Kenneth Faried has found himself the odd man out in the big man carrousel that is the Denver Nuggets. The 6-foot-8 power forward will come off the bench for the first time in five years, according to Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post.
Kenneth Faried will be a reserve, and Malone has said Manimal's been great about doing what's been asked of him w/o complaining
— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) October 22, 2016
Once a rising star coming out of not-so-well-known Morehead State University, Faried impressed with his incredible dunks, drive and athletic ability, soon becoming a crowd favorite and adopting the nickname “The Manimal” because of his youth and imposing physique.
In four seasons as a starter, Faried has failed to average a double-double or push his scoring to the 15-plus mark on a nightly basis. His best season came in 2013-14 when he averaged 13.7 points and 8.6 rebounds. Just when ownership thought he'd started to turn the corner, Faried returned with a 12.6-point, 8.9-rebound season the in 2014-15.
So here's what we know right away: The starting front court for the #Nuggets will be Gallinari, Jokic and Nurkic
— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) October 22, 2016
Nikola Jokic‘s game has evolved over the past season. He's an all-around big man that can shoot, pass, and rebound the ball effectively. His silver medal Olympic run with his native Serbia has definitely helped his game and made him ready to be a starter in the league.
At 6-foot-10 inches tall, the second-year power forward hasn't proved to be a shot-blocking presence, but can get in passing lanes to steal passes and is quick to outlet to the right man – which has been a money-maker for head coach Mike Malone.
That configuration of the front court is all due to Jusuf Nurkic playing his way into the starting center spot this preseason
— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) October 22, 2016
Jusuf Nurkic is a bulldozer. He's a banger in every regard: his 7-foot, 280-pound frame will carve up space on the block and punish opponents foolish enough to come close to him when he's protecting the rim.
While both of these players are still young and developing, coach Malone found using the Indo-European towers in the starting lineup as a more viable option than keeping Faried as a starter and hoping for him to develop.
Kenneth Faried is slated to come off the bench and his energy and activity on the glass should help the Nuggets this season.
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