Jordi Fernandez wasn’t in Denver for the coronation, but he helped steer the Nuggets toward the throne.
During his six years on Michael Malone’s staff, en route to his own head coaching job in Brooklyn, he left an indelible imprint on players.
“No good memories,” Michael Porter Jr. said, straight-faced. “Not a single one.”
Kidding.
“He was here when I first got here. He was a defensive coach at the time. He really paid attention to me and kind of saw my potential,” Porter told The Denver Post. “Even when I was coming in with an injury, he believed in me, and I was one of his guys that he wanted to really help.