LA JOLLA, Calif. — The issues that confused different NBA coaches about Bruce Brown’s sport are the identical attributes that excite Michael Malone.
The Nuggets coach stated he known as Brown a day or two into free company, questioning why Brown hadn’t been signed by a workforce. Brown’s reply was a superb one, because the Nuggets signed him just a few days later.
“Simply put me on the ground, and I’ll determine it out, to be sincere,” Brown stated Thursday on the College of California San Diego after the Nuggets’ third day of coaching camp. “I don’t suppose different coaches understand that. Different groups didn’t understand that.”
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Brown began his profession as some extent guard in Detroit, the workforce that drafted him within the second spherical of the 2018 draft. After two seasons with the Pistons, he was traded to Brooklyn the place he was used at about each different place.
“That excites me,” Malone stated Tuesday. “Versatility is the secret within the fashionable NBA.”
Few gamers are extra versatile than Brown. He stated he’s snug guarding all 5 positions. When requested if he would like to be the ball handler or the screener in a pick-and-roll set with Nikola Jokic, there was an unusual reply for a participant listed at 6-foot-4 and a little bit greater than 200 kilos.
“Me screening for Joker,” Brown stated. “Simple.”
When Malone revealed his preliminary rotations Tuesday, Brown was a part of the second unit. When Kentavious Caldwell-Pope sat out of Wednesday’s scrimmage, he joined the beginning group and acquired a style of taking part in alongside Jokic, one other unconventional participant. Whereas the chemistry might not have immediately clicked, there’s purpose to imagine it would sooner or later.
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“I bear in mind one play, there was three on one facet, and I used to be (in) the nook. I reduce baseline, however I believe I reduce a little bit too late for him to see me. So I requested him, ‘Ought to I reduce earlier?’ He did hit me on a nook 3 one time, so it’s good,” Brown stated.
“I like to chop. I like to seek out open areas. He is aware of that, so it’s simply actually attempting to get the best timing.”
If he continues to do the issues that excite his new coach about his sport — shifting with out the ball, screening and rolling, driving and kicking, and pulling down the open 3-pointers that come his manner — Brown might very nicely discover himself among the many starters even with out an damage.
“That man is a professional. He’s a five-year professional who carries himself like a 10-year professional,” Malone stated. “(He) is aware of precisely who he’s as a participant. He doesn’t work on issues that’s not in his wheelhouse. I’ve a sense that Bruce Brown will shut plenty of huge video games for us.”
For pretty much as good of a match as he seems to be on the court docket with the Nuggets, he’s additionally liking how Denver matches his character.
“I’m extra laid again, chill. I wish to be in the home with my canine (an Australian Shepherd named Luna) and my individuals,” Brown stated. “Clearly, New York will get plenty of consideration, plenty of media consideration. That wasn’t for me, however I like my time with these guys.”
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Conflicting claims
The spotlight from Thursday’s apply, in response to Brown, was a dunk over Jeff Inexperienced. The 2 had been briefly teammates in Brooklyn earlier than reuniting in Denver. The validity of Brown’s declare depends upon who you ask.
“That’s a rattling lie. Bruce didn’t dunk on me. To begin with, he can barely dunk. And if he even tried, I’d ship it to the second row. He is aware of higher than to even say that,” Inexperienced stated.
“He’s lifeless incorrect. He must be fined.”
If Brown wanted some motivation, it may need come from Inexperienced claiming he was the worst dancer on the workforce in a video the Nuggets posted to Twitter.
