The Nuggets are turning Ryan Nembhard into more than just a roster flyer. For now, he’s becoming the kind of guard Denver wants in its own face every day at practice.
That was the message from head coach David Adelman after the team’s third training camp practice. Adelman said Nembhard is best used at the moment as a quick guard the Nuggets can sharpen themselves against.
"He [Nembhard] embarrassed our pick-and-roll defense last year....But also, for our main people, the need to play against guys like him in practice. Sometimes you need guys like that on your roster on a two-way," Adelman said to the media.
It’s not hard to see why Denver views it that way. The Nuggets struggled against smaller, faster guards, and Nembhard was part of that problem last season. While playing for the Dallas Mavericks, he put up 28 points and 10 assists against Denver in a home loss for the Nuggets.
That’s the kind of matchup the Nuggets seem determined to use to their advantage now. A two-way player who can stress the defense in live reps gives Denver a built-in test for the very issues that hurt it before. It also gives Nembhard a chance to keep developing against one of the league’s top starting units.
The broader issue is the same one that showed up in the playoffs, when Minnesota’s backup point guards repeatedly got into the paint and punished Denver. Ayo Dosunmu was especially tough on the Nuggets, going for 25, 43 and 18 points in three straight games. Denver never really found the perimeter pressure or paint protection it needed, and the result was ugly.
That’s why the practice-court value matters here. If Denver can get cleaner against pick-and-roll action, fight through screens better and communicate switches more sharply, it gives the team a chance to address a weakness before the games start counting.
Adelman also pointed to another defensive benchmark in camp: Alpha Diallo. Cameron Johnson called Diallo a "menace" on defense, and Adelman said Diallo "doesn't get screened."
For Denver, the takeaway is simple. A small move can matter, especially when it gives the team a live body who already showed he can bother them. Using Nembhard that way may not be flashy, but it’s practical - and the Nuggets clearly think that kind of daily stress test is worth having.
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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 🡒]
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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 🡒]