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The Denver Nuggets are expected to sign former Cincinnati Bearcats guard Sean Kilpatrick to a 10-day contract, Yahoo Sports reported Tuesday morning.
The Denver Nuggets plan to sign guard Sean Kilpatrick of D-League Delaware on a 10-day contract, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 12, 2016
Kilpatrick starrred for the Bearcats, playing four years in college and averaging 15.3 points and 4.3 rebounds a game. Cincinnati made it to the second round of the NCAA March Madness tournament, where they lost to Harvard. Kilpatrick was one of the stars of college basketball that year, finishing as a consensus All-American (2nd team) while averaging 20.6 points per game.
The 6-foot-4-inch, 219 pound guard went undrafted, and has been signed to contracts by the Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors.
The details around his NBA debut are pretty unique. The Minnesota Timberwolves were ravaged by injuries last year, and when Ricky Rubio aggravated an ankle injury before a game against the New York Knicks, the Timberwolves had to sign someone that day to have eight players active for their game. Kilpatrick was playing for the Delaware 87ers, and was a two-hour drive from New York. The Timberwolves signed him, he drove to Madison Square Garden, and played 10 minutes that night.
Kilpatrick will provide much-needed guard depth for the Nuggets, who at points this season have only had two guards active for games. Kilpatrick was averaging 27.1 points and 4.1 rebounds with the Delaware 87ers. Upside & Motor, a blog that tracks the D-League, rated Kilpatrick as the No. 1 player in the league as recently as today.
Finally, Kilpatrick gets his call up. He was No. 1 on our player rankings that dropped today. #NBADL
— Chris Reichert (@Chris_Reichert) January 12, 2016
"If they (the Nuggets) need a they need a catch and shoot wing he's perfect. His defense is only average, but man can he shoot it," Reichert said about Kilpatrick's fit with the Nuggets. "86% of his made 3-pointers are assisted. He's money from the corners, 24/39 on the season so far. Total 3-point percentage is 45 percent on 7.5 attempts per game. He doesn't need the ball in his hands to be effective either."
If you're curious, Kilpatrickwill make $49,709.35 for his 10-day deal with Denver. That's roughly double his D-League salary.
— Chris Reichert (@Chris_Reichert) January 12, 2016
Tim Connelly has to hope that he brings some of that sweet shooting to the Nuggets, who are 21st in the league in 3-point percentage as a team.
Welcome to Denver, Mr. Kilpatrick!