Denver Nuggets forward Torrey Craig made headlines when he suffered a broken nose in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinals matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Craig received an accidental elbow in the face during the second quarter of Wednesday night's game, causing him to bleed on the floor and be helped back to the locker room. He returned in the third quarter, to the delight of the Denver crowd, wearing a protective mask. And although the Nuggets lost the game, he served as an inspiration to his teammates and the fans.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone told Harrison Wind of BSN Denver that Craig's impressive return to the court in Game 2 gave him and the rest of the team an extra motivation to win the series.
“Torrey Craig, he’s inspirational to me. His story, seeing where he started where he's at, now he's starting NBA games, and I’m so happy our fans recognized his impact, chanting his name was a great moment for him, his mom, his son, who were at the game.”
Before Torrey Craig became the Nuggets' most reliable defender, he had a difficult journey on his way to the league. He went undrafted back in 2014 and spent the next three years playing overseas before coming back to the United States to sign a two-way contract with Denver.
His work ethic and dedication towards improving his game paved the way to him becoming a regular part of the rotation and most recently, a starter. Craig is making the most of his opportunity with the Nuggets, and as long as he can play through whatever injury, fans will see him on the court.
Craig's story is the perfect embodiment of the Nuggets' journey to the playoffs. The team slowly but surely rebuilt a roster that's capable of winning a championship. It hasn't been easy, but now they're here.
Whatever happens, they have served as an inspiration to everyone who supports them.
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