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Examining Jerami Grant’s fit with Nuggets vs. OKC Thunder

By Tamberlyn Richardson

Jerami Grant #9 of the Denver Nuggets drives against Danilo Gallinari #8 of the OKC Thunder. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Jerami Grant #9 of the Denver Nuggets drives against Danilo Gallinari #8 of the OKC Thunder. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Jerami Grant #9 of the Denver Nuggets warms up (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /

Statistical comparison:

Diving into the overall stat lines from this season versus last season the first thing of note is Grant isn’t viewed as high up the totem pole in Denver as he was in OKC. The minutes per game confirm that viewpoint given he plays 6.5 minutes less per game (and that includes the games where he played more due to Millsap and Porter Jr. being out due to injury).

Per Game Table
Season Tm G MP FGA FG% 3PA 3P% 2PA 2P% FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK PTS
2018-19 OKC 80 32.7 10.3 .497 3.7 .392 6.6 .555 2.8 .710 1.2 4.0 5.2 1.0 0.8 1.3 13.6
2019-20 DEN 64 26.2 8.7 .471 3.4 .400 5.3 .518 2.7 .744 0.8 2.7 3.5 1.2 0.7 0.8 11.6
Career 447 24.4 7.0 .463 2.3 .348 4.6 .521 2.9 .666 0.9 2.9 3.9 1.1 0.6 1.1 9.2

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/15/2020.

Grant’s per 36 stats perhaps offer a case he’s suffered less regression from an offensive standpoint. However, they back up the slide in two key areas (blocks/rebounds)

Per 36 Minutes Table
Season Tm G FGA FG% 3PA 3P% 2PA 2P% FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK PTS
2018-19 OKC 80 11.3 .497 4.0 .392 7.3 .555 3.0 .710 1.3 4.4 5.7 1.1 0.8 1.4 15.0
2019-20 DEN 64 12.0 .471 4.7 .400 7.3 .518 3.7 .744 1.1 3.7 4.9 1.7 0.9 1.1 15.9
Career 447 10.3 .463 3.4 .348 6.8 .521 4.3 .666 1.4 4.3 5.7 1.6 0.9 1.7 13.6

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/15/2020.

Grant’s 3-point efficiency is slightly higher this season while his mid-range efficiency has dropped. What kept him on the floor for the OKC Thunder, last season was his ability to spread the floor but also his defensive chops particularly in blocking shots and helping to clean the glass. His ability in the latter area allowed Billy Donovan to use Grant with Steven Adams or Nerlens Noel.

On-Off court stats are telling:

The area which the Nuggets are likely concerned about is Grant arrived with that defensive prowess in hand. But, his defense has taken a dip this season which is alarming given the Nuggets have often ranked among the best defensive squads in the Association.

Through to the time of the suspension, Grant’s on – off court numbers are alarming. Also of note, the Nuggets are using Grant both at the small and power forward whereas the Thunder used him almost solely at the four.

Play-by-Play Table
Posi Posi Posi Posi +/- +/- Misc
Season Tm G SG% SF% PF% C% OnCourt On-Off Blkd
2018-19 OKC 80 99% 1% +4.9 +5.3 63
2019-20 DEN 64 2% 31% 67% 1% -1.3 -9.6 32
Career 447 5% 31% 63% 1% -2.3 -0.3 278

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/15/2020.

Last season the forward was a positive both offensively and particularly defensively. As per the above chart, he was a positive 4.9 per 100 possessions. His net on/off court rating was a plus 5.3 meaning he was positive on both sides of the floor. Flash to this season and the forward posted negatives on both sides.

Has Grant regressed that much or is this a matter of him learning a new system or potentially not fitting the Nuggets system as well as he did the Thunder system?

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