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David Adelman Has High Praise for Rookie Bryce Hopkins After Win Vs. Raptors
- Story by
- David Adelman Has High Praise for Rookie Bryce Hopkins After Win Vs. Raptors
Video courtesy of Denver Nuggets.
The Denver Nuggets made a statement against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday with a 128-109 win that put the Nuggets back over .500 with a 4-3 record and while there were positives all around, it was some of the Nuggets' bench pieces that showed the biggest positives.
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In particular, forward Bryce Hopkins rose to the occasion for Denver in the heaviest load he's handled so far this season and that performance has head coach David Adelman thrilled at what he's seeing.
Among the several impactful bench additions that the Nuggets made over the offseason, Hopkins presents with some of the biggest upside and while he hasn't seen the floor all that often so far this season, Wednesday's win gave him an opportunity to really show what he can do.
Denver Nuggets forward Bryce Hopkins (13) and Toronto Raptors guard Alijah Martin (55) dive for a loose ball during the second half at Ball Arena. Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Hopkins' Big Night
Hopkins played a whopping 28 minutes off the bench and totaled 18 points along with four rebounds, one assist and two steals in a performance on both sides of the court that truly showed the variety of talent that he possesses.
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The ceiling is high for Hopkins, who was selected in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft by the Nuggets, and in this early part of his rookie season, the biggest test for him at this point is seeing how he plays under pressure and handles the mistakes that will inevitably come up.
Denver Nuggets forward Bryce Hopkins (13) drives against Los Angeles Lakers guard Jaden Hardy (7) in the fourth quarter at Crypto.com Arena. Jon Endow-Imagn Images
In that regard, he passed with flying colors on Wednesday and the poise that he showed in tough moments has made a serious impression on Adelman.
But just as significant as his play on the court has impressed Adelman, so has his conduct with personnel in all facets of the team, from assistant coaches to trainers to communications staff. Hopkins' character has gone a long way in endearing him to his team and it's gone a long way in establishing Adelman's trust in him.
Denver Nuggets forward Bryce Hopkins (13) dunks in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Jon Endow-Imagn Images
Adelman's Endorsement
"He's earned this in the preseason, but just the steadiness every day. I bring this up all the time, in player development, when he watches film with his coach... When somebody's a consistent person on top of the fact that they know who they are are on the court, that goes a long way," Adelman said (via Nuggets ).
Denver Nuggets forward Bryce Hopkins (13) reacts during the fourth quarter in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Jon Endow-Imagn Images
The elevated role that Hopkins received against the Raptors and how well he conducted himself within that role will help greatly in keeping Hopkins on the court going forward. It's also a great sign for the player that he can be in the future plans the Nuggets may have for him.
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Any rookie is going to be tested to see how well they can fit into the future for a team and if they can establish a place within the team for a long time. The Nuggets at this point can still count on their existing core to contribute for a long time, but Hopkins' mix of character and skill show a lot of promise for who he can be in Denver moving forward.
