Denver Nuggets coach David Adelman details Jalen Pickett's stellar performance versus the Orlando Magic
The Denver Nuggets sought out to improve their depth over the 2025 offseason, after it was clear following their series with the Oklahoma City Thunder that it was an area of weakness. In the summer, they added Cam Johnson, Jonas Valanciunas, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Bruce Brown, as all four of those players have made their impact felt in Denver.
However, there were also players who were retained from the 2024-25 roster who have taken another step, like Spencer Jones and Peyton Watson. One of the players from last year's roster who showed some signs was Jalen Pickett, and he stepped up big for the Nuggets against the Orlando Magic with nine points and seven assists in the win.
David Adelman Shines Light On Pickett's Performance
After the game, head coach David Adelman made sure to shine some light on Pickett's performance, calling it his best since his 18-point outing against the Sacramento Kings on April 9th.
"I thought that was Jalen's best game of the year...He was the two versions of himself. He [hit] the three threes where he was spaced, and then he had seven assists on top of it. So he still playmaked as a point guard. I just thought he competed defensively, too. Even though his rebound total was only three, he got his hands on a lot of balls," Adelman said.
On top of Pickett's nine points and seven assists, he had a +17 plus-minus, which was third on the team behind Johnson and Nikola Jokic.
"Really proud of Jalen. Ready to play. That's all we're going to ask from these guys, and he was tonight," he added.
Jalen Pickett's Role With Denver
Even though Pickett had a strong game, the reality is this team has too much depth to where he won't have a role unless injury leads to it. Due to Peyton Watson being out and Bruce Brown being shoved into the starting lineup, it opened up Pickett to get an opportunity, and he was clearly ready for the chance.
The Nuggets can still extend Pickett's contract for one more season with his $2.4 million team option for the 2026-27 season, which the team will likely accept given the value and what he can bring when needed. However, his role won't increase on the team until others in front of him leave, or he performs so well that they can't keep him on the bench.
Denver returns to action on Saturday against the Houston Rockets at home.