Jameer Nelson did not make his Nuggets debut Wednesday night, but the newly acquired point guard is expected to be available for his Denver’s game at Dallas on Friday.
Nelson is scheduled to arrive in Denver on Thursday, take a physical and then join the team on its trip to Dallas, which, coincidentally, is one of the teams he has played for this season.
“All year long, and even last year, I talked about the fact that this team needed a backup point guard,” Nuggets coach Brian Shaw said. “He can help some of our guys that need help, in terms of being able to facilitate and set the table for guys.
“And I think he still has some good basketball in him and is what this team has sorely needed.”
Nelson brings a combined average of 6.8 points, 4.4 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 29 games with both the Mavericks and Boston Celtics this season.
Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle coached Nelson for 23 games and raved about him.
“He’s a terrific player,” Carlisle said. “A very high character guy. Leadership abilities, leadership qualities. A very good shooter. He gave us floor spacing; he gave us full-court pressure defense. He made plays for us. He was the guy that kind of got our season going, off to a good start.
“He’ll help (the Nuggets). He’ll be a good complement to (Ty) Lawson. He’s a good player, and he’s got a lot of game left. He’s not that old.”
Nurkic ROY? Nuggets rookie center Jusuf Nurkic has played so well of late that USA Today broached the subject of him possibly playing himself into rookie of the year conversation.
So, then, that subject was broached with Shaw.
“I do think if he finishes the rest of the season the way he has been playing, and improve, he has as good chance as anybody else,” Shaw said.
