How excited should fans be about Trevon Brazile?
Denver Nuggets summer league is in full swing, and the team picked up its second win in Las Vegas on Tuesday, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder, 106-103.
Trevon Brazile, who was selected 35th overall by the Nuggets in the 2026 draft, led the team with 32 points, six rebounds, a steal, and a block. He shot 11-19 from the field and 6-12 from three.
Brazile scored 19 of his 32 points in the first half.
He missed Saturday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a shoulder injury, so it was a good sign that he was able to return in this one and play as well as he did.
How Excited Should Fans Be?
There are two cautions with Brazile's outburst. The first is that it's Summer League, and players in Summer League are playing different roles than they'll be playing in the NBA, and the competition isn't nearly as good as it will be in the NBA.
The second is that it was against the Thunder Summer League team. OKC hasn't won a game in Summer League, whether it was in Salt Lake City or Las Vegas.
That said, a 32-point outburst and shooting 6-12 from three is a huge positive for Brazile, no matter what the setting is or who he was up against.
He's 23 and played five years at college, meaning he's ready to contribute at the NBA level.
Brazile's Role With The Nuggets
While Brazile shouldn't be considered an outright replacement for Aaron Gordon, there are similarities in their game.
He's a guy who plays above the rim and disrupts things on defense.
He shot 34% from three during his final season at Arkansas, which isn't great, but knocking down 50% from deep against the Thunder is a positive sign in terms of his shot. Playing alongside Nikola Jokic will obviously lead to him getting plenty of open looks.
If the three isn't falling, he's smart in cutting to the basket or finding his way in for offensive rebounds. He'll also run in transition, which should lead to opportunities after Jokic rebounds and outlet passes.
He's not much of a self-creator, but does well in straight-line drives to the basket and might find room coming off dribble hand-offs. He's also a very willing screener, which is going to open things up for himself on the offensive end, whether he's rolling or popping.
If Gordon misses time once again due to injuries, expect Brazile to get a strong look throughout the season.
