Denver Nuggets: Options for the starting point guard in 2017-18

The veteran

Jameer Nelson has one of the longest-running active careers in the NBA. Last year, during his 13th season, Nelson took over as the starter following a back injury for Mudiay. Nikola Jokic is lauded for his passing ability, but it was actually Nelson who led the team in assists per 100 possessions.

The Nuggets were a young and turnover-prone team. Lacking a point guard with a traditional skill-set, Denver needed the guiding hand of the grizzled vet. When Mudiay eventually returned to the rotation, coach Mike Malone thought it best to leave Jameer in there to provide some stability down the stretch of a playoff race.

In many ways, Nelson deserves a lot of credit for what he was able to do in Denver last year. He was old (like, really old), and he stepped in effectively in virtually every role Denver needed him to. With injured rookie Jamal Murray still learning how to contribute on an NBA roster and Mudiay disappearing from the rotation all but entirely, he was the Nuggets’ only option at times.

But the truth is, you can’t hope to compete in the NBA if Jameer Nelson is your starting point guard — especially in the Western Conference. The West features guards like Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard, Stephen Curry and Chris Paul. Nelson isn’t going to cut it.

Last season was Nelson’s second-lowest scoring output per 100 possessions of his career. He finished with his second lowest Value Over Replacement Player as well. The upcoming season will be the Nelson’s 14th. At six feet tall and 35 years old, it’s reasonable to expect further decline on both sides of the ball. Nelson is the safe pick, but if the Nuggets want game-changing production from the 1, they’ll have to look elsewhere.