Inside the Loud House
Fansided

Syracuse Basketball: Jerami Grant is peaking at the right time for Denver

By Zachary Weisleder

DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 08: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket against Jerami Grant #9 of the Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the first period at American Airlines Center on January 08, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 08: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket against Jerami Grant #9 of the Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in the first period at American Airlines Center on January 08, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Following a dominant 2-months of basketball in place of an injured Paul Millsap, former Syracuse basketball stud Jerami Grant is cementing his future.

After Denver acquired Jerami Grant in July 2019, there was a common belief around the NBA that the former Syracuse basketball star’s transition to Michael Malone’s playbook would be seamless. After all, Grant has never been one to let early-season woes dictate his season.

After shooting less than 23% from three-point range in October, he was demoted to a much smaller role off the bench, something he embraced before earning another shot. In November, Grant shot 13-percent better from three (36%) before increasing that number by 14-percent (50.9%) in December.

It took five months, spanning from July 8 to January 8, but the uber-athletic stretch forward finally got the starting privileges his 2018-19 season warranted last month. In turn, the Denver Nuggets have lost just six of their last 25 games.

In less than 40 days, Grant has started in 19 games and has completely shifted the narrative that he shouldn’t be a mainstay in the Nuggets starting rotation.

Averaging 33 minutes per game, Grant has quickly mimicked his historic final season with the thunder, averaging 15 points on a 61% true shooting percentage, four rebounds, two assists, a steal, and nearly two blocks over his last 10 games played.

The former 39th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft has played his best basketball when it matters most for the Nuggets in recent weeks. In their final game before the All-Star Break, Grants 15 points and seven rebounds nearly led to the Nuggets ousting the Los Angeles Lakers in overtime.

In late January, a 10-point and seven-block performance, 25-point outing on an 8-of-12 shooting performance, and a 15-point, three-block performance helped the Nuggets edge Milwaukee, Houston, and Dallas.

With a 38-17 record, the Nuggets hold the second-best record in the Western Conference and the fifth-best record overall.

Next. Syracuse Basketball: Top 30 Players in School History. dark

With both Grant, 25, and Millsap, 35, becoming free agents this summer, it’s safe to say that the Nuggets’ front office will heavily prioritize the idea of retaining the budding star.

Home/Syracuse Basketball