Nuggets Ink

Jamal Murray's All-Star chances and Matt Schubert's departure as sports editor

In this week's edition of Nuggets Ink, the Denver Post Nuggets Podcast, Matt Schubert and Denver Post beat writer Bennett Durando discuss Jamal Murray's spectacular start to the season, his chances of finally making an All-Star Game and more.

Jamal Murray goes off, Christian Braun gets paid and Aaron Gordon goes hyphy

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after the first week of the regular season. Among the topics discussed: + Jamal Murray is tired of hearing about slow starts, and he proved as much Monday night by dropping 43 points on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Is this the year Murray finally gets the All-Star recognition that's eluded him? + Aaron Gordon got the season started with a 50-burger against the Golden State Warriors. The Nuggets forward says he's not as athletic as he once was, but is he the best he's been at basketball, as he contended this offseason? + Is Tim Hardaway Jr. going to be the Nuggets' sixth man all season? How has Jonas Valanciunas fit in with the second unit? Is Julian Strawther going to remain tethered to the bench? + Christian Braun got his big-money extension, but fellow fourth-year player Peyton Watson didn't. What does that mean for them and the future of the franchise? + How has new head coach David Adelman fared running the show? His rotations? His adjustments? What's been different between how he runs things and how Michael Malone did? + Emails and iTunes reviews ... would've been read had anyone sent them in! Producer: AAron Ontiveroz Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

Nuggets media day storylines and the annual NBA wins draft

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene ahead of Denver's media day. Among the topics discussed: + What will Jonas Valanciunas say in his first encounter with Denver media? Will Christian Braun sign an extension ahead of the season? Is Bruce Brown already writing love notes to Nikola Jokic? With media day just days away, it's time to talk storylines. + The annual wins draft. Bennett won in 2024-25. Who takes the crown in 2025-26? Could the Charlotte Hornets really be a dark horse playoff pick in the Eastern Conference? + Will Nikola Jokic win another MVP? Who will be the NBA champion? The fellas make their picks. + Emails and iTunes reviews ... would've been read had anyone sent them in!

Nikola Jokic passes on extension, Jonas Valanciunas visits Greece and Summer League

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene following DaRon Holmes II's glorious return to NBA Summer League. Among the topics discussed: + Nikola Jokic caused a stir in NBA circles by ... doing nothing?! Denver's MVP center became extension-eligible last week but declined to sign on the dotted line, according to league sources. Here's why Nuggets fans need not freak out — yet. + Jonas Valanciunas caused a stir in NBA circles by ... visiting Greece?! The recently acquired backup to Jokic was offered a three-year contract by EuroLeague power Panathinaikos, and Valanciunas signaled mutual interest by visiting Greece. Yet the Nuggets hold all the cards. What happens next? + Nuggets big man DaRon Holmes II returned to NBA Summer League a year after rupturing an Achilles tendon at the very same venue. How did the second-year player look? And how might he slot into what's becoming a deep Nuggets rotation? + With the Cam Johnson-MPJ trade now complete, the fellas ponder if the Nuggets might now have a better starting five than when the franchise won the NBA title in 2023. What's Denver's best public park? You better believe the fellas have some opinions. Producer: AAron Ontiveroz Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

Rehashing the Michael Porter Jr. trade and an incredible 24 hours for Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene three days after the stunning trade of Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets. Among the topics discussed: + The Nuggets' two-man brain trust turned Porter's salary into four players: Cam Johnson, Jonas Valanciunas, Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. How in the world did they pull this off? And how long had executives Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace been mapping this out? + How much better does this make the Nuggets? What will the rotation look like come October? And how many of these players will actually be able to give the Nuggets depth in the postseason? +In light of the first two weeks of the Tenzer-Wallace era, what's the confidence in this setup working going forward? Could other moves be made? Could these wizards find a way to dump Zeke Nnaji's contract, too? Maybe cure cancer? + Ranking the contenders after free agency and the draft: The boys all provide their our own Top 10 following player acquisition season. + Loose ends: Thoughts on the NBA Finals and the tragedy that was Tyrese Haliburton's Game 7 injury. Producer: AAron Ontiveroz Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel