This season, the Denver Nuggets have been ravaged by injuries. Four of their five starters have missed or are missing significant time.
Nevertheless, the Nuggets find themselves third in the Western Conference with a record of 27-13. Much of their success can be attributed to the All-Star level play of Jamal Murray and the outstanding coaching of David Adelman. However, Denver has also needed their bench guys to step up — and that is exactly what Peyton Watson has done.
White-Hot Watson
Nikola Jokic and Cameron Johnson have not yet played in January, and Christian Braun has been in and out of the lineup all season. Thus, the Nuggets have had opportunities ripe for the taking, and Watson has been seizing every moment.
In his last eight games, Watson has been averaging a phenomenal 23.9 points per game. For reference, he only averaged 8.1 last season. Additionally, Watson has been shooting an incredible 40.8% from downtown and 51% from the field, a substantial improvement from the 2024-25 campaign.
In fact, his outstanding performance as of late has earned him the Western Conference Player of the Week award. But what should intrigue Nuggets fans most is not only how many points he’s scoring, but how he’s scoring them.
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Peyton’s Pivot
When Denver drafted Watson back in 2022, he had only averaged three points per game in his most recent season at UCLA. The Nuggets drafted him not as a scorer, but as a tenacious bench defender with athletic upside. However, this season, Watson has completely flipped that narrative on its head.
With so many Nuggets injured, Watson has taken a more active role in the offense. Previously, his scoring mostly came from cuts, fast breaks, and corner threes. Now, he’s been scoring off the dribble at a highly impressive rate.
His midrange jumpshot has proven to be consistently dangerous. He’s been getting to the basket with ease, but the fast breaks and corner threes are still a part of his game. He’s leading the fast breaks and draining way more of his triples.
All good things must come to an end, though. Soon enough, Jokic, Johnson, Braun, and the rest will be back. So what happens with Watson then?
Future Fit
Though Watson’s incredible form as of late may subside, he still clearly showed what he is capable of. Do not be shocked if Peyton Watson ends up taking Cameron Johnson’s spot in the starting lineup, and definitely do not be shocked if he at least takes a sizeable chunk of Johnson’s minutes. Watson already averaged 24 minutes a game last year, and an increase was always likely to occur.
Come playoff time, it will be all hands on deck for Denver. Last year, they simply did not have enough scorers. Jamal Murray could not get free, and Oklahoma City’s defense was all over Jokic. Thus, the Nuggets had to rely on other players to create their shots, and many struggled to do so.
Having another weapon, off the bench or in the starting lineup, is huge for Adelman. He will need guys who can attack favorable matchups and score when Denver’s stars cannot. He will need guys that he can trust to make big defensive plays and hit their shots.
Watson has proven that he can be that guy. However, while many Denver fans are excited for what he will bring in the playoffs, others fear what will happen afterwards.
Peyton Watson’s Contract Concern
Peyton Watson was unable to reach an extension with the Nuggets over the offseason. This year is the last year on his contract, meaning he will enter the offseason as a restricted free agent. To make matters worse, given how much Denver is paying all their starters, it is highly unlikely that they will be able to afford Watson.
Though his fantastic play has been amazing for the Nuggets, he’s driven up his stock to the point where Denver cannot keep him.
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With depth being the name of the game in the NBA, having a bench guy like Watson is crucial. So, whether it be before the trade deadline or after the season, the Nuggets may try to free up some money. Guys like Zeke Nnaji, Jonas Valanciunas, or even Cam Johnson could be on the move if they really want to keep Watson.
Only time will tell what the future holds for Peyton Watson and the Nuggets organization. However, what is clear now is that Watson has been on fire lately.
After coming up short the last two years, Denver is desperate to capitalize on Jokic’s future and get back to the NBA Finals. Having this new and improved version of Peyton Watson as a defender, role player, scorer, or whatever role he may fill could be exactly what they need to do so.
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