Denver Nuggets: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

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(Photo By John Leyba/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

8. Kenneth Faried (PF) — No. 22 pick in 2011 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Nuggets): 441 GP, 11.4 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 1.3 TOV, 54.3 FG%, 65.5 FT%

When Kenneth Faried was drafted out of Morehead State back in 2011, he was thought of as a poor man’s Dennis Rodman.

With his relentless pursuit of the basketball and high-level athleticism, the comparisons had at least some validity, but nobody expected The Manimal to become the second coming of one of the greatest defenders and rebounders of all-time.

Early on, Faried was who we thought he’d be: an Energizer bunny on both ends of the court without much in the skills department. It didn’t matter, though, because he was still able to find a spot in the rotation.

Sadly, the game has changed since Faried entered the league, with bigs expected to space the floor and defend multiple positions, neither of which he has in his arsenal, leading to a decline in minutes.

Despite the changes, there will always be Faried’s early years, where he was beloved for the effort he put forth on a nightly basis.

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