NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

May 31, 2023

Bruce Brown

Denver Nuggets

Media Day

Q. Can you take us back to your days at UM, how much did what Coach L instilled, what that team accomplished, set you on the path to where you are now?

BRUCE BROWN: Yeah, my time at Miami was great. Coach L was one of the greatest coaches I've had. His practices were set up for me to get to the league. It was just like the league: PD, then we'd get into our shell drill, stuff like that.

I loved my time in Miami with him, as I said. I can't wait to see him when we get down there. He actually texted me.

Q. Bruce, how important was Jeff Green in bringing you to Denver? How important has Jeff been on and off the floor for you guys?

BRUCE BROWN: Yeah, he's extremely important. He was one of the reasons why I came. He told me exactly the role I was going to play. When I didn't see it, he saw it.

Without Jeff, I don't know if I would have been here or not. On and off the court, as I said, Jeff, when he was in Brooklyn, he was huge for me, just my mental and for the team. Him and D.J. have been great vets, just the way they carry themselves. They know how to be serious, when to make people laugh.

Q. I know Nuggets Nation was extremely happy that Miami was the team to play, home-court advantage here. Ball Arena has been electric this playoff run. What have the fans meant here and what do you expect from them in the Finals?

BRUCE BROWN: They've been great. They've been amazing. Actually I think, what, second series, I forget who we were playing, the Suns or something. I was a little tired coming out. Then I ran out, I heard the roar. I was good, I was ready to go.

I know it's going to be crazy in here Game 1 and Game 2. I can't wait for us to start tomorrow.

Q. Bruce, this crazy run going on in South Florida with the Heat started with the Canes in the Final Four. How much did you enjoy that run?

BRUCE BROWN: I definitely enjoyed it. I was talking smack in the locker room. You heard it all year -- Kansas is better than Miami, all these guys, whenever they went. I was screaming at the TV. I watched every game. Super excited for those guys.

I worked out there all last summer, so I was around them a little bit. I was just super proud of them.

Q. Talking about Nuggets Nation, you've become such a fan favorite, your explosive play. How great is it to be part of this experience that all Nuggets fans are going through for the first time ever?

BRUCE BROWN: Yeah, it's great. I was talking to my people yesterday. I was like the last time I won something was in high school. So just to have the chance to be here at the highest level is just amazing.

Q. So much has been made of that rest versus rust issue, the long layoff. You obviously have been working. The first couple of possessions, are you at all concerned going to take time to get back to full speed or do you feel ready for that?

BRUCE BROWN: I think we're ready. We've been there before. We've had a long break during All-Star. I think we'll be fine. There's no worries there.

Q. On the Coach L question, could you share what maybe his advice was for you in that text?

BRUCE BROWN: There was no advice. He just said, See you in Miami. I texted him back, I'll see you there.

He's been texting me throughout the year saying congratulations, good luck, you've finally shown what you can do.

Coming into league, people were asking what position I would play. He said point guard. Not a lot of people believed that. As I said, I love Coach L.

Q. You've really integrated yourself into the city, going to all the other games. How much would it mean to you to bring the first-ever championship to Denver?

BRUCE BROWN: Yeah, it would be great. I try to bring my winning ways everywhere I go, play extremely hard. Now to be the first time in Denver Nuggets history to reach the Finals, to be able to win, that would be insane. Hopefully we can do that.

Q. Mentioning the point guard play, obviously that was a big matter for you that you'd be able to play that role here. Miami, a versatile defense, do a lot of different things. In your prep for them as a point guard, what are the kind of things you've been keying on?

BRUCE BROWN: Yeah, I mean, I played them a lot coming from the Eastern Conference. They play extremely hard. They pack the paint a lot, so we're going to have some open threes that we need to knock down. We've done that this year against them.

Bam is an extremely good defender. They might switch him three to five. They're not going to switch with Duncan. We know what we need to do.

Q. Can you imagine from growing up in Roxbury, being in that environment, being here, do you think about those times, kind of your roots? Do you take that all in?

BRUCE BROWN: From Dorchester, by the way (smiling).

But, yeah, there's not many people from Dorchester, Massachusetts, who make it on this level and be able to play at a good level.

It is crazy to take it all in. I haven't thought too much about it. I'm sure I'll think about it a lot after the series. But now, yeah, it's crazy.