Nugget Hampton Determined to Show Teams “What They Missed”

NBL Next Star RJ Hampton is ready to show NBA teams that passed on him “what they missed” as he prepares for his rookie season with the Denver Nuggets.

Hampton will begin his NBA career in Denver after they traded to acquire him on draft night. He was selected with the 24^th pick by the Milwaukee Bucks and after most experts predicted Hampton would get drafted in the 14-19 range, he is entering the league with a chip on his shoulder.

The Nuggets have a strong history of finding gems in the draft and maximising the potential of young talent and Hampton is ready to be the next example of that.

“I think they’re the best talent evaluators,” Hampton said about his new team via the Denver Post.

“They see real talent. A lot of guys from that 1-13 spot were kind of mad they missed out on Michael Porter Jr (in 2018). And those guys that slid on Bol Bol are kind of mad they missed out on him.

“It’s going to be the same thing with me. I’m going to continue to work hard every day and show people that the Nuggets are real talent evaluators, see what they missed.”

Hampton has been working with two-time NBA champion and former Nugget Mike Miller to improve his game during the past few months and Miller believes the 19-year-old could become an All-Star.

“The thing with R.J. is he’s super mature,” Miller said via The Fort Morgan Times.

“A lot of people wouldn’t be able to go to places like Denver. Listen, there’s a lot of talent in those guard positions. And nothing’s promised. And he’s going to have to go in there and work and go through a gauntlet of guards. And if you’re willing to go in there and accept that, when you look at it two, three years from now, he’s going to be unbelievable and he’s going to be an All-Star.

“So, he’s gotta understand that going in. They develop young talent better than anybody.”

Hampton embraced the high praise from Miller and is ready to live up to the lofty standards he places upon himself.

“I like that a lot,” Hampton said of Miller’s comments.

“I like the pressure. My biggest goal was to make it to the NBA but it just wasn’t to be a regular guy in the NBA. I want to be one of the best of all time.”

Hampton played for the SKY Sport New Zealand Breakers in the 2019/20 NBL season as a Next Star.