One of the early surprises for the Denver Nuggets has been the rapid rise of Trevon Brazile, the rookie second pick who has already turned heads with his all-around impact. The 35th pick in the NBA Draft has been piling up highlight plays, and he was right in the middle of Denver’s 23-point comeback overtime win over the New Orleans Pelicans. He has been effective on both ends, but it’s the defense that really jumps off the page.
At 6-foot-10, Brazile comes with rare tools. He has a 41.5" vertical leap and a 7-foot-4 wingspan, and he put that athletic package to work against the Pelicans by blocking two three-point attempts in a sequence that looked almost effortless. He has also been active on the glass, averaging 7.5 rebounds per game to begin the season.
The most striking part of his start, though, is what he’s doing defensively. For a player who fell to Denver, the Nuggets may have landed something much bigger than expected.
Brazile has opened the year as one of the league’s best defenders
Yes, it’s only a four-game sample, but the numbers are eye-catching. Brazile ranks first in eFG% vs. expectation, which measures what opponents shoot against him compared with their eFG% against all other players while he is the primary defender.
No help defense. No noise.
Just the one-on-one work - and Brazile is sitting at the top of the list.
Opponents have made only 10 shots on 34 attempts against him, leaving him with an eFG% difference of -25.2. That puts him ahead of some big-name defenders, including Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama, who ranks 18th, and All-NBA Defensive Second Team member Scottie Barnes, who sits fifth.
Brazile also ranks second in the NBA in 3PT% vs. expectation, having allowed just 2 makes on 17 attempts. The impact has shown up in Denver’s overall numbers, too: the Nuggets are 17.2 points better with him on the floor.
With Brazile playing, their defensive rating is 101.0. Without him, it jumps to 118.2.
He looked especially sharp in his first start, a 104-91 Nuggets win over New Orleans. Against the Pelicans, he drew Trey Murphy III for 18 possessions and didn’t allow a point. Saddiq Bey fared only slightly better, finishing with two points across 14 possessions.
The rookie’s reputation is growing quickly, and so is the sense that Denver may have found a real defensive force. Brazile has become a monster on that end, and the Nuggets have been waiting for one.
In Other News...
Peyton Watson Is Making Denver's Offseason Choice Look Smarter
When Denver moved Peyton Watson in a sign-and-trade after contract talks stalled, it was the kind of decision that could have looked risky if the wrong side of the deal got the better end. A player who had flashed enough last season to make the Nuggets think twice was suddenly in Cleveland, and the question for Denver became whether the roster could absorb the loss without creating another hole on the wing.
So far, the early returns have made the Nuggets offseason pivot look more sensible. Watson has not found the same rhythm from deep with the Cavaliers that he showed in Denver, while rookie Trevon Brazile has stepped into a similar role and given the Nuggets a cheaper option to develop. It is still early, but Denver has reason to feel better about the way it handled the situation. [Read more 🡒]
Christian Braun Is Starting To Quiet A Big Nuggets Concern
Christian Brauns early-season jump is starting to ease one of the Nuggets quieter concerns. After working back from injury, he has looked more active on both ends, giving Denver the kind of perimeter energy it needs while also showing signs that his offense is expanding beyond the basics. The defensive impact has been especially noticeable, with Braun averaging 2.3 steals per game and looking more comfortable sliding into the role the team envisioned for him.
The offensive growth matters just as much for a roster that needs reliable two-way production around its stars. Braun has shown more variety in how he scores, including a willingness to get to mid-range spots and make plays for others, which helps explain why his recent form has stood out. If this is the version of Braun Denver gets consistently, it goes a long way toward making his contract look like a smart bet rather than a lingering question. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Injury Strategy Is Raising A Frustrating Question For Fans
Last seasons injury grind put the Nuggets through a long stretch of lineup instability, with the starting five missing a combined 136 games. For a team built to contend, that kind of disruption is hard enough on its own, but it also sharpened the focus on how Denver manages the return of injured players and how much caution it applies before sending them back out there.
Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Peyton Watson all came back from injuries last season only to run into fresh setbacks soon after, which only deepened the frustration around the process. For fans, the question is less about whether the Nuggets are being careful and more about whether that caution is helping them avoid bigger problems or simply stretching out the absence of key rotation pieces. [Read more 🡒]