Nuggets HC Gets Honest About Cam Johnson’s Fit Alongside Nikola Jokic originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Denver Nuggets have been one of the more active teams in this NBA offseason. In fact, the Nuggets didn’t even wait until the offseason to begin making significant changes. With just days until the conclusion of the regular season, the Nuggets shocked many when they announced they were firing head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth.
Many thought the Nuggets were punting on their postseason hopes, as they then went into the NBA Playoffs with David Adelman serving as the interim head coach. However, the Nuggets fought for Adelman admirably and defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round. They then took the eventual champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, to seven games but didn’t have enough to win the series.
Nuggets head coach gets honest about Cam Johnson with Nikola Jokic
If nothing else, the run Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets went on was enough to show that they were just a move or two away from competing for a championship again. The first move came when the Nuggets traded Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 unprotected first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Cameron Johnson.
Porter Jr. dealt with a shoulder injury that seriously hindered his effectiveness and shooting ability. He struggled in the playoffs, and it’s hard not to think that the Nuggets could’ve defeated the Thunder had he been healthy.
Now, the Nuggets pivot to Johnson on the wing to help them navigate the loaded Western Conference. David Adelman recently spoke about Johnson’s fit alongside Jokic.
“Everybody says ‘well anybody can play with [Nikola]’ but some are made to play with him,” Adelman said. “We felt like [Cam’s] outside dribble hand-off game, the shooting, it’s all gonna translate.”
Can’t wait to see the Jok-Cam combo pic.twitter.com/pm3cO8O37n
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) July 11, 2025
Johnson has significant playoff experience, as he was a key piece off the bench when the Phoenix Suns went to the NBA Finals in 2021. Johnson is coming off a career-high 18.8 points per game with the Brooklyn Nets.
The 6-foot-8 forward is a 39% shooter from three over his career and he shot a career-high 47.5% from the field this season. He also shot a career-best 89.3% from the free-throw line. If Johnson can give them the production and have the impact the Nuggets believe he’ll provide, they could be serious contenders next season.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.