The Denver Nuggets are off to a hot start for the 2025-26 season, with an 11-3 record and all signs pointing toward them being legit contenders for the NBA Finals if they keep things up. So far this season, they've had their fair share of injuries, requiring the rest of their roster to step up in the absence of key starters.

Denver made some key additions this offseason, but the growth of guard/forward Peyton Watson was one to monitor, given he's entering the final season of his four-year rookie deal. Watson has shown his defensive capabilities, but not much on offense, until Wednesday night's career-high performance. After the game, his teammate revealed his encouraging words for Watson.

While Watson had three misses from beyond the arc in the first quarter, teammate Bruce Brown made sure to tell the young wing to keep shooting.

"It was great," Brown said of Watson's career-high night. "I think he started off from three like one-for-four. I went to him and I was like, 'Bro, if they're gonna give you 10, I know you can hit four or five of them, so keep shooting.' And that's what he did, five-for-nine. Big 30 ball, so happy for him."

Brown had one of his best seasons with the Nuggets during the 2022-23 season, but left after winning the championship that year after receiving a massive payday. While this season is his first back with the team, that 2022-23 season was during Watson's rookie year, one where he spent most of his time on the bench watching the Nuggets win the title.

While Brown was off playing for a multitude of teams, Watson was getting better, and now it seems as though he's earned a spot in the starting lineup, as Christian Braun is dealing with an injury that will hold him out for several weeks.

Watson's 32 points and 12 rebounds against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night were both career-highs, as Denver caught a glimpse of what Watson can be, as he's still just 23 years old.

Looking ahead for Denver, the attention now shifts to a marquee contest on Friday night against the Houston Rockets. Going up against the star duo of Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant, Watson will go up against one of his mentors in Durant, as he'll look to build upon his career night.