The Nuggets will finally get their chance to get in front of microphones today and say whatever’s on their minds. It’s been a long and tumultuous offseason, but mostly a positive one. The players and staff should come in focused, like-minded, and ready to compete for another championship.
At the same time, the players likely have some thoughts they’d like to get off their chests, and there are plenty of interesting narratives to follow as they relate to different players.
Nikola Jokic
For Jokic, the big question will be around his extension. He obviously declined to extend in the summer, but the expectation is that he’ll ink a five-year supermax next summer. Whether he’ll have anything to say or not, we’ll see, but surely that will come up at media day.
Christian Braun and Peyton Watson
Both players are set to be eligible for rookie extensions in a few weeks, and what kind of deals they command will be a major storyline to monitor at the beginning of the season.
Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon
The two veteran co-stars faced injury concerns for much of last season. They’ll be relied upon heavily, but they should have ample opportunities to rest and stay fresh this season as well. What kind of shape they’re in to start the season will be a major talking point.
Jonas Valanciunas
JV is committed to Denver after the awkward trade situation, but there are still some questions about his buy-in. It will be interesting to see what he says and how much he appears ready for the grind and to leave it all out there to win a title.
Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown, and Cam Johnson
The new guys will certainly all be asked about joining the Nuggets and how they plan to fit in and make an impact. Brown was here before and will hope to resume his role and help win another title, but Johnson and THJ are exciting new additions, and it will be exciting to see how they fit.
Julian Strawther, DaRon Holmes, and Jalen Pickett
Finally, the young guys are in an interesting spot coming into the year. Their spots in the rotation aren’t totally clear or guaranteed, but they each have a major chance to make an impact. Holmes will be asked about his recovery from injury, Strawther will be asked about making strides, and Pickett will be asked if he’s ready to be the full-time backup point guard.
It should be a very interesting day!