Two years ago, Denver Nuggets fans weren't over Bruce Brown leaving to sign with the Pacers in free agency. Denver couldn't offer him the kind of money that Indiana did. After a lone season in the Mile High City that ended with a championship, Brown was on the move again.
Brown didn't know that he'd be with the Pacers for only half a season, as he was traded to the Raptors as part of the Pascal Siakam deal. He stayed in Toronto until the following trade deadline, when he was on the move again, going to New Orleans as part of the Brandon Ingram deal.
After two years of bouncing around from team to team, Brown is finally home again. The Nuggets signed the 28-year-old to a veteran's minimum, quite the bargain for Denver. Brown might not be making the millions and millions of dollars he made the past couple of seasons, but the deal is a win for him, too.
Brown's previous season in Denver was the best in his career, and that didn't happen coincidentally. It was a reflection of his hard work, but he also played alongside Nikola Jokic, who is notorious for helping his teammates have career-best seasons.
It was evident Brown was open to a reunion with the Nuggets, months before free agency began. Sure, it helps that Denver is a title contender, but Brown also realizes the (literal) value of playing with someone like Jokic.
Bruce Brown needed no convincing to return to Nuggets
Jokic knew that Denver didn't have the depth to make a deep playoff run in the two years following their championship. After the Nuggets lost to the Thunder in Game 7 of the 2025 semifinals, he pointed out that the teams still in the mix had "longer benches."
The new front office duo, Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace, heard Jokic loud and clear. Brown isn't the only depth signing that the Nuggets made, but he will give Denver the best value.
He already has chemistry with several players on the roster who were around in 2022-23, has a relationship with new head coach David Adelman, and is, above all, a winning player. Brown will be a spark of energy off the bench, and he can be slotted into the starting lineup when needed. He's the role player Denver knew it needed again.
The sun has been shining a little brighter in Colorado since Brown returned.