Today I kept digging into NBA team building, stumbled across that Denver Nuggets front office dude Calvin Booth. Honestly wasn’t really tracking him specifically at first, more just trying to figure out how some teams keep finding these gems.
How I Even Got Looking At Booth Stuff
Started kinda simple. Kept seeing the Nuggets doing well even without some big superstar names sometimes, just good players fitting together. Wondered who picks these guys? Like Aaron Gordon? Bruce Brown? Those pickups just clicked. So I just googled something like “Nuggets guy who picks players.” Yeah, real technical search term, right? That kept popping up Booth’s name as General Manager. Seemed he’s been in the background for a while, even before becoming GM.
Figuring Out His Deal
Dove into articles, interviews – anything I could find without hitting paywalls. Noticed a pattern:
- Not chasing the shiny names. Didn’t see him gambling huge on disgruntled stars wanting out. Instead, stuff like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope? Solid guy, does his job, fits perfectly.
- Thinking about the fit first. How will this dude actually mesh with Jokic? Like, practically? Can they catch his passes? Will they move without the ball? Booth seemed to pick guys who answered yes.
- Weird emphasis on length and defense. Doesn’t matter how great you can score if you’re letting the other team run wild. Look at the Nuggets roster – most guys have long arms, move well.
- Patience is a thing. Didn’t panic when Jamal Murray was hurt. Didn’t blow everything up waiting. Built around what they had.
Why This Feels Different (And Why Other Teams Should Sweat)
Watching Booth operate kinda flips the usual script. Most teams:
- Swing for superstars, maybe force trades.
- Focus mostly on offense first.
- Panic when things get tough.
Booth? He’s building something boringly efficient. It’s not flashy, but it wins. Like, actually wins championships. That made me sit up.
The potential ripple effect is what got me excited enough to write this post. Imagine if more teams stopped chasing headlines and started thinking like Booth:
- Prioritize system fit over raw talent: Get guys who play well together even if their individual stats aren’t eye-popping.
- Value role players incredibly high: Those glue guys are way more important than anyone thinks.
- Commit to defense as a foundation: You gotta be able to stop people consistently.
- Develop talent in-house: Stop looking for quick fixes and build from within.
My Takeaway After All This
Digging into Calvin Booth wasn’t just about learning one GM’s moves. It felt like seeing a blueprint for how teams could operate smarter. Less desperation, more planning. Less chasing fame, more building a unit. Other GMs ignoring what he’s showing? They might be stuck behind Denver (and whoever copies them next) for a long time. Makes you think differently about how the whole league might move forward. That’s why Booth matters – he’s showing a different, winning way.
