Marvin Bagley III is giving the Nuggets something they’ve been missing for a while: a backup center who can hold up when Nikola Jokic sits, and maybe even add a little more.
That was the takeaway from Denver’s 121-106 preseason finale win over the Los Angeles Lakers, where Bagley flashed exactly why he’s looking like a strong fit in that role. In 17 minutes off the bench, he scored 13 points on 6 of 10 shooting and pulled down 8 rebounds, making his minutes count on both ends.
The scoring was efficient, but the bigger point is how Bagley gets those points. He’s a strong finisher near the rim, and his preseason work showed it - he shot 57.1% from two-point range after finishing last season at 64.1%. That kind of touch around the basket matters, especially when Denver needs reliable offense from its second unit.
What separates Bagley from the kind of backup center play the Nuggets got last year is that he brings more than just post and paint work. He can stretch the floor, too.
Against the Lakers, he knocked down 1 of 2 from three, and he made 48.5% of his attempts from deep last season. For a Nuggets offense built heavily around the three-point shot, that extra layer is a real asset.
He also brings a different kind of burst. Bagley is more athletic than the typical backup center, which gives Denver another way to attack.
He can put the ball on the deck, get downhill from the perimeter, and finish like a big wing. He also showed how useful that athleticism can be on the glass, where he picked up putbacks against the Lakers.
The defensive side was just as encouraging. Bagley had two blocks, played physically, and challenged shots at the rim throughout his stint.
He did pick up five fouls, but the aggressiveness was part of the appeal. He also added a steal and helped keep the Lakers’ centers Walker Kessler and Kevon Looney to a combined 6 points across 39 minutes.
That kind of presence lines up with the numbers from last season, when Bagley ranked in the 79th percentile as the primary defender at the rim. Against Los Angeles, he backed that up with a final preseason showing that looked like more than a spot appearance.
For Denver, the non-Jokic minutes could look a lot better with Bagley in the mix. And given the way he’s played so far, the former No. 2 overall pick is starting to look like one of the better free-agent finds of the offseason.
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Cam Johnson Put Nuggets Fans In A Tough Spot Against The Lakers
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Johnson had given Denver a scoring boost before the incident, but the game shifted quickly once the officials took a closer look and sent him out. The Nuggets still finished the preseason at 3-2 after beating Los Angeles, while Reaves led the Lakers in scoring, leaving Denver with the win and one lingering talking point as the regular season approaches. [Read more 🡒]