Cam Johnson Nuggets Introductory Press Conference 🎙

Cam Johnson Nuggets Introductory Press Conference 🎙

Hi everyone, thanks for being here. Uh before we introduce Cam, we just want to say thank you to Michael Porter Jr. for the last seven years of his contributions to the organization. Um we don’t win a championship without him and we know he’s going to do great things in Brooklyn. Thank you. Cool. Uh Cam Bentando from the Denver Post. I I know when you get traded to to Denver, the initial thought is probably a lot of excitement to play alongside Jokic, but sort of part of what has made this team pretty effective for the last few years has been sort of the synergy of that entire starting lineup. I’m curious sort of your impressions of of the lineup as a whole and how you kind of fit into that that group of Yeah. um you know, playing in the league, you get to play against each uh other teams plenty of times throughout your career. And so I I I got used to how Denver played and playing against them and it’s excuse me, it’s a tough style to play against and the fact that they can attack from so many different angles. Now me being a part of that, I’m really excited. Um that’s the kind of basketball I want to play. um where kind of everybody’s in tune with each other and able to play off each other and um you know just be able to generate the best possible looks, be able to defend effectively um get up and down the court, pitch aheads. I I’ve seen the way they played and to be a part of that now is really exciting for me. Ben and John, questions for you. Did were you targeting Cam early in this process? you know, understanding you were trying to move MPJ at some point, but were you targeting him and how did he make the rest of this kind of offseason fit for you? Was it critical that that move happened or how did those pieces all fall together for you guys this off season? I say pretty much a combination of all of that. Um, obviously was a guy that was on our radar. Uh, we were looking for a seamless fit. Uh, given his versatility both offensively and defensively, it made a lot of sense. um you know through hours and hours of talks and negotiations kind of getting that reassurance amongst ourselves he’s made sense it’s the right decision. Yeah I can just I would agree with John on all that. I mean we we definitely he we had our eye on him and um you know when the season ends we we make our calls and um we check in with other teams and we see what’s out there and um you know we feel really lucky that it came to fruition. Cam, just in in your own words, what would you say you’re bringing to Denver? Uh team first mentality. I want to win at the end of the day. I want to win. I want to win a championship. And obviously, we have the pieces to do it here. Um and that’s what I’m most excited about. You know, I think offensively I I’ve always been known to shoot the ball. I think there are more aspects of my game, but um you know, just being at the team’s best in terms of ball movement, making the right plays, finding the right shots, and playing off of some really good players, and then defensively fitting into the schemes that that they have. Um I’m I’m really excited about that. And my goal number one is to win. And um the teammates that I’m surrounded with, the coaching staff that I’m surrounded with is such a great opportunity for me. Cam, when when this first was reported, you talked about house swap with Michael or something along those lines, did did anything come of that first off? And then what advice did he give you about coming here, team, fan, city, etc., et, etc.? Uh, yeah, we definitely talked about that actually. Um, I don’t know if it’ll happen, but it’s it’s being discussed right now. Obviously, when you get traded, everything’s flying around, everything’s moving. Um, and so, you know, as the the next couple weeks wind down, we’ll we’ll start to become a little bit more established in our new markets and and figure all that stuff out. But, um, yeah, I mean, it’s it’s not really that much to explain. Um, it’s a great situation where where, you know, you get to, like I said over and over and over again, you get to play with great players. Um, there’s a lot for me to learn about the city and a lot for me to learn about the fans of of the Nuggets. And you know, so far the reception has been incredible. I’m in random places where I wouldn’t expect to find any Nuggets fans and it’s like, “Wow, go Nuggets.” Like, we’re excited and and it’s been all over the place no matter where I’ve been over the past couple weeks. So, that’s really encouraging. Um that’s really encouraging and and and it’s really promising and you know, when we play for the fans, like it really gives you something to be prideful of. And so, uh that’s that’s a huge perk of playing Denver that that kind of jumped out at me. real quick. What’s the most rated place that you ran into? Um I I spent my offseasons in Arizona and it was maybe a couple days after the trade. I was at a um breakfast spot just near my house just casually chilling and this whole table I’m talking 10 old people were like shaken like besides themselves like we’ve been Nuggets fans for so long. Like we live in Arizona now. We’re huge Nuggets fans. Like the the lady’s like almost crying and stuff. I’m like oh this is awesome. like um but it was pretty random and it was pretty soon after the trade. So the excitement around it has has been uh really positive for me and you know just a chance at winning is is something that I really relish and something that I’ll do everything in my power to contribute to. Uh in the back Brandon Crystal from Gorilla Sports. So it’s kind of for all y’all but but Cam, how exciting was it to be the first of a series of moves with these other players that came in? you know, they’re obviously an established team with some established stars, but the other moves that they made and and you being a key to that and then for Ben and John, too, can you kind of take us through the other couple moves you made after you made the CAM trade and and why those work? Yeah. Um, obviously I keep a close eye on all the movement across the league at all points. So after the trade and and when I found Tim is joining us here in Denver, Bruce is joining us here in Denver and um Valenunis is joining us here and like those are three phenomenal players in terms of guys that are versatile guys that have defined skill sets, guys that can really seem to contribute to what everyone is building here. Um and and and knowing those guys, I didn’t know them, you know, like super well before this, but I’ve seen their games. I’ve seen them play. I’ve seen them over the course of my career and and before I got in the league and it just seems like um the front office here has a has a very strong vision of what they want of what they kind of wanted to attack this off season and um it’s it’s really cool to see. Yeah, I think Cam spoke to it initially. I think one of the biggest things we look for with all the moves is being able to adapt to what the league may throw at us on any given night without sacrificing our baseline and our fundamental approach to the game. And so obviously that’s easier said than done, but being able to find like-minded individuals who can fit those roles. I mean, look, we’ve been in Vegas the past couple of days with summer league and, you know, these guys have popped in and out, got some time with our young guys, supported the games. Just mentally and physically, they’re they’re there and ready to take on this challenge. for John and Ben. How much input have you had from David about the style he wants to play and how how influential has that been on these moves that you’ve made early on? Very influential. We we’re constantly communicating with him and um you know, we’re lucky that he’s been uh so helpful in these conversations. Ben and John, um you’ve made a series of moves that we were talking about and Cam was a big one, but Yonas was a big one. Have you had any insuranceances? Have you talked to him? Has he signed off? Is he ready to go? What is the status with him? Jonas specifically, is that your question? Yeah, we’ve had um great conversations with him and and um there’s been uh nothing but healthy conversations in terms of him him honoring his contract and him excited to be uh to be a Nugget. Vinnie Benber is that a lot of people have been really complimentary about the way you kind of see the game. So I’m curious if that’s something that’s always come naturally to you or were there people earlier in your career who stressed the importance of kind of like thinking the game at a higher level? It’s a good question. Um I think it’s always come naturally but with that you have to understand that there’s always ton a ton to learn. Um, so when I came into the league, I came into the league after five years of college and still I knew that there was a a lot to learn. So I listened to the coaching staff. I had Ricky Rubio on my team, Devin Booker, who was my age but had been in around the league for a long time. Um, Kelly Ubé, just the vets around my position. Uh, just watching, observing, seeing how the game developed, seeing kind of um, the reads, the the mindset, the work, everything that goes on behind the scenes. And so I’ve always just tried to cultivate that. I’ve tried to cultivate that since I was little. I used to sit down with a little notebook in my bedroom and draw up sets. I mean, it’s just I always loved the game. I always loved the the mental side of the game and um and I’ve always prided myself on that. Uh Ben andor John, just to follow up about Yonas, he’s seems like he’s playing Euro basket. Um, do you guys know if and when he intends to be in Denver and and are there any plans to have anyone out there visiting him or meeting with him while he’s playing in that tournament? I mean, we’re still working through that right now. I mean, yes to all of that. You know, he’s going to be playing and there are plans for him to get here uh sooner than later, but still working through that and uh we’ll approach it at that time. Are there any remaining or lingering concerns that he will not be on the team for opening day? No concerns. Okay. John and Ben, you guys are still relatively new in your respective roles in this co-mos. It seems like it’s been working pretty well early on. Just how how has it been adapting to to these new roles and this new partnership that y’all are in? I It’s been non-stop. Uh yes, we’ve had, you know, a couple bright spots. uh to start this thing off. But at the same time, you know, we’ve been steadily working through it, uh collaborating with the group, kind of looking at where we are right now and what needs to look like throughout the course of the year, trying to prepare ourselves for whatever may, you know, come our way. But, you know, so far it’s been good. Just still working through it. Uh Cam over here, just wanted to I know you’ve been asked about Nola just a whole bunch of times over the course of these last couple weeks. just what’s an aspect maybe of your game that you’re excited can kind of flourish next to him and just something that you’re you’re hoping really takes off? Um, I’d say relocation. Relocation around the perimeter, whether that’s finding the open spot for a three or a cut. Um, I I I know maybe his best ability is just understanding where he is in space and where his teammates are in space at all times. Um and and so one thing that I’ve always worked on in my career to take next steps to be able to be on the court to be able to get playing time um is finding windows offensively and and so you know and playing with a player like Yoke it it’s I find a spot and there’s a high chance that he’s going to put the the pass on time on target. So for me it’s it’s going to be a lot of that where where I’m just you know playing off of the guys on the court and then making reads off that and that’s how I love to play. That’s that’s my favorite kind of basketball. And so I’m really looking to for that part of my game to uh you know because I had a lot of less catch and shoots last year. It was a lot less of a catch and shoot around the perimeter. And so that might be something that um gets a a little bit of an uptick this year. Building off of one of Cam’s answers. He said, you know, his goal is to win team player. There was so much talk you guys might run it back. When was it determined that that was not going to be the course of action? And do you feel as you sit here today that you’re a championship contender based on these moves you’ve made the offseason? You’re saying what is the feeling of us? What is the do you feel today you’re a championship contender based on the moves? Because a lot of talk you’re going to run it back. You obviously didn’t. And do you feel like you’re a championship contender and why based on the moves you made this off season? I mean look we’re we’re sitting here July right now. We think we’ve given ourselves a chance to give some tools to have some resources to where we can be competitive. Obviously, the league the season has played itself out, but you know, do we feel confident? Yes. Um, but like I said, there’s a lot of basketball to be played. These guys have to jail. You know, DA’s got to put his new philosophies in. So, you know, time will time will tell. Ben, was it something about that you wanted to tweak to put you in a better position after watching the playoffs to make you more versatile or the depth? What was it kind of spearheaded? Yeah, I think I think going into the offseason the the goal was to to add depth. um that could have been uh by not making a trade and just making a couple signings in free agency. Uh but our job is to always, you know, focus on making the team better and and that’s what we feel like we accomplished. K, you talked about winning. You’re kind of jumping onto a moving train. Uh doesn’t get any slower as you know when the season starts in Arizona or here. How do you how do you define success? How would what would make this a successful first year for you here? What has to happen for you? I think it’s like they said, it’s that it’s that gel factor of of of us kind of maximizing our our onc court ability. Now, obviously the goal at the beginning, at the end of the day, and everything in between is to win a championship, and that’s what I’m here to do, and that’s what my teammates, I’m 100% confident, are here to do. So, that’s the ultimate goal. Um, obviously things happen over the course of a season. You never really know. Uh, if everybody only defined successful seasons by the championship, then there would really be a small amount of guys at the end of the season um defining their season as successful. So, it’s it’s a it’s a wide range of things and I think it starts with how well we can gel and how the system works and how effective we can be within that. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that yes, the goal is to win a championship and that’s why we’re all here. uh for both Ben and John kind of uh just following up on the roster conversation. You guys still have an open roster spot remaining. How much pressure is there? Is there any pressure to fill that 15th man spot before the start of training camp? I wouldn’t say there’s pressure. We’re going to be patient right now. Um we feel really good about where the roster is at and and um if we feel like it’s important to add a 15th, we will. But no pressure right now. And then also for for John Ben uh really go overall. You’re not looking for a lot necessarily, but I guess specifically with the guys you’re counting on and namely Don Holmes, how’d he look? Looked really good. I mean, last night, you know, he got a very impressive game. I mean, first half, you know, finished was I think it was 11 and 11 uh going into halftime. So, you know, those promising. I think the big thing for him and some of the other guys is just to get the reps. You know, with a team structured as how this team is, it’s hard for those guys to get a chance to play in those meaningful minutes. So, this is a time for them to kind of relax, have fun, and get back to just getting those those instincts sharper and and playing through that. Anything else? Thank you, sir. ask him if uh what if what if anything Jordy told you about Denver? Um yeah, he said is he said it’s a great it’s a great spot. No, it’s all good. And we had um so my PD guy in Brooklyn was Connor Griffin who spent years here too. And so I talked to them after the season and they said nothing but great things about the the people on staff here, the people in the building, um DA, the guys on the team, and they said it’s a perfect situation for me and they know my game, they know me. And so I trust them in that. And uh I talked to Connor right after the trade and he’s like, “You’re in a great place, man.” You know what I mean? You know how that goes. So everything about that was positive. And I have so much respect for that coaching staff in Brooklyn. I really appreciated him. I really loved um playing for Jordy. I think Jordy has a tremendously bright future in this league. Um, and I think Brooklyn has a bright future too. And so obviously I I’ll keep up with them and you guys understand this by now. Like the NBA once you’re in it, you know, you you develop those relationships and um, you know, they don’t just leave when you get traded. They don’t just disappear. So those are my guys for sure.

Hear from Cam Johnson with Ben Tenzer the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, and Jon Wallace the Executive Vice President of Player Personnel.

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Cam Johnson Nuggets Introductory Press Conference 🎙