More than eight months after the Denver Nuggets swapped a starter and a future first-round pick for Cameron Johnson, he has yet to show beyond doubt that he is worth the price they paid to get him. The good news is that he has started to turn things around. The better news for the organization and its fans? He is bound to continue improving.
After averaging 16.7 points per game over his last three outings and scoring at least 15 three straight times for only the second time this season, Johnson stated that he has not yet put it all together (subscription required). He said, via Bennett Durando of the Denver Post, "There's still an element of figuring it out."
Hopefully, that means we will see the first-year Nugget help the team conclude the regular season on a positive note and make a deep playoff push.
The Nuggets' championship-winning formula
If we look back on Denver's title run in 2023, several of the most important players are still on the roster. There's the generational superstar, Nikola Jokic, who proved that he probably should have won the MVP that season, Jamal Murray, and a do-it-all forward, Aaron Gordon.
Christian Braun and Peyton Watson were also members of that squad, while Bruce Brown is back after brief stints with three other teams.
A significant piece that is missing is Michael Porter Jr. Although he struggled with his shooting in the 2023 Finals, his potential to explode on offense was a factor that the Miami Heat had to brace for, as did the other opponents the Nuggets faced in the previous rounds.
In addition, his 8.4 rebounds per game in the championship series were the third-most among all players behind Jokic and Bam Adebayo, and he did put up 16 points in the Nuggets' 94-89 Game 5 victory to seal the championship.
Cameron Johson might just be the Nuggets' X-factor
The question now is whether Johnson can deliver an impact similar to that of the guy he replaced in the Mile High City. Based on his recent outings, it appears he is more than capable of doing so. I hope I don't jinx it, but he has made me, and other folks, who believe the Nuggets have to bench him to advance far in the playoffs eat crow.
Aside from his scoring, Cam has also turned heads by looking decisive and aggressive on both ends of the floor in his last three games. Denver would have won all three had the referees not made a crucial crunch-time mistake in its loss to the Los Angeles Lakers last Sunday.
Still, Johnson's mini-resurgence is definitely a welcome development. And if he can figure everything out by the time the playoffs start, the Nuggets are going to be a tough matchup for any team.