Six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan joins Nuggets in bench role
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The gist
The Nuggets signed DeMar DeRozan to a one-year veteran minimum deal worth $3.9 million.
The 18-year veteran comes off the bench for the first time in his career.
Background
DeMar DeRozan is a six-time All-Star guard-forward and 18-year veteran who is the 18th-leading scorer in NBA history. The Denver Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray and coached by David Adelman, signed him in August 2026 hoping the veteran can lift them out of a low point in the Jokic-Murray era. Denver's bench was depleted after the Peyton Watson sign-and-trade and the free-agency loss of Tim Hardaway Jr., and the team failed to win a playoff series last season for the first time since 2022.
How it unfolded
- Aug 2026The Nuggets signed DeRozan to a one-year veteran minimum contract.
- Oct 4, 2026DeRozan scored his first basket as a Nugget in the first preseason game at the CU Event Center.
- Oct 11, 2026DeRozan played for Denver against his former team, the Chicago Bulls, in a preseason game in Denver.
- Oct 14, 2026DeRozan was given the night off, sitting out the exhibition against the Clippers.
- Oct 16, 2026DeRozan came off the bench against the Lakers, playing 27 minutes for 14 points, five assists, one rebound, one steal and two blocks.
- Oct 19, 2026ESPN graded DeRozan's one-year, $3.9 million deal a B.
- Oct 22, 2026The Denver Post reported the Nuggets signed DeRozan hoping the six-time All-Star can help them out of a low point; the season tips off Thursday in Oklahoma City.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- ESPN called DeRozan a midrange master with considerable defensive limitations who could be a somewhat clunky fit in Denver, while grading the deal a B.
- Analysts
- NBC Sports' Raphielle Johnson said that with Julian Strawther out at least six weeks with a knee injury, DeRozan's scoring becomes even more important.
- Support
- Former Toronto teammate Amir Johnson called DeRozan one of the realest cats in the NBA.
- Expert
- Rudy Gay described DeRozan as the most stoic person he has ever met.