Denver Nuggets signed Bryce Hopkins, the No. 49 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, to a two-way contract ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The team secured Hopkins to a two-way deal, allowing him to split time between Denver and their G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold. This comes after a first-round playoff exit to Minnesota in 2025-26 and recent moves including the trade of Peyton Watson and signing of DeMar DeRozan. Hopkins played five years of college basketball across Kentucky, Providence and St. John's, finishing as a fifth-year senior with the Red Storm where he averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 46.9% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range.
At 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds, Hopkins brings size and versatility that could help address Denver’s lack of depth heading into training camp. While he may earn limited NBA minutes early, the Nuggets hope he follows a path similar to Spencer Jones, who averaged 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 64 games during the 2025-26 season after starting on a two-way deal. Strong performances in the G League or Summer League could increase his role with Denver over time.
Hopkins will likely spend most of the 2026-27 season in Grand Rapids but could see action in Summer League and preseason games. Denver opens training camp on Sept. 22, with the preseason beginning Oct. 3 and the regular season starting Oct. 20. The Nuggets’ first regular season game is Oct. 22 in Oklahoma City. Recently, Denver capped a five-game winning run with a 128-118 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on April 13, 2026, part of a stretch that included wins over Oklahoma City, Memphis and Golden State.
