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Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton has started the season with a bang. But entering his third full campaign with the team, he knows he has to be ready to start or come off the bench at any time.
The Memphis product is off to a solid start, averaging 14 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game through 10 games this season, but managed to garner 19 starts through 60 games last season.
Will Barton keeps himself ready by doing sprints prior to the start of the game, a ritual that helps him get off to a fast and aggressive start when his name is called.
“That’s just a little thing I do to be ready when my number’s called,” Barton told Harrison Wind of BSN Denver about his pre-game antics.
“I just try to do whatever I can mentally and physically to get my body going. Whatever I need to do to get my energy right and just be focused.”
The five-year veteran has come to see the different points of attack from coming off the bench and being in the starting unit over his years for the Nuggets.
“Most of the time I’m coming in and I might be playing against guys who have already been in the game and they’ve got a full sweat and I’m trying to chase them down or go by those guys on offense,” Barton said. “That’s a hard job to do.”
Starting is a different proposition, as the hierarchy and shot distribution is very different and can make or break the team's chemistry.
“When I’m starting, I’m usually so aggressive, that I do the opposite. I try to get a feel for the game, get my teammates involved and just take the game as it comes,” he said. “When I come off the bench I’m more in attack mode from the jump. Obviously, you want to change the game for your team and you want to stay on the court longer so I come in with an attack mode from the beginning.”
Will Barton has recently added a 3-point shot to his arsenal, which has helped him turn into a more well-rounded option for head coach Mike Malone. He's currently shooting the deep ball at a 42.6 percent clip through 10 games, and shot it at a reliable 37 percent last season.
