Competition tough for spot in the NBA

omaha» Shortly after summer league ended, Nate Wolters had a decision to make.

Offers were on the table, and good ones, to play basketball overseas. He had been in Turkey last season, and by and large it had been a good experience. He had made the decision to leave the United States early last summer. But this time Wolters wanted something more.

He wanted back in the NBA.

The Nuggets provided an open door, signing the point guard to come to training camp. That door was also opened to five other players, all looking to nab the last roster spot, most looking to get back into — and stick — in the NBA.

There is no professional sports league in America that has more competition from more capable players around the world than the NBA. While star players steal headlines, the biggest chunk of the league’s players are in a constant battle to claim one of the NBA’s 450 spots and stay there.

“I look at the guys I played with and against in college, and you think about how many good players there were that never played an NBA game, or were in the NBA for one year and didn’t stick. There’s a lot,” said Robbie Hummel, a college star at Purdue now in camp with the Nuggets looking to get a third season in the NBA after playing in Italy last year.

And just because you’re in doesn’t mean you’re staying. Hummel was drafted in 2012 in the second round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. His first stop? Spain. He did make the Timberwolves in each of the two seasons after that, but last season was forced to play overseas.

Wolters started 31 of the 58 games he played for the Milwaukee Bucks in his rookie season in 2013-14. But the next season the Bucks waived him. He signed two 10-day contracts with New Orleans, and that was it. Before he knew it, Wolters was playing in Turkey.

“I had a pretty good rookie year,” Wolters said. “After that year I never thought two years from there I would be in Turkey. But it happens. It’s the NBA; a tough league to stay in. It’s hard to get into but it’s even tougher to stay. I’ve learned that the hard way. So hopefully I can earn my way back.”

Jarnell Stokes was the DLeague MVP last season. It was bittersweet. He had played well enough to earn the accolades, but it was not where he wanted to be.

“I can definitely say actually being a D-League player having to sign that D-League contract last year definitely woke me up to a lot of guys’ situations and how easily you can be out of the league,” said Stokes, in camp with the Nuggets. “I never really felt I got the chance, and that’s what really hurt throughout the process, me not getting a chance.”

Stokes’ yo-yo began when he was drafted in 2014, a second-round draft day acquisition by Memphis. He played sparingly for the Grizzlies, bounced back and forth to and from their D-League affiliate. The next season he was traded to the Miami Heat, which quickly assigned him to the Sioux Falls D-League franchise, where he won a title and the MVP.

This is his third training camp.

“I feel like sticking in the league has a lot to do with things I’ve already shown, and now it’s time to show it in games,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing. People have to see it to believe it. I just have to get that film out there.”

D.J. Kennedy was not drafted after a four-year career at St. John’s, which ended in 2011. He’s been to two training camps and cut both times. But six years of persistence and improvement have resulted in some interest around the league, including from the Nuggets.

None of it is lost on Nuggets coach Michael Malone. He’s been around the game and the league long enough to have seen dozens of cases of players clawing to get in, and stay in, the NBA.

“It’s not easy, especially when you start getting older and you have a family,” Malone said. “You’re kind of living out of a suitcase. I really respect those guys because of their commitment to the game, their passion for the game and their willingness to do whatever it takes. I do have a lot of respect for that, and I do know how hard it is.” Christopher Dempsey: cdempsey@denverpost.com or @chrisadempsey