Your inbox approves Men's coaches poll Women's coaches poll Play to win 25K!
USA TODAY Sports+ stories are only available to subscribers.
Denver Nuggets

How Nuggets’ Facundo Campazzo went from international star to NBA success story

Mark Medina
USA TODAY

Shortly before he began his first NBA practice, Facundo Campazzo admittedly felt nervous.

But the reasons had nothing to do with how he would adjust to the NBA after starring both with Real Madrid and the Argentinian national team. The reasons had more to do with whether his new Denver Nuggets teammates would feel comfortable with how he plays in practices and in games.

“Should I not be as aggressive or should I push these guys?” Campazzo asked Nuggets coach Michael Malone. His answer: “Don’t change.” Malone also stressed, “I want you to make their lives hell every day. That is only going to help them, you and us moving forward.”