Nikola Jokic chained the triple-double, Jamal Murray shined in the fourth quarter, and Bruce Brown was the X factor at the start of the conference final against the Lakers.
So far, the former Pistons and Nets is the ideal 6th man for the Nuggets in these playoffs.
“His defence, his energy. It’s not just Game 2” detailed Nikola Jokic after his teammate’s 12 points and 5 rebounds in the last game. “He’s been doing this since he arrived here. He can deal with guys, he can defend in multiple positions. Even if he is smaller, he is tough, he fights. It’s good to have him in the team.”
For The Athletic, Mike Malone remembers the moment he fell in love with Bruce Brown. It was in February 2020, just before the pandemic. Denver had lost to Detroit, with a major performance from the rear off the bench: 19 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists.
“I remember thinking, ‘We got beat by Bruce Brown. He played a great game.” explains the coach.
So when the Nets did not seek to keep him during the last “free agency”, and few teams were really interested in him, the Nuggets logically rushed to recover him.
An ideal profile around the duo Murray – Jokic
“We were surprised that he was available on the second day of free agency” confirms Mike Malone. “We didn’t hesitate to bring him in. It really is a perfect marriage for us.”
A perfect marriage because Bruce Brown is, like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the kind of defensive profiles the Nuggets needed to surround Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic. Especially since unlike his use at the Nets, where he almost served as a pivot (from the height of his 1m93…), he can serve as a second creator.
The only bad news for the Nuggets is that he can give up his $6.8 million player option for next season and become a free agent. While Denver does not have its “Bird Rights”.
