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ProFitX 2022 NBA Contract Report: Bruce Brown
Nick Crain
11/12/22
During the offseason, Bruce Brown signed a new two-year, $13.28 million contract with the Denver Nuggets. As they look to make a deep postseason run behind MVP Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets opted to get ahead of the curve and added key rotational pieces, with proven playoff experience, to improve their odds. At this moment, the Athledex platform projects Brown’s Real-Time Contract Value to be $20.28 million, while he’s making $6.48 million this season. Why is this a good deal for Denver? Brown has only improved with each season and is getting paid pennies on the dollar relative to the production value he brings.
Improved 3-Point Sniper
Brown is just a career 33.6% shooter from deep, but has drastically improved as a floor spacer. This season marks his second straight shooting over 40% from beyond the arc. It’s still early, but this includes a 45.8% conversion rate from deep in the 2022-23 campaign (which is his first season in Denver). At that rate, he’s set to be the most reliable shooter on the entire roster.
Impact Starter or Key Reserve
In the seven games Brown has played this season, he’s started in three and came off of the bench in the four. Due to his positional versatility, he’s able to play in a variety of roles. This allows Denver to be flexible on a nightly basis and change lineups depending on the personnel of the opposing team. Over the past two seasons, Brown has logged minutes at four positions. Furthermore, he’s already proven to play well alongside the Nuggets’ two primary stars.
Secondary Facilitator
Brown will likely never lead a team in assists, but he is a legitimate facilitator given his role. This season, he’s averaging 3.4 assists in just 27.7 minutes per game. This takes pressure off Jamal Murray and Denver’s other lead guards, while also giving the Nuggets another player that can run the offense when injuries occur or certain players are resting. Brown is great at setting up his teammates and generating them quality shots.
Shines in Big Moments
In the playoffs last year with the Brooklyn Nets, Brown scored 14 points per game on better than a 55/40/80 split. He was a breakout performer in the postseason, and will need to continue that success in Denver here in a few months. The end goal this season for the Nuggets is to try to win it all, with Brown being a huge piece of that puzzle. He brings quite a few intangibles to the table and impacts winning in so many ways.