Denver Nuggets: 2017-18 player grades for Paul Millsap

Final grade

In conclusion, it’s tough to give out a “fair” grade to Millsap examining his first year with head coach Mike Malone and the Nuggets. As a player who has been known for being underrated and a gritty guy, a lot of unfair criticism is likely to be spewed, despite the injury that obviously altered his play. The NBA is a “what have you done for me lately” league though, which has to factor in.

Despite the injury sidelining Millsap for 44 games, even his play before the injury was nothing to brag about. Compared to his time in Atlanta (especially his All-Star campaign in 2016-17) to the present times in Denver, Millsap’s point totals dropped from 18.4 points per game to a mediocre 14.6 in 2017-18. Struggling to be physical at times, the rebounds Millsap brings in also declined from 7.7 per contest to 6.4.

With the cushion of injury plaguing Millsap, fans and Denver brass shouldn’t be too critical, but the proof was in the pudding. Although it was a small sample size for the four-time All-Star in 2017-18, the output could’ve been better.

Paul Millsap brings in a hefty cap hit to the books for Denver, and with the assets the Nuggets have at their disposal in youth and now him, he’ll need to have a big year in 2018-19 to move past the average numbers he put up last year, and his defensive impact will be of even greater importance.

Grade: C+