Woody Paige: Nuggets’ Watson now off the bench and ready to perform

By Woody Paige November 9, 2024 | updated 9 months ago

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Nikola Jokic: “You know, Peyton, seats at the hotel pool are like seats at the game. You have VIPs, fair-weather fans and the bench.”

Peyton Watson: “Well, who sits on the bench?”

Jokic: “Not me.’’

TV commercial, 2023

Watson has gotten off the Nuggets bench and become a very important player as a starter alongside Jokic.

Is another Peyton/Payton in Our Dusty Old Cowtown making a name for himself?

In Watson’s first start of the season Wednesday night — against the team that “officially’’ drafted him with the last pick in the first round of 2022 — he produced the brilliant buzzer-beating block of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s screaming layup. The Nuggets busted the undefeated Thunder 124-122.

In his second start Friday night Peyton played 33 minutes, scoring 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting and also finishing with 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 rejections and 1 wham-bam slam to give the Nuggets an 18-point lead with 10:36 remaining against the Heat. He had another dunk with 2:51 remaining to put the Heat down, permanently, by nine.

Since starting forward Aaron Gordon strained his calf early in the Raptors game his 6-foot-7, 200-pound youthful replacement has been ballin’ at The Ball – playing 98 minutes and totaling 42 points (on 55 percent from the field), 4 three-pointers, 5 assists, 4 steals and 6 blocked shots.

Does anybody else remember Wally Pipp, who was hurt with the Yankees and superseded by Lou Gehrig?

It’s been elementary, Watson. No more sitting by the pool and being chided by The Joker.

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Meanwhile, Jokic is off to yet another VIP NBA MVP season, leading the league early in rebounds (13.2) and assists (11.3) and ranking fifth in scoring (28.9).

After the Nuggets opened the season with two rare defeats at home, and after the “bench’’ talked about by Jokic in the hotel chain commercial featuring Watson served as the worst waitstaff in the NBA, and after Jamal Murray struggled with his shot then entered concussion protocol, and after the injury that will keep Gordon out for several weeks, the situation seemed screwed up in Denver. However, with The Joker maxing, Murray returning, Russell Westbrook acting like a mad man on a mission and Watson playing like a veteran, the Nuggets are running and on a run with six victories in their past seven games.

Sunday, the Nuggets meet the Mavericks. This should have been the Western Conference Finals last season.

Denver will show Dallas a new man — Watson.

During his two previous seasons in the NBA Peyton appeared in 5 minutes, 19 seconds, as a mop-up vs. the Mavs. Their scout would have been better off watching him in Grand Rapids in the G League two seasons ago, where Peyton averaged 22 points a game.

The Nuggets were waiting for Watson as if he were Godot (who never showed).

But, it must be remembered that Peyton, once the No. 1 prep prospect in California, is just 22 and spent only one season at UCLA as a freshman backup who averaged 3.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists. He decided brazenly to turn pro and signed with a sports agency that represents two guys named Jokic and Murray.

Over his short career with the Nuggets, who acquired him from the Thunder on draft night, Watson had moments – a half dozen – but his best performance was in a commercial: “Two guys and a pony walk into a hotel.’’ He started only six games before the recent two. He could get 12 more before Gordon comes back.

The Nuggets’ next road game is not until Friday in New Orleans (and will be their first in-season Cup contest), and the Pelicans announced Saturday that Zion Williamson is out indefinitely with another injury.

Watson has said before that his game objective was 15 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot. If he can reach those numbers now, coach Michael Malone would be euphoric, especially if Peyton’s defense and movement improve. But the Nuggets’ second unit still is a septic tank, despite an encouraging effort against Miami by Hunter Tyson and Westbrook’s determined direction. Julian Strawther must be a consistent contributor. Dario Saric has disappeared.

Peyton’s place is not on the bench at the arena or beside a pool.

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Woody Paige: Nuggets’ Watson now off the bench and ready to perform

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