With the return of the NBA season sports fans are rejoicing at the restart of the NBA season. With so many phenomenal athletes being Guinee pigs in an experiment where they are isolated to go back to playing at the highest level possible.
Former Gamecock PJ Dozier has been leading the second for the title-contending Denver Nuggets.
Dozier recorded a efficient stat line of 12 points, five rebounds, eight assists against the San Antonio Spurs last night. Dozier has 21 points in his three career games in the bubble and is beginning to look like a threat from the bench. While these aren’t “all-star” numbers he is still showing his worth in the eight-man rotation.
Dozier’s play has analysts wondering if he will become an integral part of the Nuggets key to success. Joel Rush of Forbes said the following:
“Dozier’s combination of skills and physical tools potentially brings a set of qualities to Denver’s table which could legitimately help the Nuggets win more basketball games.”
via Joel Rush of Forbes
Many of these minutes are likely coming from the fact that their talented young guards, Jamal Murray and Gary Harris, are dealing with minor injuries and are sitting to make sure they can be healthy for the playoffs.
Even though Dozier isn’t a long-term solution for the Nuggets, he’s young talent that the team can hold onto and develop for cheap. At the end of his contract, if Dozier isn’t happy with his future in the organization, he can likely find another suitor using a resume of his impressive G-League career and productive string of NBA performances. His skills and stats can at least get him a role-player spot somewhere in this league.
The bubble restart has featured less than a handful of Gamecock alumni across the 23 teams still competing for playoff seeding.
Former Gamecock legend Sindarius Thornwell was picked up by the Pelicans, a young talented team that the league wants in the playoffs(because of the mega-star Zion Williamson can become).
Chris Silva has gotten minutes with the extremely tough Miami Heat, who have an incredibly deep roster.
Brian Bowen is on the Indiana Pacers roster with the undeniably overperforming TJ Warren.