Kentavious Caldwell-Pope obviously didn't expect it either. While he was very calmly handing over the champion ring to Thomas Bryantthe other Nuggets jumped on the latter, who almost lost his jewel on the way.
As announced, the former Denver player received his charm during the Heat's trip to Colorado. He was the last of four former Nuggets players (Bruce Brown, Ish Smith and Jeff Green), members of last year's champion squad, to be honored in the Ball Arena.
đź’Ť Back in Denver, Thomas Bryant received his birthday and a warm welcome from his former teammates. pic.twitter.com/FzvSXeqdLf
— DNA of Sports 🏀 (@basketusa) March 1, 2024
A ceremony, ahead of a match won by the locals, very atypical. Thomas Bryant was in fact serving his third and final game of suspension after the confusion involving his team and the Pelicans. He should not, in theory, have been able to enter his old room. But the NBA made an exception, due to this unique context.
A tribute video
“ I'm happy that the NBA is allowing him to have this moment. There was clearly the situation against New Orleans with the suspensions, but that's where smarter heads prevailed by allowing Thomas to get the attention, the recognition and the ring in front of the crowd “, thanks Mike Malonewhose former player had to leave the room five minutes before the interval.
The Nuggets rolled out the red carpet for their former pivot with, in addition to the presentation of the ring, a video tribute broadcast on the big screen. “ It's just a way of thanking him for all his contributions. It's a pleasure to see Thomas, I haven't seen him since we won the title last June », Adds the coach, who had nevertheless made little use of his interior.
The latter, who arrived from the Lakers during last season, only had around ten minutes behind Nikola Jokic during the season, before disappearing in the playoffs. He only made one appearance, 30 seconds, during Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
| Thomas Bryant | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | LAL | 15 | 5 | 38.1 | 10.0 | 55.6 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.5 |
| 2018-19 | W.A.S. | 72 | 21 | 61.6 | 33.3 | 78.1 | 1.6 | 4.7 | 6.3 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 10.5 |
| 2019-20 | W.A.S. | 46 | 25 | 58.1 | 40.7 | 74.1 | 2.1 | 5.1 | 7.2 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 13.2 |
| 2020-21 | W.A.S. | 10 | 27 | 64.8 | 42.9 | 66.7 | 1.8 | 4.3 | 6.1 | 1.5 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 14.3 |
| 2021-22 | W.A.S. | 27 | 16 | 52.0 | 28.6 | 87.5 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 7.4 |
| 2022-23 * | All Teams | 59 | 18 | 62.3 | 44.1 | 73.8 | 1.5 | 4.3 | 5.8 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 9.8 |
| 2022-23 * | LAL | 41 | 21 | 65.4 | 44.0 | 74.1 | 1.6 | 5.2 | 6.8 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 12.1 |
| 2022-23 * | DEN | 18 | 11 | 48.5 | 44.4 | 72.2 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 4.6 |
| 2023-24 | MIA | 25 | 10 | 57.1 | 0.0 | 81.8 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 4.2 |
| Total | 254 | 19 | 59.7 | 36.2 | 75.9 | 1.5 | 4.0 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 9.5 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
