Denver Nuggets forward Bruce Brown. Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Draymond Green thinks Nuggets have new No. 3 option

By Vinny Somma | Last updated 6/12/23

Owning a 3-1 lead over the Miami Heat heading into Monday, the Denver Nuggets are on the verge of hoisting the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy for the first time in franchise history.

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are the obvious main catalysts for Denver's success, combining for 216 of the Nuggets' 429 points through four games in the Finals. However, don't discount the play of Bruce Brown, who Draymond Green believes has asserted himself as Denver's No. 3 option amid Michael Porter Jr.'s shooting woes.

Speaking on his podcast, the Draymond Green Show, the Golden State Warriors star noted that Brown playing at a high level has become a near-necessity for Denver to thrive.

“I am actually of the mindset of Michael Porter Jr. plays well, if Michael Porter Jr. shoots well, that's your bonus," Green said. "But Bruce Brown has to play well. He's proven that he's going to play well. He's actually proven almost to be the Nuggets' third option."

Brown, who is fresh off a 21-point outing, has proven to be a slam-dunk addition for the Nuggets. Inked to a two-year contract worth $13.2 million in the offseason, the 26-year-old has solidified himself as one of the best bargain signings of last summer.

As for Porter, his price tag is far steeper, checking in with an average annual base salary of nearly $38M. Not ideal for a player shooting just 29.3% from the field during the finals — the second worst among all players in the series who have logged a minimum of 26 minutes.

Denver has made do despite Porter's struggles. However, it wants to put Miami away for good, having Porter at his best for Game 5 would be more than beneficial.

Michael Porter Jr.: “I think [Miami] is different than the other teams we faced. They're relentless. They're going to come in full force. We ended up actually blowing Phoenix out [in Game 6] in Phoenix, but we know tomorrow is not going to be like that. We have a game-by-game…
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 12, 2023