Last Season: UCLA center Thomas Welsh, the Nuggets’ second-round draft choice this year, posted averages of 12.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 40.7 percent from the 3-point line (45-of-112) and 82.8 percent from the free throw line for the Bruins, who advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Meanwhile, forward DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell averaged 18.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.65 steals in 49 games for the Bakken Bears of the Danish League in 2017-18. Both players played well for the Nuggets in summer league. Akoon-Purcell averaged 12.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.