There were high expectations in the Mile High City for a repeat championship parade. Unfortunately, those expectations fell short, way short. But that doesn’t mean that the window is closed for the Denver Nuggets to add a second NBA banner, especially when they have Nikola Jokic on their roster.
The Nuggets were the 10th oldest team in the NBA at 26.6 years, with their starting unit average age of 27.4. Of the main players coming off of the bench, it was 33-year-old Reggie Jackson who provided the leadership and guidance that coach Mike Malone was seeking.
After accepting his $5.25 million player option on Monday, the Nuggets core looks to remain the same, barring any trades, heading into the 2024-25 season. While he has never been a prolific scorer, distributor or defender, retaining Jackson’s services is a win for the Nuggets.
A Wiley Vet
In a league that highlights its young, flashy superstars, Jackson’s value to the Nuggets flies under the radar. A thirteen-year vet with an NBA title, eight years of playoff experience, and the ability to start or come off the bench, Jackson provides Denver with a steady hand, calmness, and composure.
Whether it has been during the regular season or the post-season, Jackson’s presence on the Nuggets roster has helped to alleviate the pressure off of Jamal Murray over the past two seasons as he has navigated through numerous injuries and missed games.
More Than Just Numbers
He isn’t putting up the same 17 points, 9 assists that he posted during his first half season with the Detroit Pistons, but he is still capable of big nights contributing 20+ points and 6+ assists when given the opportunity, as evidenced by his 35 points, 13 assists night against the LA Clippers. Yes, this season’s 10.2 points, 3.8 assists, and shooting percentages of 43/35.9/80.6 clearly don’t scream Sixth Man Of The Year candidate, but Jackson’s value to the Nuggets goes beyond the box scores.
While he may not be in conversations for the All-Defensive Teams, Jackson has proven to be a capable on-ball defender who hustles and understands his role in the team’s defensive schemes.
A vocal leader on the court, on the sidelines and in the locker room, Jackson’s presence during the long grind of the NBA season helps keep the Nuggets motivated and focused on their championship aspirations, while also providing mentorship for the younger players who are looking to crack coach Malone’s rotation.
Denver Nuggets guard Reggie Jackson (7) in the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Monday, April 29, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
All About The Benjamins
Prior to Jackson agreeing to his player option the Nuggets were hovering near the $170 million mark for 11 players, assuming that they pick up the team options for Christian Braun, Payton Watson and Vlatko Cancar (they would be crazy not to!). Locking in an experienced NBA combo guard for $5.25 million is a steal in today’s era of high priced contracts. While there is a chance that Jackson may have been able to make more money elsewhere, he has positioned himself on a team that is still able to compete for a championship.
As for the Nuggets, Jackson’s contract allows the team a little bit of flexibility with their remaining cap space to bring in a potential missing piece in free agency moving forward. Currently sitting in the second-apron bracket, the Nuggets will only be able to extend minimum contracts to potential targets for the 2024-25 season, but will have a significant amount of spending money the following season.
Player Options
While Jackson’s return has its benefits, there are also a couple of minor factors that play against the Nuggets with his return. At 33 years old, Jackson will be the only player on the roster who is over the age of 30 (unless Kentavious Caldwell-Pope decides to agree to his $15.4 million player option). We all know that Father Time is undefeated (unless your name is Lebron James) and while Jackson has been relatively healthy the past few years, including playing all 82 games last season, an injury could leave the Nuggets thin at the backup point guard position.
Should the Nuggets need to add another piece, such as a rim protecting big man, Jackson’s expiring contract could be dangled as trade bait later in the season. Another option that may have helped the Nuggets would have been using the money on a younger, more athletic guard. However doing so would remove the factors that the Nuggets value in Jackson, namely his experience and leadership.
Consistency Is Key
The Western Conference has proven to be a gauntlet the last few years with a handful of teams that are expected to be contenders. However one thing that fans have seen is that teams who are thrown together with little experience playing with each other struggle to match expectations. Now entering his third season in Denver, Jackson and the Nuggets’ familiarity with each other makes the grind slightly easier.
Jackson is not a headliner for the Denver Nuggets by any means, but his value to the team complements the team’s core with a well-rounded skill set. If the Nuggets are to make a run at the 2024-25 NBA title, Jackson’s contributions will be a huge asset to bringing Denver a second championship banner
