Mudiay taking a starring role
Nugget expects more in Year 2
omaha» Before he was truly ready for the trip here for training camp, Emmanuel Mudiay had some required viewing to take care of.
Watching the final game of last season, his rookie season.
He liked that Mudiay. He wanted to remind himself of what he was that day and tap back into what the player on the screen possessed. That point guard had moxie. But more than anything else, that point guard had confidence. And the team around him had confidence in him.
Mudiay vowed to get back into that space — and stay there.
“That was myself. I felt like myself,” Mudiay said of that game at Portland against the Trail Blazers. “It kind of motivated me to come in like ‘This is how you need to come in.’ ” And he has. “Emmanuel looks like a different player,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said on the second day of training camp. “Physically, he’s a big, strong, imposing guard as it is. I think he’s even bigger and stronger coming into camp. He’s in great shape. He’s much more confident in himself as a leader.”
Mudiay did gain steam as his rookie season wore on, but nagging injuries slowed him down. Now he’s healthy and showing the explosiveness he had in high school three years ago.
However, he is working most on his mind-set. Done are the days when he tries to become a guard he’s not. Mudiay promises to get back to the player he recognizes most. So although he worked on shooting drills of all kinds this summer, Mudiay’s plan is to use his physical tools early and often, which means taking the ball to the hoop.
“You’ve got to go with what got you to the NBA, first and foremost,” he said. “So, be comfortable with that and then develop the other stuff. So I’m going to
keep using my athleticism until I feel I need to just keep consistently shooting outside.”
No matter where he’s shooting, being a more efficient player is paramount if he is to show improvement. His shooting accuracy of 36 percent overall, 31 percent from the 3-point line and 67 percent from the freethrow line all must improve in Year 2 to make that happen.
Getting to the rim and finishing more often is where Mudiay figures to start that jump. He made 43 percent of his attempts at the rim as a rookie, but he’s banking on full health to help push that number much higher.
“Last year, I wasn’t fully healthy from the start,” Mudiay said. “In the summer, I did a lot of stuff to get my body back right. So I feel great in that aspect. But as far as having one year under my belt … just knowing what to expect, there are no surprises. You put in the work, God is going to reward you with the rest. That’s how I look at it.” Malone wants a more vocal Mudiay. “My message to him coming into camp is ‘I want you to be a leader,’ ” Malone said. “‘You’re our floor leader. The ball is in your hands. Run your team, be vocal and be comfortable in doing so. … I want these guys to get used to hearing your voice.’
“He has really taken that to heart. I love the pace at which he’s playing with. He’s in great shape. He’s been very impressive after three practices, and obviously that has to continue.”
Footnotes. Arthur (knee) worked on the side during the morning session of practice Wednesday and is still hoping to get on the court midway through training camp. … The Nuggets hosted coaches from Creighton and North Dakota at practice. … The team celebrated Juancho Hernangomez’s 21st birthday with a cake.