Torrey Craig’s path to the NBA was as improbable as it was incredible. He came from multiple different teams across the pond in Australia and New Zealand before eventually being awarded an opportunity to play for the Denver Nuggets summer league team just two years ago.
“It kinda all happened so fast,” Craig told Eric Goodman and Les Shapiro of Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7. “After college, I went to Australia for a there years. I was going back and forth between Australia and New Zealand. When I was playing for the Gold Coast Rollers, I was just playing there for like a little summer team just to get my citizenship (in Australia). That is when the Nuggets called to come play summer league. I came and played in summer league, played pretty well, and got offered the two-way (contract). Here I am now.”
Now, Craig has a guaranteed two-year contract worth $4 million with the Nuggets. He has fought his way onto an NBA roster and, now that Will Barton is out for the next 5-6 weeks with a groin/core injury, Craig will likely see the biggest boost in minutes of any other player on the roster because of his high-level defense and infectious energy. Craig spoke to Goodman and Shapiro about what makes him such an impactful defender.
“It is my competitive nature,” Craig told Eric Goodman and Les Shapiro of Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7. “When you want to win and you want to compete, defense is just something you do. It is like an instinct. It is all about effort. I think a lot of people in the league can play defense. It is just effort. I know the game get late down he stretch, guys get fatigued, and things of that nature so there is a little bit of less effort. If you keep the effort up most of the game, you can be a pretty good defender.”
Craig spoke on a plethora of different topics with Goodman and Shapiro. To hear Craig talk about his time in Australia and New Zealand, how he was able to fight his way into the NBA, starting against the Golden State Warriors, and how he can beat Gary Harris in a game of one-one-one, make sure to listen to Sorry – this audio content is no longer available.
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