How Peyton Watson’s BREAKOUT Changes the Denver Nuggets
Peyton Watson’s breakout is changing the Denver Nuggets’ ceiling—especially with Nikola Jokic sidelined—after torching the New Orleans Pelicans in a 122-116 win with 31 points and clutch shot-making. Fresh off being named Western Conference Player of the Week (24.5 PPG), Watson’s two-way surge is giving Denver a new scoring “wrinkle” next to Jamal Murray and a massive lineup chess piece when Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun are fully healthy. We break down what Watson’s rising confidence, efficient 3-point shooting, and rim pressure mean for the Nuggets’ playoff rotation—and why his impending restricted free agency could reshape Denver’s future.
#nba #baseball #denvernuggets #nuggets #nikolajokic #jokic #peytonwatson
34 Comments
Where have all the apostrophes gone?
it means the regression is coming once Jokic comes back.
The rise has indeed been impressive, but please, it's just one month. Lots of players have good months or even a good season. PWATs upside is tremendous, but please remember, before Joker went down, the Nuggets had the best offensive rating…in history. Imagine when everyone is back how deep this team will be. Whether CB or PWAT comes off the bench, someone will have to be the Manu Ginobili. A true starter coming off the bench. Add big Val, THJ, Spencer, Pickett, dare I say Zeke….this team will be formable. But, don't crown PWAT the new Maxey just yet. He might, but let the season play out.
Christian Braun actually can hit every shot. While it is true Watson's recent play has raised the question who's really better—and right this second it's without doubt Watson since Braun is injury compromised—I wouldn't give up on Braun's offensive game. There are videos of him playing pickup ball and he never misses from anywhere. If the burden to score more was laid on Braun before he was injured, I believe he'd have nice numbers as well. Of course I'm thrilled Watson has developed so much. Just don't count Braun out. They're both winners at this point.
Let PWat stay as 6th man? I mean, let him play free as he is doing right now. Let him do his own thing. Away from the set plays around Jokic.
If we lose Watson because we had to pay Braun, that would be a tragedy.
I've thought about this, and I wonder the possibilities of who starts going forward
Adam we are all biased to some degree but you do a good job separating it out. There were times last yr during the regular season & even during the title year-i thought you were way too down on them- which is actually a compliment to your objectivity. When some local guys who cover the Nugs talk them up- I take it with grain of salt cuz they are shills. But not you-if you talk them up I know you really mean it cuz you've gone the opposite way plenty of times over the years & that's not easy to do to balance being the "national guy"-& "local guy." simultaneously.
It’s hilarious when people say Denver paid the wrong guy in Christian Braun. Did we just disregard the last 3 years of consistency on both ends by Braun for a player who until this past month looked inconsistent and terrible on offense? Denver fans literally could have given a less shit about p wat in the off season but now he looks so good that we just toss Braun to the side. It’s so dumb how quick people are buying into recency bias.
Separate Nikola from Jabum27 asap
Why not let him start and have Cam Johnson come off the bench?
Ssssswatson! 🎱
They don't need Cam….. Watson CAN be that guy. He reminds me of a Durant type style.
It's clear Pwat us now the SF of the future. But for this year he can be the ultimate 6th man and the 2nd unit with Cam staring.
Then have PWat start next season.
most of CB's point has come with Jokic assist on the other hand Payton has been creating his own shots and that is the great difference.
He looks like Kevin Durant right now. Can he become Kevin Durant, long term?
Maybe pay Watson. Lose Cam. Make CB 6th man. Start THJ. Best 3 pt. Shooting lineup since Curry, Thompson $ Durant
PWAT just stole Cam Johnsons starting job
I think the Nuggets have to try PWat at starting SF when everybody gets back. See if some semblance of his offensive production continues. If so he brings so much more athleticism and D than CJ. That starting lineup would have a ton of defensive versatility with AG, CB and PWat. Then you're bringing in THJ and CJ to rain 3's off the bench. If it doesn't work out just bring PWat off the bench once again. Certainly worth a try, especially since CJ will be coming back from injury. The Nuggets have first world problems….
PWat is one of the best stories of the season. So cool to see this from a unique player
Did Legs say "if Jamal has a rough night….IN THE PLAYOFFS?" Bruh…
Coach Malone is fired because he did not know how to use guys like Peyton Watson when Starting 5 needs to rest or were injured
Watson is everything we wanted MPJ to be. Braun is a big part of Jokic ball. Cam can be a very solid bench leader with Tim and Val. Watson is our starting SF next to Braun, imo.
Why would Kroenke even take a chance on Watson who was a freshman with hardly any stats to speak of in college if he didn't see the total upside?🤔
When Watson is in his normal role, he will be playing against the second unit again. We should expect him to continue to do well.
PWatt worked hard this summer and has working out with Kevin Durant for a couple years now, nuggets need to figure out how to keep him and insert him in starting 5 until all the other guys are all the way back and maybe just keep him there, but we need Braun too.
Nuggs will be unstoppable once Jokic and crew get healthy. Get PWat signed ASAP. And his handle has improved 10x from last year. Dude is looking more and more like a KD light.
Stephen Jones, Hunter Tyson and Zeke Nnaji for Portland's #1 pick in 2026
Cam's starting spot is in serious trouble. Between PWat and Timmy the Sniper Cam's 'decent' season so far ain't gonna cut it. CB is fine. Remember he led the NBA in transition buckets last season. Him and Joker are an awesome 'bookend' out of the backcourt to Joker and Jamal. No, it is Cam who's spot is in danger. I know, traditionally, you don't take away a guy's starting spot when he's on the injury list, but PWat has shown over 10 games now that he can be a starting level two-way 3 and D guy. Well.. that's Cam's SF spot. Now they can bring a MASSIVE lineup. Jamal Murray is a large PG and plays even bigger. CB has now grown to 6'7" and 230lbs. He's a scaled down AG basically. Pwat is a PF in length and size, but has all the athleticism of a SF. Now his 3pt shooting has moved him into a perfect 3 and D wing. AG is well… AG… He's basically, as far as 'playing strength' the PF version of Steven Adams. Nobody stronger at the position. Then Joker. The 7' 300lb Serbian wrecking ball who also happens to be the best basketball player in the Universe. So Cam becomes a really capable backup. I mean the backup rotation would be BB, Timmy, Cam, Spence, and Big Val… that's a starting team… Washington would trade you straight up for that roster for their starting five.
Nice 'problem' Coach Adelman has, yeah?
How easy people forget what Braun was doing last year. Not only for a stretch of the games but full year.
PWat is better in free flowing game while Braun is better in structured game. Only thing that matters is who fits better when Joker is there.
Also, who defends guards of the West when it's playoffs time? SGA, Luka, Ant, Steph, Harden…
They are both needed but in very different ways. Love both, just don't put one down in order to prop the other.
Booth was let go, but let’s give him credit for drafting Braun and Watson in the same draft, and Watson avg 4 pts a game in college. Booth also grabbed Pickett. Strawther has also shown signs at times. And he signed Spencer Jones.
Peyton Watson is making Christian Braun tradable, he does everything on the basketball court at a higher level than Braun !
Watson is a future All Star.
Love what P Wat is doing. You can tell he is matured, every time Jokic talks to him he is locked in. Dude is serious about developing and contributing. He's like the anti Jordan Poole