Trevon Brazile’s loud preseason: Can the Nuggets rookie snag early NBA minutes?

Nuggets rookie Trevon Brazile made some serious noise during the preseason. Even though he wasn’t the most polished player on the court, he might have been the loudest, grabbing the attention of the coaching staff. As the season kicks off Thursday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, fans are wondering if the 35th overall pick can earn real minutes right away for a contender, or if he’ll start his journey in the G League with the Grand Rapids Gold.

Coach David Adelman hasn’t made the final call yet. He mentioned they have about a week to decide, starting with keeping the whole squad together for the first couple of games. Adelman is still figuring out if they will run a nine-man rotation, a ten-man rotation, or what he calls a “fake 11-man rotation” where they might swap players if the first half doesn’t go as planned. Brazile is definitely in the mix for that last spot, along with Cam Whitmore and rookie Bryce Hopkins, who saw more time with the third unit.

Adelman noted that Brazile has been a highlight reel, playing really well and getting the most minutes alongside the top players. He isn’t afraid to throw him out there when they need a spark. Brazile’s performance was especially impressive in the last two preseason games. He dropped 22 points against the Clippers and followed it up with 12 points and eight rebounds against the Lakers, showing off his athletic dunks and blocks. His ability to shoot threes at his size—going 5-for-7 from deep in those games—has been particularly exciting for the front office.

However, playing in the NBA is a different beast, especially next to Nikola Jokic. Brazile admitted he has to be ready for anything, recalling a play where he anticipated a lob but Jokic threw a bounce pass instead. Adelman noticed Brazile spaced the floor better in the Lakers game compared to earlier matchups, but he still needs to learn when to cut and how to read defenses. With Spencer Jones back from a hamstring injury, the competition for rotation minutes is tough, but Adelman praised how quickly Brazile and the other rookie, Bryce Hopkins, have bought into playing on a veteran team and learning the ropes.