Bruce Brown is thriving in an expanded role with the Denver Nuggets

Just four games into his Denver Nuggets tenure, Bruce Brown‘s capabilities were underestimated by LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers labeled him as a shift guy, undervaluing his perimeter-guard skills, and their game plan apparently was to back off of the newest Nugget. Brown nailed a career-best four threes in the first half.

“Your game plan ain’t working, sir,” Brown notified James.

The 26-year-old, following his first notable free agency, has been as crucial as Denver imagined and then some.

Former Brooklyn Net Bruce Brown is thriving in an expanded role with the Denver Nuggets.

With the Nuggets, Brown’s talents are recognized as he is requested to do a lot more than just the point-center, off-ball, and intangible duties that Steve Nash and the Brooklyn Nets asked of him. As projected, his ability to fill many different holes with specialties in different positions and parts on the floor makes the fundamentals a lot easier for Mike Malone’s top-seeded contender, led by the reigning two-time MVP, one of the most stellar figures the game has seen at the five.

Playing in all 24 games here in his fifth season, the 26-year-old is putting up 11.3 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 40.7% from three.

Brown’s recent play and his fit with the Denver Nuggets.

In his last ten contests, Brown is averaging 12.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists with 49/42.9/100% shooting split. He also has a true shooting percentage of 59.4% and his guard play has been crucial to the Nuggets’ success, as he is known for his ability to play multiple positions. The percentages have risen from all over the half-court. Particularly since his rookie season with the Pistons, from finishing at the rim to cashing in on deep and even deep mid-range shots. Brown’s volume has increased everywhere.

The Boston, Massachusetts, native has displayed increased skill and development working on the ball as well, as he has distributed five or more assists in nine games already. Threading the needle, Brown’s IQ and unselfishness in keeping the ball swinging on the perimeter are another focal point of the incredible Denver offense. Their offense is highly ranked in all categories and led by the two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, even when Jamal Murray is not at full strength. Michael Porter Jr.’s health woes have also been lingering.

The Nuggets have the league’s fifth-best offensive rating at 115.8. They also have the fourth-best assist-to-turnover ratio (1.83), while also holding the second-best assist ratio behind the Golden State Warriors with 20. When Brown is on the floor, the team shoots 50% and 39.7% from three.

His untamed energy has always excelled the guard, making him impressive as not only a glass cleaner but an all-around igniter. Denver’s offseason additions of Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope went too quiet around the league in the summer, especially with their helping hands for Jokic and them getting Murray and Porter Jr. back.

Brown can work as a playmaker who sparks the offense while being a cutter for Jokic to work with, who is also a threat from distance after launching a career-high of 3-point attempts per game. People know he does anything for his team off the ball as well.

The exhilarating glimmer that Brown provides for the reigning MVP and Denver can potentially help the Nuggets get over the late-postseason hump that the organization has so desired since the NBA bubble and prior.