Denver Nuggets power forward Paul Millsap says veteran point guard Isaiah Thomas can still be valuable to the team even though he's out of the playing rotation.

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone told local reporters on Tuesday he has removed Thomas from the rotation for reasons he didn't disclose to the media.

Paul Millsap says Isaiah Thomas is still going to motivate the guys on the team and do all the right things.

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Thomas was cheering for his teammates on Tuesday during the Nuggets' blowout win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at home. It's a tough and humbling moment for a player when he's told he won't be playing anymore, but it looks like Thomas is going to remain professional.

In nine games this season for the Nuggets, Thomas is averaging 8.6 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists. The 30-year-old is also shooting 37.3 percent from the field, 27.3 percent from beyond the arc and 63.2 percent from the free-throw line.

Thomas missed the first half of the season recovering from arthroscopic hip surgery. He signed a one-year deal with Denver worth the veteran minimum last summer.

The lefty hasn't been the same player he was with the Boston Celtics since suffering the hip injury during the 2017 playoffs.