Australian basketball star Jack White has the chance to be part of unique NBA history.
White’s Denver Nuggets will set out to win their first championship when they face off with the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, kicking off in Denver on Friday at 10.30am (AEST).
It’s been 47 long years in the making for the Nuggets, who entered the NBA in 1976 and had lost four Conference Finals series prior to last week’s triumph against the LA Lakers.
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Two-time MVP winner Nikola Jokic has been a juggernaut for Mike Malone’s team throughout the post-season — averaging a triple-double after three rounds — while Jamal Murray’s epic resurgence from an ACL injury has been a fantastic story too.
Meanwhile White, who played in 17 regular season games in his first NBA season with the Nuggets, has been watching from the sidelines over the playoffs, being down in the Nuggets’ depth chart.
But as White explained to foxsports.com.au, he’s felt like he’s had as much respect as Malone or Jokic within the organisation during his time in Denver, such is the culture it’s built.
It comes after the 25-year old first joined the Nuggets last July on a two-way contract, which has meant he’s split his time between the NBA team and its G League affiliate, Grand Rapids Gold, playing predominantly for the latter.
He made a strong impression, averaging 20.9 points, 1.9 triples and 9.6 rebounds in 14 games for Grand Rapids Gold.
But White now has the opportunity to be part of something bigger than himself and become just the seventh Australian to win an NBA championship ring, joining greats in Luc Longley, Andrew Graze, Patty Mills, Aaron Baynes, Andrew Bogut and Matthew Dellavedova.
He opened up to foxsports.com.au on the Nuggets’ run to the NBA Finals, his own journey and the opportunity to represent the Boomers again.
Q: How are you feeling and how is the team feeling coming off that massive series sweep over the Lakers?
JW: It’s good to be back in Denver and have a bit of time at home, which has been a change up from the past couple of months on the road and all that. The vibes are great and it’s obviously a huge accomplishment for the group to be Western Conference champs. But in saying that, our goal is still not complete and the job’s not done — we’ve still got four more wins we need to get … we’re just enjoying a well-earned rest for all the lads that are playing … just an incredible experience and an incredible run. It’s not done yet.
Q: Can you take us behind the scenes of what it’s been like in the inner sanctum of the Nuggets over the past week?
JW: The first thing that comes to mind is to point out the culture that’s been established here within the group and within the organisation. I think a big part of it is when your best player, Nikola (Jokic), is the guy that couldn’t give two damns about himself or scoring or anything like that. It’s naturally contagious throughout the organisation. The locker room we have, the vets we have and the guys who are sacrificing their own egos and their own talents for the good of the team and supporting each other. It’s been special to be a part of and you know and appreciate that it’s something that isn’t common within the NBA and it’s hard to make that happen. That in itself is one of the reasons we’ve been able to have success.
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Obviously it’s a long NBA season with 82 regular season games and then going into the playoffs, but it’s never going to be perfect. You’re gonna lose games, there’s gonna be ups and downs, but having each other to fall back on for us has been a huge positive and a huge strength of ours as a group. I think that’s really starting to show as we’ve been able to make adjustments and see how we play and how we interact throughout these playoffs.
Q: Has there been a certain point from your perspective when the genuine possibility of winning a championship felt more real?
JW: For me personally, not really. I think it’s been consistent throughout the whole year. Honestly man, this is something we’ve talked about as a group in training camp in September. We set out our goals for the year — one of them was to beat the franchise record for regular season wins in a season, which was 58 and we just fell short of. Along with that, having the No. 1 seed, having home court advantage during the playoffs and winning a championship — these are all things we’ve spoken about the whole year.
As crazy as it is and as hard as it is to reach this point — and obviously I’m super fortunate to be able to experience this in my first year — the funny thing about it man, is I feel like we are right where we are meant to be. We have all the talent in the world and we have all the successful pieces to build a successful team. Guys are finally healthy, that’s been a big thing. Especially for Jamal (Murray) and Mike (Michael Porter Jr.), all the pieces of the puzzle are coming together at the right time for us. It was just a matter of us going out there and doing it and being locked in.
Q: What was it like coming up against arguably the greatest player of all time in LeBron James in a playoff series?
JW: It’s unreal just to see him up close and what he did in Game 4 and the first half alone. He’s 38 years old and he’s putting up near 40-point triple doubles in elimination games. The athleticism and explosiveness he still has at his age is by no accident. The same with his IQ and the way he’s able to read the game and help his teammates, it was really cool to see that on full display up close.
For us, making adjustments onto him and understanding that he is, as you said, one of the greatest players to ever play the game and he’s seen it all before. His runs in the playoffs have been unprecedented throughout his career and that’s why we knew we couldn’t mess around in that series and we were obviously fortunate enough to close it out 4-0. A glimmer of home can go a long way. We almost kept them alive in Game 4 and I wouldn’t have been surprised if LeBron was able to do more if we didn’t close them out.
Q: What’s the reaction been like from the Nuggets fans who’ve waited so long just to see their team play in an NBA Finals? What have the scenes been like in Denver when you returned?
JW: I got back super late to my apartment … the city was getting around it pretty hard, people honking and people out on the street and stuff. It’s amazing to be a part of man and to soak it all in.
It’s been unreal the support we get from the city, it’s definitely a big sporting city. The hockey team (Colorado Avalanche) won the Stanley Cup last year and obviously the Nuggets have been making good runs, there’s plenty of stuff going on and the city definitely gets behind its sport. For the Nuggets, it feels like a long time coming.
Especially this year, we’ve had the No.1 seed (in the West). I think it’s a bit of a sigh of relief in the community. Everything’s coming together and it’s a special time for Denver basketball … the concierge in my building, he grew up a Denver fan his whole life and he was just ecstatic the whole time, talking to me and Colin (Gillespie) as we got back to our building at like 2.30am, he was just over the moon.
That in itself is a good reflection of how people feel about it. Just super excited to begin our quest to get four more (wins) and achieve our ultimate goal and give the city what it deserves and give our group what it deserves. This is something people make a lot of sacrifices for, there’s a lot of work that’s been put into this season. We’re ready to see it all pay off.
Q: Everyone knows how freakishly talented Nikola Jokic is and how valuable he is on the court. What’s he like as a teammate?
JW: The best way I’d describe Jokic is he’s just like a regular person. If you spoke to him and you didn’t know anything about basketball, you wouldn’t know he has like the biggest contract in NBA history. He loves his horses back home and his family. He loves video games and stuff, he’s just a regular dude. And he’s really personable and super approachable.
Obviously he’s got that mode he goes to when it’s game time where he can come out and perform and do what he does. But it’s never about him, it’s always about the team and winning. It’s just incredible what he’s been doing the whole playoffs and the whole year. To be frank, he’s really evolving the game of basketball, especially for big men. The consistency he’s able to play with has just been special to watch and witness up close. Unbelievable player and unbelievable person. Exactly the type of guy you want as the head of the snake at your organisation.
Q: Jamal Murray came to Australia last August and was asked if he was confident he could get back to his form in the 2020 NBA Bubble. His response was: “No doubt, that wasn’t even my best though, that’s the thing. There’s another level you guys haven’t seen yet.” Are we seeing the best of Murray right now?
JW: I don’t even know if we are still. Obviously what he’s been doing has been unreal, but at this point, it’s to be expected from him and how he’s been performing the whole playoffs and how he’s been progressing all year since coming back from the injury. Being away from the game for so long, and I know this, you come in and feel like you have no idea how to play … once you start getting those games under your belt, it slows down and you start to feel more like yourself and a better version of yourself. He’s sort of at that stage.
You ask anyone within the organisation, I don’t think they’ll give you any indication of a shock or a feeling of being surprised about the type of performances he’s given us. His approach to the game, the work he’s put in – not just for the injury – but in general. His mental approach to the game is so diligent and he’s so focused. It’s been unbelievable.
It goes along with the theme of everything clicking at the right time. I think a big thing for the Nuggets has been his absence with his injuries, but now he’s finally had a bit of luck on that front. It’s been awesome to see him show he wasn’t sort of a one-hit wonder per se with the Bubble. This is who he is and this is what he does.
Q: Everyone talks about ‘Bubble Murray’ like it was some special rich vein of form … is it fair to say Murray plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder to prove he’s much more than ‘Bubble Murray’?
JW: Yeah, 100%. I think he still has a chip and feels like he has things to prove. I saw a thing today on social media, it’s the uniqueness of his career — he’s got the most 20-point fourth quarters in playoff history. He’s never been an All-Star or All-NBA, but who he is is very well established. He’s one of those guys who, again, maybe being in a smaller market team, maybe guys are under appreciated.
Jok’s (Jokic) second-team All-NBA and an All-Star (this season), but that’s it. We’re the No. 1 seed and guys are just doing their jobs … it’s good to see guys finally starting to get more recondition … we’re obviously working towards the biggest reward you can get to show how much everyone’s really bought in.
Q: Have Jokic and Murray done anything for you personally behind the scenes? Have they shown you anything or are there any personal stories you can share of how those two guys have helped you?
JW: I could go on and on and pick out a heap of stories, because that’s the type of guys they are. I don’t have a car here, so I’ll pretty much ride with Jamal every road trip, he’ll pick me up and we’ll go to the airport. We’ll chat about the games, play video games together and everything like that. We have a good relationship and we’re the same age.
It’s less of a thing where these guys are bringing me to the side and giving me pointers. Watching how they operate is the most beneficial and rewarding thing for me, especially at this time of the year, just their IQs.
One of the best things for us throughout the whole playoff series is their two-man game and the whole chemistry they have. Jok’s been here eight years and Jamal’s been here seven years. Nikola is only 28 and Jamal has just turned 26 — they’re still super young and have a lot of basketball to be played, and that’s the scary thing. You talk about youth, MPJ (Michael Porter Jr.) is 24 still, AG (Aaron Gordon) is 27, Pope’s (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) 30, but he’s running around like he’s 20 years old still. It’s just an exciting time for the group.
In general, everyone’s really good teammates and we have a really good locker room. Those two guys (Jokic and Murray) are our best two players, how they operate and conduct themselves has a big impact on how we are and how we go. They deserve a lot of credit. I saw Jamal shout out a lot of guys (who used to play for the Nuggets) — Monte (Morris), Gary (Harris), Paul Millsap, Torrey (Craig) and Will Barton — guys who have contributed to the culture, because this is something that’s been building for a long time. I’m just fortunate I’m able to come in here and see it when it’s at its peak or approaching that. It’s special.
Q: Your coach, Mike Malone, has made a lot of headlines throughout the playoffs about the narrative of how the Nuggets don’t get much respect from the US national media … has that been a key motivational theme for the team?
JW: I think so … it’s like us vs everyone else and it helps keep us as a group focused on ourselves and not get caught up in the outside noise. We do use it in a positive way where it’s like: ‘We’re going to take care of business and then we’ll see who’s talking at the end’, type of thing. It’s pretty obvious at this point in all of our eyes what goes on in the media being a small market team … but so be it, if that’s going to be what it’s going to be, we’ve just got to focus on doing our job, and we’re doing a good job of it, so we’ve just got to keep doing that. We’ll be rewarded if we keep putting the work in every day and keep focusing on the things we can control.
Q: It feels like Malone, just like the team, doesn’t get enough credit and we don’t hear as much about him compared to some of the bigger names in the NBA coaching ranks. What’s he like as a coach and what’s he been like as a mentor specifically for you?
JW: I think he’s great. Again, with the theme of the organisation, he’s super approachable and a super personal guy. He’ll crack jokes with you and he has great relationships with all the players. His preparation for every game is at a high level and his collaborations with other coaches and all the support staff … I think that is reflective of the organisation per se.
For example, after we won Game 4, Jok is giving his West Conference Finals MVP speech and he’s shouting out our equipment guys by name. I think that’s a good symbol of how we are.
Although (Malone) is the head coach, it’s a very collaborative thing. As a person, he doesn’t put himself above others. I felt super embraced from the get go. I’m a two-way guy and No.16 or No.17 on the roster down the totem pole, but I feel like I have as much respect in the organisation as the head coach or the MVP, that’s just how it is.
He’s (Malone) been a big part of that, he’s been here ever since Jokic has and he’s been through everything Jamal’s gone through. The relationships he has with his players and especially the guys at the core of our team, it’s super important in establishing the culture and having the tight-knit group. We’re able to understand it’s a long season and things are going to go wrong, but it’s how we respond.
We stay together, that’s something that’s been emphasised since training camp – winning as a group and not individually. That’s something that’s going to propel us forward, our ability to play deep and share the ball and the things we’ve shown all year. But obviously coach is a mastermind at putting all the pieces together along with the playing group and the vets. The IQ and the smarts we have in the room each time we meet is next to none, so it’s a really cool thing to be around.
Q: Malone shared a story of Murray’s fears he’d get traded after his ACL injury and how he hugged him and told him: ‘Hell no. You’re ours. We love you and we’re going to help you get back.’ That feels like it personifies what you just said.
JW: It’s something that’s been built over time. There’s been hiccups for sure and adversity. But the one thing about the organisation is guys are stuck in there. It’s been in development for a long time and goes back to Jamal shouting out those guys who’ve left the team but have had a monumental impact on the organisation, the city and ultimately on us and what we’re doing now. It wouldn’t be possible without the guys before us.
That’s a special thing when you feel like you’re part of something bigger than yourself. You see these past players showing support for our team and everything like that. Even this summer when I got to Denver, Monte Morris had been traded, but we were hanging out and developing a relationship and working out and these sorts of things.
It’s a special culture and something I think is super uncommon in the NBA. It’s a big reason why it’s a separating factor for us. For me, I’m just trying to soak it all in man. It’s definitely something that definitely can’t be taken for granted.
Q: How special was receiving the Defensive Player of the Game necklace from Malone in the last regular season game against the Sacramento Kings?
JW: It was pretty cool, it wasn’t something I was going for. But it was good to get that recognition. I was just trying to play hard and enjoy the opportunities that I was given. I was fortunate enough to play the last 15 minutes of that game, I just tried to leave it all out there. I fortunately got some boards and a nice little dunk. We got a win, which was always good, and that was the cherry on top.
We had lost five of our last six prior to that game. I was like, we just need to find a way to win this man and start to build some better momentum heading into the playoffs. That was obviously a nice little bonus that came with it.
Q: Is there anyone on the team you’ve personally gravitated towards or someone who’s taken you under their wing?
JW: My locker is in-between Aaron Gordon and Nikola, so I’m around those guys a lot and we’ll be talking smack and spending time together in that regard. I spend a lot of time with Jamal. Reggie (Jackson) actually since he’s gotten here has been huge for me, we work out together a lot and get shots and work out with our shooting coach Mike Panberthy.
The vets we have — DJ (DeAndre Jordan), Ish (Smith), Jeff Green and the rookies. I feel like we have such a great dynamic of youth, great vets and guys in their prime. I can’t single out anyone if I’m honest, man. It’s such an all-round thing, there’s no little groups and everyone just comes together well. You could flip flop everything around and have whatever combination of people you want, it’s still going to be the same thing … that’s a credit to the boys themselves, but also the front office in constructing something that’s working together so perfectly. It’s a special environment.
Q: You’re kid from Traralgonthat’s now a member of the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals. How do you summarise your time in the NBA, and more broadly, your overall path to get to where you are now?
JW: It’s wild man, it’s one of those things where I’ve got to pinch myself sometimes, considering everything. Finishing college when the pandemic was starting and heading back to Australia. Tearing my Achilles 10 games into my professional career and getting back from that in time for my second year.
Staying healthy and having the opportunity to go to Summer League, play for the Boomers and come away with the two-way contract and be a part of this and learn and develop and get better in this system — both in the G League and the NBA. I couldn’t have pictured this man, it’s honestly surreal.
At the same time, these are things I’ve wanted to do and I’ve been talking about with my family and friends since I was 12 or 13 years old. I wanted to pursue basketball, be an NBA player and be an Olympian. It’s surreal that I’m able to work towards ticking off these goals and things I’ve been dreaming about since I was a kid.
Especially in this case, to be able to do it in my first year in the NBA and be a part of such a great group, staff, organisation and city. It’s special. Again, just trying to not take anything for granted and trying to soak in every moment and enjoy it. What an incredible experience.
Q: Do you think you’ll be back in Denver next season?
JW: All the feedback has been really positive. I’ll go through all that stuff with my boy Sammy, my agent, when the time comes. Honestly, it’s something I’m not really worried too much about. I’m confident with the work I’ve put in around the group, in the G League and how I’ve conducted myself and how I can fit into this organisation.
When it’s time to take care of all that stuff, hopefully it’s all positive. But I’ll cross that bridge when I need to get to it … I would love to (stay here), I feel like I fit in well with the organisation and I love the city and I love the team, so that would be ideal.
Q: You’ve been named on an extended squad for the Boomers for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, How excited are you about the possibility of teaming up with Aussie legends like Patty Mills and Joe Ingles as well as rising stars Josh Giddy, Dyson Daniels and Josh Green?
JW: A dream come true. These are things I’ve been dreaming of doing in basketball my whole life. To be selected in an 18-man squad is a huge honour. There’s going to be some really good players that miss out, and there were some unbelievable players that weren’t even named in the squad. So I’m super grateful that I’ve been named and recognised with the likes of the talents you mentioned.
I’m not playing right now in the playoffs, so a big focus for me is getting ready for that and making sure I’m prepared. Just super excited for the opportunity, there’s nothing better than the opportunity to put on the green and gold and represent your country at the highest level.
I’m sure the group will be looking to get a gold medal at this World Cup, and that’s something I definitely want to be a part of. So fingers crossed that all works out, but super humbled and super excited about that whole prospect as well.
Q: Everyone praises the camaraderie of the Boomers team. Can you speak on that and whether you’ve been in contact with any of the other Aussies during the Nuggets’ playoff run?
JW: In regards to the culture, even though it’s something I haven’t been extensively a part of, even when I was with the team before Summer League last year for the World Cup qualifiers, it was something that was definitely felt during that period of time. Getting my jersey presented to me for the first time from David Barlow and Joe Ingles was super special, those are two guys I’ve looked up to my whole career.
To be teammates with them and potentially with Joe this summer is unreal. It’s a big credit to those guys for building a culture that’s so prominent and so special to the country and the guys who are a part of it.
In terms of chatting with Aussies during this run, obviously I’ve been in touch with Jock (Landale) because we were playing them (Phoenix Suns) last series. I’m definitely in touch with guys here and there, there’s nothing too specific. I’m sure that stuff will pick up, especially once the season is done and we move onto that as the main focus.
Everyone is all over the place doing their own thing at the moment, so it hasn’t been too heavy in terms of conversations. But looking forward to getting with all the guys in camp and picking that up leading up to it.
Q: You mentioned Landale, what was the experience like coming up against him in the semi finals?
JW: It was weird. I obviously wanted us to come out on top, but I also wanted to see him do well on an individual level as well, which he did, so I was happy for him in that regard. But it was definitely a bit weird, because I wanted to show support and everything like that.
We won a championship together at Melbourne United and we’re good mates. We kind of left the catching up and stuff to post games, especially for him, because he was playing a lot and his role progressed during the series. I was leaving the ball in his court in terms of if he wanted to catch up or grab a bite or whatever it may be. But we were definitely chatting a bit of rubbish pre-game and post game.
It was great to see him come into his own within that series and take the challenge, especially guarding Jok and being productive on the offensive end. But his performance was no surprise for me with how hard he plays and his smarts. I think he’s a great fit for their organisation.
