Deion Sanders dropped by the Denver Nuggets’ practice facility this week, and David Adelman made it clear the visit landed with real weight.
The Nuggets were in their third training camp practice of the week as they gear up for the 2026-27 NBA season and preseason action this weekend when Sanders showed up. It was the first time the Pro Football Hall of Famer and Colorado Buffaloes head coach had been around for a Nuggets practice since taking the job in 2022, and Adelman said the moment hit differently for him.
Adelman, who is 45, said he grew up watching Sanders in the NFL and remembers the two-way celebrity of a player who was also starring in baseball at the same time. That made seeing Sanders in the gym a little more personal.
“It was cool. Especially for me, I’m 45, so I was a kid… I don’t think our guys have any idea what that was back then, and what that never has been again," Adelman said. "His personality was exactly what I thought it was going to be."
"But growing up, when you’re a kid and Deion Sanders is playing cornerback, and you’re watching him play baseball in the playoffs at the same time, that stuff is just uniquely wild."
Sanders didn’t just stop by and leave. After practice, he addressed the team, and Adelman said the message carried the right tone for the room.
"So, it was really cool to meet the guy. His message was good.
You could tell he knew he was talking to grown men. So, it was a very cool moment for the guys,” Adelman said.
The visit also gave Sanders a chance to see Nikola Jokic up close. Sanders, who has been in Colorado long enough to watch the Nuggets win a championship, had strong praise for the three-time MVP.
“The reason he is who he is because of what he does in the moment, right? Because you know you can count on him.
That’s a dog right there. That’s a killer right there,” Sanders said while speaking about Jokic, via Well Off Media.
Jokic has heard plenty of praise as his star has climbed, but approval from Sanders carries its own kind of shine.
In Other News...
Nuggets Guard Rotation Just Got More Interesting Behind Jamal Murray
The Nuggets made a small but meaningful roster tweak this week, adding 23-year-old point guard Ryan Nembhard on a two-way contract as they continue shaping the guard mix behind Jamal Murray. To make room, Denver waived KJ Simpson, a move that underscores how seriously the team is taking the search for backcourt depth and steady ballhandling as training camp continues.
Nembhard arrived with some momentum after a notable rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks, and he has already been around the Nuggets' camp with an eye on broadening his game. He has talked about sharpening his defense and shooting, while veteran forward Cameron Johnson has pointed to the way Nembhard can create for others and bring another dimension to the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Nembhard Already Has A Sneaky Important Role For Denver
Ryan Nembhard may not be in Denver for the sort of headline-grabbing role that turns heads in October, but he already has a clear job in camp. Coach David Adelman said the guard will be used in practice as a quick, pesky test case, the kind of smaller ballhandler the Nuggets need to handle better as they sharpen their pick-and-roll defense. It is the sort of behind-the-scenes assignment that can matter in a league where so many problems start with a guard getting downhill too easily.
The fit makes plenty of sense after Nembhards performance against Denver last season with Dallas, when he gave the Nuggets trouble as a playmaker and scorer. Denver has been looking closely at how to defend faster guards, and rookie Alpha Diallo has been part of the defensive example the staff wants to lean on. Nembhards role may be temporary and mostly internal, but for a team trying to get sturdier at the point of attack, those reps can carry real weight. [Read more 🡒]
Christian Braun Is Suddenly A Huge Nuggets Question Again
Christian Braun entered Denvers training camp and media day with something to prove after a frustrating season that never quite got on track because of injuries. Even so, there have been promising signs around him early on, and head coach David Adelman has pointed to a player who looks more like the version the Nuggets were counting on before everything went sideways. Brauns renewed burst is especially encouraging for a team that needs more reliable two-way help around its core.
The other part of Brauns appeal is that he is trying to expand beyond the obvious role he already fills, with extra work going into his three-point shooting and ball handling. If those improvements carry over, it could give Denver more lineup flexibility and another way to lighten the load on the backcourt. For a Nuggets team that is always trying to maximize every rotation spot, Braun is suddenly back in the spotlight for more than just being a depth piece. [Read more 🡒]