The Nuggets are heading into 2026-27 with a clear need beyond their top-end talent: someone from the back half of the roster has to pop. After an opening-round playoff exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver needs depth that can actually move the needle, and rookie Trevon Brazile is the name drawing the loudest buzz.
Brazile is hardly the obvious breakout candidate on paper. He’s a rookie, and he entered the league without any NBA experience. But the Nuggets may have found a steal after selecting him with the No. 35 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, especially after he was passed over by every team - and some more than once.
Originally drafted by the San Antonio Spurs, Brazile had his draft rights traded to Denver for Tarris Reed Jr. The first signs that the Nuggets might have landed something special showed up during NBA Summer League, where he played three games in Las Vegas and averaged 18.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots in a little over 27 minutes. He shot 45.5 percent from the field, 47.4 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the free-throw line.
Really bullish on Trevon Brazile's ability to contribute for the Nuggets as a rookie this season. His versatility as a finisher and defender, plus his athleticism, already make him a good fit for Denver, but if he can consistently knock down threes... whew pic.twitter.com/gcNjqeDrTl
— Finn Kuehl (@finleykuehl) October 17, 2026
That carryover has shown up again in the preseason. Head coach David Adelman has kept Brazile in the rotation across all five preseason games, and he even got the start in place of Aaron Gordon in the preseason finale against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct.
- Brazile delivered 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots in 27 minutes, going 5-of-7 from the field and 2-of-3 from deep.
Two nights earlier against the LA Clippers, he may have put down his best case yet. Coming off the bench, Brazile scored a team-high 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting and made 3-of-4 from 3-point range in a team-high 25 minutes.
If that kind of production carries into the regular season, Brazile could make a strong run at an All-Rookie team spot. For Denver, the upside goes beyond individual accolades. A real breakout from Brazile would give the Nuggets a way to manage Aaron Gordon’s workload and help offset the loss of Peyton Watson.
The fit is easy to see. Brazile has the kind of profile that can slot into Denver’s needs fast: versatile defense, paint finishing, strong rebounding and a growing ability to stretch the floor. He’s also bringing athleticism that the roster has needed.
Breakout season talk usually belongs to players already established in the NBA. This time, it might be a rookie doing the surprising. And if Brazile turns this preseason momentum into a real season, it would be the kind of miss that stings across the league, especially after every front office passed on him in the first round.
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Even with that boost on the horizon, the coaching staff is staring at a real rotation call once the games count, especially with rookie Trevon Brazile making a push of his own for minutes. Jones earned his spot in the rotation last season, so the question now is how much runway he gets when the Nuggets open against the Oklahoma City Thunder and whether Denver can keep all of its promising bench pieces involved without trimming someone out. [Read more 🡒]
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The bigger concern, though, is the health picture around Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, both of whom have dealt with injury issues in recent seasons. There is cautious optimism inside the organization that both will be ready for the upcoming campaign, and Denver still has the kind of top-end talent that can change the tone of a season quickly. But after a summer that did not bring much external help, the Nuggets are heading into a pressure year with their margin for error looking a lot smaller than it used to. [Read more 🡒]