Latest news with #Nuggets'
USA Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Nikola Jokić received a Godfather-inspired horse gift during wild Chinese tour
Fortunately for Nikola Jokić, he's merely the best basketball player in the world. He's intently focused on his craft, not anything else, and he isn't some shady movie producer. So, for as much as the Denver Nuggets superstar loves his race horses, he definitely never has to worry about some (fictional) crime family threatening him and them with a dismembered head, like Jack Woltz with the Corleones in the Godfather film series. In the real world, as Jokić embarks on his mid-July tour through China, a horse head is actually a much more delightful, welcome, and creative gift to the Serbian center. It's not a threat in the least. POLE POSITION: Nuggets' dynamic offseason should give Jokić chance at 2nd NBA title In fact, while Jokić greeted swaths of fans in China, one diehard supporter of the star came up to him and gifted the Denver star a horse's head." Well, actually, that is, they gave him a horse's "head" consisting entirely of his signature shoes from the Chinese shoe and apparel brand 361. Man, this is some commitment to the bit. I can't even hate. Honestly? The fan deserves a lot of credit for the ingenuity in giving something that would be relatable to Jokić's other most famous interest. It's truly a great way to get his attention in a massive crowd. Jokić is a generational talent and one of the best NBA players of all time. You have to pull out all the stops to impress him when he's visiting the country with the second-highest population in the world. It's a prerequisite to even getting a chance to leave a lasting mark. Kudos to this fan for doing just that and putting a smile on Jokić's face.
New York Post
13-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
The important off-the-court impact Nets expect Michael Porter Jr. to provide
LAS VEGAS — The biggest move of Brooklyn's summer brought back the only championship winner on the roster. Michael Porter Jr. is the only player with a ring, the one who has been where the Nets are trying to get. And coach Jordi Fernández — who was with Porter in Denver for the first four years of the forward's career — hopes some of that can rub off on his young team. Advertisement 'He's excited to be here. I'm excited to reunite with him,' Fernández said. 'We have history together. I loved my time with Michael. And I know he's going to bring a lot. His work ethic is very good. He's a pro, works really hard, so that's going to be good for the young guys to see a guy like him that won a championship, and why.' Porter bounced back from a back injury in 2021-22 by winning the title with Denver the following season. The Nets traded Cam Johnson for Porter and the Nuggets' unprotected 2032 first-round pick. That selection — when Nikola Jokic will be 37 — will be one of the most valuable in Brooklyn's cache of future assets. It's why Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, SB Nation and Clutch Points all graded the Nets an 'A' for the deal. The Nets acquired Michael Porter Jr. this offseason. AP Advertisement But what exactly will they be getting in Porter in the meantime? Can he be more than just a salary dump? On paper, the 6-foot-10 forward is similar to Johnson, but the similarity ends once it leaves the page. Porter is younger, having turned 27 on June 29. Despite back woes early in his career, Porter is actually healthier, having missed six games the past two seasons compared to Johnson's 43. And he's pricier, the two years and $79.1 million on his deal the reason the Nets were able to get such a valuable pick. Advertisement And he's also going to have to show he can be effective without Jokic. 'He's going to be asked to do things that he's never done before, right? Probably his usage and the shots he's going to take,' admitted Fernández. 'And that's exciting. It should be exciting for him. He's going to work for it. I know the type of person he is. And I was very happy to see him face-to-face [Saturday].' For perspective, Porter averaged 17.4 points in 220 games over the past three years on solid .492/.404/.795 splits. But without Joker? Those numbers dipped, averaging just 15.9 points in 22 games on .440/.268/.707 splits. Michael Porter Jr. is the only player on the Nets roster who has won a championship. NBAE via Getty Images Advertisement Can he be efficient outside of Jokic's orbit? And can he lead a rookie-laden team? 'I don't want him to be out of character. I just want him to be himself,' Fernández said. 'And that's why I'm very comfortable, because I've seen him get where he got, his career year and how he scores the ball and the work he puts in every day. Follow all the basketball buzz in Brooklyn Sign up for Inside the Nets by Brian Lewis, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters 'The only thing we need to do is get him adjusted to his new teammates, the little things that make your life better: finding a place to live, get comfortable. But I know who he is and how good he is going to be. And I want him to lead being Michael Porter. He doesn't need to be anybody else. Once again, I think he'll be very, very good for the group.' Porter is the second-oldest Net behind only Terance Mann, 29. Will he start at power forward while Mann, Egor Demin and Ziaire Williams vie for wing minutes? Or is Porter a small forward alongside stretch four Noah Clowney? 'I don't think it really matters. What matters is who he guards,' Fernández said. 'That's the positionless for us — 1 through 4, it's pretty much the same. 'But Michael is an amazing catch-and-shoot player. He can iso, he can shoot over people, he can rebound the ball. So all those things are very good for what we're building. And he'll help us. And we know our efficiency is gonna go up with him.'
Otago Daily Times
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Carey's return to US blow for Nuggets
Don Carey jun. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON Otago Nuggets guard Don Carey jun will miss the final two games of the National Basketball League season. The 26-year-old American is returning home due to personal circumstances. In a post on social media yesterday, he thanked the team's fans for their support. "A huge shout out to the Nuggets family and our incredible fans for your support this season," he wrote. "Whilst it hasn't always been easy on the court, you've welcomed me, showed your unwavering support for the team, and made Dunedin feel like home. "Unfortunately, due to personal circumstances, I will be returning home early and will therefore miss our final two away games of the season. "I thank you for understanding that I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't important, and that, like you, I will be cheering the guys on from afar as they chase that win." Carey has been the Nuggets' most productive scorer, averaging 22.4 points. The shooting guard made 18 appearances for the Nuggets. One of those games was against the Indian Panthers, which was wiped from the records after they were booted out of the league. Carey dropped 34 points against the Hawke's Bay Hawks in Napier in his second game for the franchise to lead the team to a 93-86 win. He also played a key role in the 108-104 win over the Manawatū Jets. He made 12 assists and posted 22 points in Dunedin that night. Unfortunately, the Nuggets have gone on a 14-game losing streak since. Carey's departure will significantly weaken the roster. Fellow import Jose Perez was sent home earlier in the season, so that means Jaylen Sebree is the only remaining import and he has struggled to make the impact he would have liked. The Nuggets' remaining games are against the Airs in New Plymouth on Friday and the Jets in Palmerston North on Sunday.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Denver's Brain Drain: Why the Nuggets Let Go of the Man Behind Jokić's Dynasty
The Denver Nuggets have recently made a significant front-office change by parting ways with Assistant General Manager Tommy Balcetis , ending a long tenure that began in 2013. Balcetis, a Harvard graduate with a background in economics and business consulting, was a key figure in the Nuggets' rise over the past decade, contributing extensively to analytics, scouting, and salary cap strategy. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Tommy Balcetis joined the after initially working for the NBA in Europe and Africa, where he managed media rights distribution. His transition to the Nuggets came through a connection with Tim Connelly, then the New Orleans Pelicans assistant GM, whom Balcetis met at a Basketball Without Borders event in Moscow. When Connelly took over the Nuggets front office in 2013, he brought Balcetis on board to help build the organization's analytics capabilities from the ground up, as the NBA was just beginning to embrace advanced data analytics in team-building. Over the years, Balcetis climbed the ranks within the Nuggets organization, evolving from managing basketball analytics to becoming Assistant GM in 2020. He played a vital role in shaping the Nuggets' roster, including supporting the general manager in key decisions that led to the team's 2023 NBA championship. His expertise in analytics and salary cap management was instrumental in maintaining a competitive and deep roster around superstar . Despite his long service and contributions, Tommy Balcetis was passed over for the general manager position after the firing of Calvin Booth in 2025. Instead, Ben Tenzer, a Denver Nuggets veteran front-office member with over 15 years of experience and a strong background in salary cap expertise, was named interim GM. Tenzer also serves as GM of the Nuggets' G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold, and is considered a leading candidate for the permanent GM role. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Nuggets owner, Josh Kroenke, has taken an active role in the front office during this transitional period, serving as interim president of basketball operations and overseeing the search for a new GM. Kroenke has emphasized the importance of maintaining the team's competitive edge while balancing input from star players like Jokić, though ultimate decisions rest with the front office. Also read: Tommy Balcetis's departure marks the end of an era for the Denver Nuggets' front office, which has been defined by a strong analytical approach and steady roster building. The team now faces a pivotal offseason to determine its leadership and future direction as it seeks to build on recent success and remain a championship contender.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Russell Westbrook Contract Decision Has Massive Salary Implications for Nuggets
Russell Westbrook Contract Decision Has Massive Salary Implications for Nuggets originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Denver Nuggets' core roster is already slated to look a bit different in 2025-26, and the 2024-25 NBA offseason hasn't even officially begun just yet. Advertisement Denver majority owner Josh Kroenke shockingly fired both 10-year head coach Michael Malone and championship general manager Calvin Booth with just days remaining in the Nuggets' regular season, replacing them with interim head coach David Adelman and interim GM Ben Tazer. While Adelman has shaken the interim sticker and will serve as the Nuggets' long-term head coaching option, Tazer's status is more tenuous, even with the 2025 NBA Draft and free agency now just weeks away. The Nuggets finished the regular season with a 50-32 record and pushed the NBA Finals-bound Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in their second round playoff encounter. Denver was severely hampered by that seventh semifinal contest, with starting forwards Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon striving to play through major injuries. Apr 9, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) directs his team against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images Adelman's rotations were fairly limited, and he had to lean on erratic or unproven bench players to add a spark. Eventually, the Nuggets' luck ran out. Advertisement One of those bench pieces appears to be ready to move on. Former nine-time All-Star and 2017 league MVP Russell Westbrook will reportedly decline his $3.47 million player option for next year and instead explore unrestricted free agency, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line (via Substack). Westbrook, 36, had until June 29 to make a decision on the second year of the two-season deal he had agreed to with Denver last summer. The 6-foot-4 UCLA alum is now slated to join potentially his seventh NBA franchise across the last eight seasons. Still, there's a chance Westbrook could stick around. Advertisement He averaged solid numbers off the bench for Denver, while staying healthy throughout the regular season and playoffs. Across 75 available regular season bouts, Westbrook averaged 13.3 points on a .449/.323/.661 slash line, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 swipes. In reduced playing time, those numbers shrank a bit during the postseason. He averaged 11.7 points on inefficient shooting splits of .391/.317/.700, along with 3.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists (against 2.3 turnovers), and 0.9 steals. The biggest issues with Westbrook are his inclination to hold the ball for too long (especially on a team with elite creators like three-time MVP center Nikola Jokic and guard Jamal Murray), his inconsistent off-ball effort, his poor jump-shooting, and his disengaged defense. He may have some value as an eighth man, especially in the regular season, but giving him significant playoff minutes at this stage is risky. Bobby Marks of ESPN unpacks how Denver's cap situation benefits from Westbrook's reported decision. The Nuggets are understandably desperate to help Jokic win his second title with the franchise after two disappointing second round playoff exits. Denver thankfully now has some breathing room below the NBA's harshly punitive second luxury tax apron, with 12 players currently signed. Advertisement The team can now use its $5.7 taxpayer mid-level exception, a mechanism that would have been unavailable to Denver as a second apron team, and two veteran minimum slots to add new talent around its core of Jokic, Murray and Gordon. Key swingman Christian Braun is still on his rookie-scale contract at present, but will become extension-eligible this summer, and could fetch a major raise. But the Nuggets can worry about what a likely-pricey Braun deal kicking in for 2025-26 will do to their payroll later. For now, the team should focus on affordable help for Jokic, and perhaps sniff around possible Porter trade packages. Related: Fans React to Nuggets Star Russell Westbrook's Major Free Agency Decision This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
