Forward Cam Whitmore is one of the newest additions to the Denver Nuggets after signing a two-way contract with Denver in mid-September, but he's already making a bug impression on his teammates and on head coach David Adelman.

Whitmore has bounced around the NBA on a series of two-way contracts since being drafted by the Houston Rockets in 2023, and while his opportunities and his usage have been limited in his career, the ceiling is clearly high for Whitmore. 

The biggest thing about the small forward out of Villanova is his physicality. At 6'6 and 230 pounds, Whitmore is a physical marvel and he knows how to make that presence felt on the court. 

Adelman has certainly noticed that, saying that Whitmore "could play for the Denver Broncos" during Denver's Media Day. 

But basketball isn't football and impressive as Whitmore's physicality is, Adelman also knows that Whitmore has to find a way to focus his physical talents and marry them with the skills needed to perform at the highest level of the basketball world. 

But all of the skills and tasks required of a player in the NBA can be overwhelming as well and Adelman has recognized that Whitmore, for all of his gifts, might simply be doing too much or thinking too much on the court that's leaving him overwhelmed. 

"He's got to simplify himself. He's got to drive the ball to the basket. He's got to pick up defensively. His athletic profile is incredible," Adelman said (via DNVR Nuggets). 

For someone with as many gifts as Whitmore, it's easy to think that you need to do everything all at once, but that can be a heavy burden for anyone to bear and in turn can lead to something getting lost in the miasma of everything. 

From Adelman's perspective, having Whitmore simplify his process could let him do a few things very well, rather than try to do everything and let crucial components slip through the cracks. 

With how team-focused basketball is, Whitmore may simply need to direct his focus into a few aspects of the game, like defense and driving as Adelman suggested, while letting his teammates handle the rest.

Those are the kind of skills that already suit his physical profile and if he's able to harness those skills more directly, he very well could see a rapid rise in his development. 

Whitmore first touched his rookie potential during his rookie season, but both his production and his usage have declined ever since. Under Adelman's guidance and a more direct application of his skillset, Whitmore could turn things around and be a hidden gem for the Nuggets by the end of the season.