Nuggets take team-building into their own hands before the season begins

As the offseason progressed, Denver Nuggets fans wondered whether they'd see their favorite squad doing the same team-building and bonding that other teams have been doing. The Timberwolves went to France with Rudy Gobert, and the Lakers went to Slovenia with Luka Doncic. Wonder no more, Nuggets fans. The team, well, most of them, have been spotted together enjoying some free time at a Bad Bunny concert in Puerto Rico between workouts and pick-up games. You love to see it!

Most of the Nuggets roster, sans Nikola Jokic, who's busy playing for Serbia in the FIBA World Cup exhibitions and qualifiers, Jamal Murray, the newly signed DeMar DeRozan, and Christian Braun were spotted at the concert and also at the Puerto Rico Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN) deciding Game 7 together. Again, you love to see it!

The team was invited to attend a basketball clinic for kids (article is in Spanish by Antolín Maldonado Ríos) by Nuggets assistant coach J.J. Barea, who is from Puerto Rico. But it sounds like it was Mr. Nugget, Aaron Gordon, who did the heavy lifting to get the bunch together for much-needed team-bonding time.

"I invited them, but it depends on the players (accepting). Aaron Gordon said, 'Yes, I'll take care of this, I'll take care of the players, and we're going there,'" Barea said. Leave it to Gordon to get it done. He truly is the glue guy, and no matter what happens with Gordon down the road, he's always going to be Mr. Nugget for it.

The Nuggets need the bonding for cohesion during the season

While the Nuggets aren't officially allowed to practice together, they are allowed to play "guerrilla games," as Barea called them. Just some intense pickup games. And the team is working out together, lifting weights at Barea's facility.

But perhaps even more important is simply the bonding time together for everyone. Despite the continuity of the Nuggets core, the Nuggets have a few fresh faces and younger players, so this is a great way for them all to get to know each other and for the teammates from last year to get even better acquainted.

New Nuggets Alpha Diallo, Marvin Bagley III, and yet-to-be-signed second-round pick Bryce Hopkins were seen alongside Gordon, Cameron Johnson, DaRon Holmes II, Spencer Jones, Julian Strawther, Zeke Nnaji, and two-way player KJ Simpson. I haven't seen any images of rookie second-round pick Trevon Brazile or Tyus Jones attending, but here's to hoping some more images or video leaks so we can find out if they made the journey as well.

Roster bonding trips have become all the rage, and I'm happy to see that the Nuggets got on board with the trend, too, even if the full squad didn't make it. That cohesion will come in handy once the regular season starts.

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