The Denver Nuggets have created a significantly deeper roster than they had a season ago—point guard aside. It's a factor that ESPN has reminded Denver of in an article that likely aligns with the knowledge that the front office already possesses.
The Nuggets have undoubtedly made progress toward winning a second championship in four years, but the lack of an ideal backup point guard could be their undoing.
Denver spent its offseason bolstering its second unit after enduring a second-round exit from the playoffs for a second consecutive season. It's added quality players at virtually every position, but has yet to formally replace Russell Westbrook in the backup point guard role.
Kevin Pelton of ESPN recently wrote about each team's primary flaw, singling out the Nuggets' lack of an ideal backup point guard as their definitive weakness.
"This question became more difficult this summer when the Nuggets added Jonas Valanciunas, a proven backup for three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, and more shooting. Denver is betting on Jalen Pickett-- a nonfactor in last year's playoffs -- as the primary backup to Jamal Murray. But newcomer Bruce Brown could handle those minutes in the postseason."
Denver certainly has options given the nature of their roster structure and style of play, but the lack of depth at point guard is somewhat alarming.
ESPN questions Nuggets' lack of depth at point guard
Denver is an admittedly unique team in regard to how the point guard position factors into its strategy. It runs its offense through center Nikola Jokic, trusting his court vision and passing as much as it relies on his elite scoring proficiency.
As such, Denver's needs at point guard are different from the average franchise that tends to run its offense through the position.
For as true as that may be, Jamal Murray plays a prominent role in the manner in which the offense is run. He's the Nuggets' most reliable perimeter scorer, as well as a consistent source of responsible playmaking—a skill that tends to be underrated.
Over the past three seasons, Murray has compiled averages of 20.9 points and 6.2 assists on .470/.404/.859 shooting.
Unfortunately, Murray has also missed at least 15 games in each of the past three seasons. With this in mind, the need for an ideal backup at the position is unavoidable, as history suggests a temporary starter will need to be available for a considerable number of outings.
Jalen Pickett has upside to consider with career per-36 averages of 11.1 points and 5.8 assists on .428/.389/.750 shooting, but with 76 games of NBA experience, it's a risky gamble.
The more likely outcome is for Bruce Brown Jr. to return to the hybrid role he played for the Nuggets during their title-winning season in 2022-23. His on and off-ball value could help spell Murray, whether he's healthy or otherwise, and his defense could elevate the roster overall.
Denver has options to overcome this potential issue, but the question mark at point guard could prove devastating in 2025-26.