Jared Dudley Joins Nuggets as Lead Assistant
Dallas Mavericks assistant Jared Dudley is finalizing a deal to become the lead assistant for the Denver Nuggets under David Adelman.
Dudley, who was part of the Mavs staff since 2021 after a 14-year career in the NBA, joins J.J. Barea, another long-time NBA player, in the Nuggets’ coaching staff.
The Mavericks and head coach Jason Kidd have lost three key assistants: Dudley, Sean Sweeney (San Antonio Spurs), and God Shammgod (Orlando Magic), who have moved up to important roles on other teams.
However, the Mavericks are finalizing a deal to hire Frank Vogel as the lead assistant coach under Kidd.
Dudley, 39, was selected in the first round of the draft by the Charlotte Bobcats in 2007. During his 14 years in the NBA, he averaged 7.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in 904 games.
In this offseason, Dudley was interviewed for the head coach position of the Phoenix Suns, a role that ultimately went to Jordan Ott.
The Nuggets hired Adelman as their full-time coach in May. He replaced Michael Malone as interim coach and led the Nuggets to victories in their last three regular season games, avoiding the NBA play-in. In addition, they defeated the LA Clippers in seven games and were on the verge of eliminating the Oklahoma City Thunder, eventual champions, before losing in seven games in the second round.
The Nuggets also revamped their front office, adopting a co-leadership approach between executive vice presidents Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace, following the departure of general manager Calvin Booth three days before the end of the season, along with Malone. Tenzer, who was the Nuggets’ interim general manager after the change, is the executive vice president of basketball operations, and Wallace is the executive vice president of player personnel.
The Nuggets have been active in free agency, making a trade for forward Cameron Johnson and center Jonas Valanciunas, and reaching agreements with Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr.
