Empty the Bench

He’s posting career-best stats and become one of the NBA’s most efficient players… but I’m reticent to even recognize Nene’s monster contributions to the Denver Nuggets’ success at this still-early stage of the season. The main thing that has always held back the seventh-overall pick of the 2002 draft is injuries–he’s never played in all 82 regular-season games–so the last thing I want to do is jinx him (like I did with Reggie Bush).

But with all the attention in Denver on Carmelo Anthony and the positive impact Chauncey Billups has had since arriving via Detroit, Nene’s under-the-radar performance through 19 games can no longer go unrecognized.

Now in his seventh season with the Nuggets, the 6-11 power forward has benefitted from the Marcus Camby trade by taking advantage of the extra minutes in ways few anticipated. Amongst eligible players, Nene leads the league in field-goal percentage at 62.8% on about 9 shot attempts/per–that’s a full 3 percentage points above the next closest players (Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard, who mostly just dunk). He’s averaging career-bests of 14.9 points, 7.2 boards, 1.6 blocks, and 77% FT/per, and has played in every game thus far; the 33:17 minutes per are also the most of his professional career.

Nene’s effort in Tuesday night’s 132-93 thrashing of the Toronto Raptors was indicative of the efficiency and control he’s played with all season long: 19 points (8-9 FG, 3-3 FT), 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 assists, and a +21 rating. Those kinds of numbers are fantasy gold for those out there who spent a low-round pick on him this year, but more importantly are helping ease the burden on Anthony and Billups and the reliance on Kenyon Martin’s erratic-at-best offense.

It’s hard not to root for this likeable guy. He’s suffered one health setback after another over the years, some more serious than others, but keeps coming back and giving it his all. His ability to bang on the blocks, rebound, and score from inside or just-outside the paint have never been much of a question mark, and so far this season he’s proving it. Much like the rest of the Nuggets, Nene has also, to be sure, flourished since the arrival of Billups, a true PG whose calming demeanor and talent to consistently set his teammates up for open shots is in stark contrast to Allen Iverson’s more frenetic pacing.

I’ll stop, though–wouldn’t want to jinx him.

Nene Photo Credit: Icon SMI