Jalen Pickett Steps Up as Nuggets Search for Stability Behind Jamal Murray
One of the lingering questions for the Denver Nuggets this season has been the backup point guard spot behind Jamal Murray. It’s been a bit of a revolving door-Bruce Brown, Peyton Watson, even Tim Hardaway Jr. have all taken turns handling secondary playmaking duties.
And while the team has managed to tread water, the lack of a true floor general off the bench has remained a concern. That concern has only grown louder with the recent wave of injuries.
Enter Jalen Pickett.
With Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and now Peyton Watson all sidelined, Denver’s rotation has been stretched thin. That meant Bruce Brown and rookie Spencer Jones were pressed into starting roles Thursday night against the Magic, and Pickett found himself with a real opportunity to lead the second unit.
And to his credit, he made the most of it.
Pickett logged 24 meaningful minutes and gave the Nuggets exactly what they needed-stability. He finished with 9 points, 7 assists, and 3 rebounds, but perhaps most importantly, he didn’t commit a single turnover.
The Nuggets were +17 with him on the floor in a game they won by 11, 126-115. That kind of impact from your backup point guard?
That’s a win in itself.
Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves-this is still a small sample size. But in a season where Denver has been looking for someone-anyone-to take control of that backup point guard role, Pickett’s performance was a breath of fresh air.
He’s the only traditional point guard on the roster outside of Murray, especially after Russell Westbrook opted to sign elsewhere in the offseason. And while Pickett’s journey so far has been a bit uneven-bouncing in and out of the rotation-Thursday night showed what he’s capable of when given the reins.
The big question now is sustainability. Can he replicate this kind of performance consistently?
Because if he can, it changes the calculus for Denver’s front office. Suddenly, they don’t have to scramble for a veteran ball-handler at the trade deadline.
They don’t have to worry about overextending Murray in the regular season just to keep the offense afloat. They can trust Pickett to “eat innings,” so to speak, and give the starters some much-needed rest.
But consistency has been the hurdle. There have been flashes before-moments where Pickett looks like he belongs, where his poise and basketball IQ shine through.
But there have also been stretches where he’s struggled to find rhythm or assert himself offensively. And when the games start to matter more-when the postseason hits and the margins get razor-thin-Denver can’t afford uncertainty at the backup point guard spot.
That’s why this moment matters. If Pickett can string together a few more performances like this, he gives the Nuggets a real internal solution to a problem that’s been lingering all year. If not, the team will likely have to explore the market for a steady, veteran presence who can anchor the second unit in the playoffs.
For now, though, Jalen Pickett gave Denver exactly what they needed: a spark, a steady hand, and a glimpse of what could be.