Nunn has pointed response about future on team

KENDALL – If there are questions about the Miami Heat’s depth at point guard, Kendrick Nunn offered his definitive answer during his Tuesday appearance at the team’s youth camp at Miami Dade College Kendall Campus.

Asked about his goals for the coming season, Nunn said his hope is to “defend the league’s best point guards.”

For a roster with considerable versatility, it is a Heat box that has not quite been checked in recent years, particularly with Goran Dragic often the lone answer at the position. This season, should Justise Winslow wind up cast elsewhere than point guard, or should Dragic and his expiring contract be dealt before the February NBA trading deadline, Nunn wants to make clear that he can get to the point.

“I’m comfortable playing the point guard position,” said Nunn, technically about to enter his second NBA season after signing with the Heat on the final day of 2018-19 but actually still waiting to put on the team’s uniform for the first time during the regular season.

Having thrived as both scorer and playmaker during summer leagues in Sacramento and Las Vegas, Nunn continues to move closer to a roster spot, with his offseason guarantee raised to $150,000 last week.

“It’s an amazing process, to be honest with you,” said the 24-year-old who went undrafted out of Oakland University in 2018 and then spent last season with the Golden State Warriors’ G League affiliate. “Just to be able to be with an NBA team all summer, and playing summer league with them, I had great summer league. It’s really a good process and I’m enjoying it.”

All while continuing to display a skill set that could leave the Heat with an alternative at point guard, particularly against the type of fleet opponents they often will face at the position.

“Definitely getting better with my point guard skills, delivering the ball and getting guys shots,” he said of his ongoing strides. “I’ve played with some great shooters this summer, and just getting those guys shots.”

Named first-team AllSummer League in Las Vegas, Nunn said that experience fueled his ongoing confidence about an impending NBA breakthrough.

“The summer league was part of the things that I can do,” he said. “but it was only a couple of weeks long. You kind of know the kind of players players are when adversity hits during the long season. So I’m looking forward to showing that.”

If nothing else, the Heat are building a confident core of young players, including Nunn and irrepressible firstround pick Tyler Herro, the guard out of Kentucky.

“I think you have to have that confidence in yourself, most importantly, for you be able to play this game at the elite level,” Nunn said.

Nunn said the manifestation of such confidence is Heat center Bam Adebayo working his way onto the U.S. National Team and currently drilling in Las Vegas with USA Basketball in advance of next month’s World Cup in China.

“Bam is a monster,” he said. “I’ve been watching him since Kentucky days and he’s every bit a monster.”

Nunn said he also has seen the promise of Heat second-round pick KZ Okpala, the forward out of Stanford.

“I’ve seen splashes of his game and things like that, and he’s a great player,” he said. “He’s very talented and versatile.”

Mostly, though, this summer has been a personal proving ground, with the feedback from the coaching staff and front office particularly positive.

“They know what type of player I am,” he said. “Just being around the organization, getting to know me better, it’s been super good feedback.

“I actually just got back in town this week. All the young guys are there. I’m looking forward to getting together as a team.”