DENVER — After Nuggets head coach David Adelman confirmed that DeMar DeRozan will begin the season coming off the bench, the 37-year-old veteran reportedly nodded, accepted the decision and immediately began preparing to score exactly 24 points regardless.
Denver plans to keep its starting five of Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokić intact, leaving DeRozan to headline a second unit that suddenly has a six-time All-Star casually waiting beside the scorer’s table.
“I understand the role,” DeRozan said while taking another contested 17-footer. “Basketball still has four quarters.”
Adelman said preseason will help determine exactly how DeRozan’s minutes are distributed, including how often he plays alongside the starters and how much of the second-unit offense runs through him.
DeRozan reportedly appreciated the explanation but was mostly interested in learning which defender would be assigned to watch him slowly dribble into the mid-range for six consecutive possessions.
The Nuggets believe DeRozan can provide scoring and playmaking off the bench while allowing the starting lineup to maintain the chemistry that already works around Jokić.
Team officials also stressed that managing DeRozan’s workload will be important at his age.
DeRozan agreed.
Sources say he plans to conserve energy by scoring his 24 points almost entirely from the same six square feet of hardwood.
It will mark his first regular bench role since his rookie season.
His pull-up jumper has reportedly been informed and does not care.
