It was a scene straight out of the AND1 Mixtape Tour. Like Hot Sauce clownin’ some sucka on the open pavement.
But it wasn’t Hot Sauce and it damn sure was no sucker; the pavement was the pristine hardwood of Denver’s Pepsi Center. This was Nuggets rookie Emmanuel Mudiay crossing up the best player in the NBA, Steph Curry, on Sunday night’s nationally televised game.
Yes, you read that correctly. Curry was the victim in this particular scenario.
Words don’t do the play justice. You have to see it to believe it. Normally, it’s Curry embarrassing his NBA counterparts, but this time the MVP got a taste of his own medicine – spoon-fed by Mudiay.
The rookie’s dazzling crossover dribble, followed by a step back, make-you-pay three-pointer was the highlight of the night, a SportsCenter Top 10 and a sign of things to come. It should be noted, too, that the play occurred in a 118-105 Denver Nuggets loss. Still, it was one of those moments that anyone who’s been following the Nuggets knew – right then and there – that something special is brewing with Denver’s NBA franchise.
But wait. Timeout.
There’s no need to get ahead of ourselves. This is not a commentary on how the Nuggets are suddenly a contender in the West. They’re not. This is not documentation that the Nuggets are just a year or two away from an NBA title. That’s farther down the road.
The Nuggets are, in fact, a work in progress – make no mistake. As pretty as the Mudiay crossover might be, he and his teammates are still very capable of laying an egg on any given night, half or quarter. Denver went toe-to-toe with the Warriors on Sunday in the first half, leading with just over two minutes remaining, but then were reminded why the champs are the champs from that point forward.
And that’s okay. The Nuggets are young and heading in the right direction. Amidst the Brock Osweiler-Peyton Manning drama in Denver, the Nuggets are quietly re-establishing themselves among the “relevant” in Denver.
Tuesday night, the 6-8 Nuggets will face the 6-7 Clippers. Had the NBA playoffs started a week ago, the Nuggets would have been the No. 8 seed. Sure, that means nothing at the moment, but it’s a sign that new head coach Michael Malone is putting a competitive – albeit extremely young – product on the court night in and night out. They’ve also managed to be competitive without one of the team’s most proven scoring threats, Wilson Chandler (who’s out for the season), and second-year big man Jusuf Nurkic (who will likely return in December sometime).
When the Nuggets lose, Malone is ticked. When they win, he’s critical of what they didn’t do well. No matter what, he’s coaching – always coaching. Unlike previous coaches Brian Shaw and George Karl, Malone is both patient and communicative. And with a young team possessing this kind of potential, that’s a good thing. Malone seems to be a perfect match thus far.
Aside from undressing Curry, Mudiay has consistently shown signs of brilliance. He’s currently averaging 12.9 points and 6.4 assists per game. At times he shoots like a rookie (32.8 FG percentage), but he sees the floor like an eight-year vet. His highlight reel sizzles, even if his 4.3 turnovers per game reveal that he’s still learning what he can and can’t do in the NBA. The turnovers have already dropped significantly – in his first five games he had 28 turnovers; he’s averaged just 3.4 in his last five. If you’re looking for point guard “comparables” during their rookie campaigns, here are few: Chris Paul (16.1 PPG / 7.8 APG / 2.3 TOVPG), John Wall (16.4 / 8.3 / 3.8), Tony Parker (9.2 / 4.3 / 2.0). Mudiay has some work to do to get on par with the likes of Paul, Wall and Parker, but the season is still young, like the 19-year-old rookie.
Mudiay is not the only young bright spot on the roster, though. General manager Tim Connelly has potentially built a core of young Denver Nuggets going forward. Aside from inking the likes of Kenneth Faried and Danilo Gallinari to long-term deals before the league’s salary boom, Connelly has assembled a cast of rookies and sophomores who appear to be more than capable.
Next to Mudiay in the backcourt is Gary Harris, a player that appeared to be a bust under Shaw. But Harris is now averaging an efficient 9.9 points per game while shooting 49.5 percent from the field. More importantly, he’s a reliable perimeter defender, which is what he was billed to be coming out of Michigan State. Will Barton has provided excitement and production off the bench (14.4 PPG) in Chandler’s absence.
Along the frontcourt, 20-year-old center Nikola Jokic appears to have an NBA skill set. He’s averaging 7.2 point and 5.6 rebounds, but also exploded for 23 points and 12 boards against the Spurs last week. Jokic is part of a formidable young trio that also includes Joffrey Lauvergne, who has played in just three games while nursing a back injury, and Nurkic. Nurkic, who’s only 21, is regarded as one of the Association’s most promising big men.
Sure, names like Harris, Jokic, Lauvergne and Nurkic aren’t exciting the casual fan just yet, but a year from now they might be, particularly when paired with Mudiay, a player fans are beginning to embrace. His story, coupled with his impressive start, makes him a franchise player already.
Prior to Peyton Manning’s arrival, and for the better part of 10 years, the Nuggets were Denver’s best team and the town’s biggest superstar was a Nugget. Whether you liked him or not, Carmelo Anthony was the closest thing Denver has had to a national sports icon since Elway, Sakic or Roy. That’s simply a fact.
Here’s a prediction: That’s where we’re headed once again. Manning is on the decline and the Nuggets are on the rise, and it won’t be long before young Emmanuel Mudiay is one the NBA’s true gems and Denver’s household name. It won’t be long before Michael Malone gives playoff basketball back to Denver, too. It won’t happen tomorrow – give it a season – but watch it grow today.
Hop on this bandwagon before it’s full.
