due to underwhelming performance.

Williams did not start another game for the next five years as he bounced around and played for four different teams. In 2010 he landed in Denver where he was once again given a chance to get into the starting five. He started 32 of 42 possible games, but he was only given 17 minutes each night. In those short minutes, he averaged just 4.7 points per game, though he did have a decent rebounding output at 5.3 rebounds per contest.

However, he was never meant to be in the Rockies for long. He was shipped to the Big Apple in February 2011 in a mega trade that was to mark the end of the Carmelo Anthony era in Denver. Williams had been the latest example of the Nuggets brass’ frustrating penchant to surround Melo with sturdy but unexceptional teammates, which was one of the main reasons he started looking for greener pastures.