Denver Nuggets: 2017-18 player grades for Paul Millsap

The Denver Nuggets are committed to Paul Millsap until 2020 under a hefty price tag. Was the four-time All-Star worth it after year one?

Paul Millsap has always been the cliche “underrated” athlete you hear about in sports. A four-time All-Star and a serviceable scorer for years in Atlanta, Millsap landed his payday from the Denver Nuggets in the summer of 2017, and it was finally time to earn the respect he had never been shown.

Ready to propel Denver back to the playoffs and shake off doubters, Millsap struggled in his first 16 games with the Nuggets, only averaging 15.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 34.5 percent from 3-point range and a subpar 69.2 percent from the charity stripe. To say the 12-year veteran making $30 million was underperforming was an understatement.

Then things got worse when Millsap injured his wrist against the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 19. The Nuggets had to overcome losing their prized offseason acquisition in order to keep postseason hopes alive amidst a team full of youngsters still adapting to the NBA grind and developing their identities.

Despite playing in only 16 games before the All-Star break, Millsap would return and finish the season, playing in 22 more contests and providing a perspective of what can be expected of year two in the Mile High City.