“My knife from South Carolina”

PJ Dozier doesn’t say much, but he is always watching.

When he found himself wandering around the baseline in the first half of Wednesday’s season opener, he was not out of place. Instead, acting as the small ball striker while JaMychal Green tended to a calf injury, he was imitating the game of veteran striker Paul Millsap.

“I am a very observant player,” said Dozier. “I look at Paul, I look at the positions he is in, especially when he is on the court with Nikola (Jokić). These two meet a lot. ”

Dozier was not assisted by Jokic, but his position gave him a direct line to the basket after a jump pass from Gary Harris. It has become an e-1 opportunity.

At the start of the game, he took Kings striker Marvin Bagley Jr. from the jump to a smooth reverse tray. Both buckets came with Dozier, theoretically, playing out of position.

For Nuggets coach Michael Malone, this is intentional. Dozier, who made his name as a defensive player in last year’s postseason, was a standout on the training ground. In a loaded defense court, filled with stars, stars and fast-twitching athletes, Dozier stood out for his consistency and willingness to play anywhere on the court.

“He’s my knife from South Carolina,” said Malone in reference to Dozier’s home state. “PJ is versatile, he is big, he is strong, he is a manager, facilitator and playful basketball player. Today’s NBA, (is) more and more basketball without position, if you want. ”

In 14 minutes off the bench, Dozier had seven points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks on his debut. As useful as the 1.80 m high combo guard was, the offensive impact means nothing if you are a defensive defect. That’s where Dozier became loved by Malone. By skillfully playing anywhere from point guard to forward, he apparently solidified a place in the rotation.

“I never played in that position at this level, so it was an experience for me,” said Dozier of his debut as an NBA striker.

It is very simple for him. The more useful you are to your team, the more likely Malone is to call your name. More than that, Dozier has had three franchises since his NBA debut during the 2017-2018 season. Versatility means value.

In defense, he speaks Malone’s language.

“It is a matter of pride,” he said. “You will protect the person in front of you and you will make sure that you are protecting your brother whenever he needs it. When you have this mindset, you are often in the right position. ”