In an interesting story for The Athletic, Mirin Fader takes a closer look at DeMar DeRozan’s “keen interest in mental health issues” and how he’s been trying to “transform that topic from conversation to action, from podcasts to policy, to reach more people — specifically, young boys and men — who are struggling to cope with mental health challenges and emotional isolation.”
DeRozan, 37, signed a one-year, minimum-salary contract with the Nuggets this summer after having his partially guaranteed contract waived by the Kings in July. According to Fader, DeRozan often repeats the mantra of “it’s almost over” to remind himself to cherish the final stages of his playing career.
“It’s not a negative thing,” DeRozan said. “It’s a beautiful thing. You can’t do this forever, but while you’re in it, give it all you got, so when it’s time to walk away, you’re at ease with everything.”
DeRozan confirmed to Fader that he received recruiting calls from Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray before he agreed to sign with Denver. He’s looking forward to playing with those accomplished veterans, who won a title together in 2023.
“When I came in the league, I never would have imagined or thought I’d be playing that long,” DeRozan told The Athletic. “And when you get in, you don’t realize how fast and how much time goes by. … It’s a blessing to be able to play this long.”
Fader’s story on DeRozan is worth reading in full. The link above isn’t behind a paywall.
Here’s more on the Nuggets:
- In a brief Q&A session with reporters at his youth basketball camp last week, Gordon gave a simple and “expressionless” response when he was asked about the team’s offseason moves, writes Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. “We’ll see,” Gordon answered. The veteran forward, who has been plagued by soft-tissue injuries the past two years, has been a “consistent presence” in the Nuggets’ practice facility this summer, team sources tell Durando.
- Gordon, who also talked about the departure of Peyton Watson and organizing a team mini-camp in Puerto Rico, said he’s been impressed by 2026 second-round picks Trevon Brazile and Bryce Hopkins, as Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette relays. “Yeah, the rookies are good,” Gordon said. “Bryce is really good. TB is really good. They can play. I’m not entirely sure where they’re going to fit in, but they can go.”
- Chris Dempsey of Demps and Circumstance lists five burning Nuggets questions ahead of training camp, with the first being, “How hungry will the Nuggets be to claw back to the top of the NBA?” According to Dempsey, the answer to that question the past couple seasons has been not hungry enough.
- Kroenke Sports and Entertainment — the Nuggets’ parent company — announced plans on Friday for a $135MM renovation of Ball Arena, per Jessica Alvarado Gomez of The Denver Post. Construction of the upgrades/additions, which will be funded privately, will begin next summer. “When we acquired the Nuggets, Avalanche, and the Arena, we committed to developing winning teams and to supporting the City of Denver,” said Kroenke Sports and Entertainment founder, owner and chairman E. Stanley Kroenke. “The renovated Ball Arena and the subsequent redevelopment of the surrounding land allow us to keep doing both for another 25 years and beyond.”