Arron Afflalo thinks Nuggets are a 'championship team under the right mindset and coaching'

Almost two years have passed since the Denver Nuggets traded Arron Afflalo to the Orlando Magic in part of a four-team, 12-player deal that sent Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers.

But Afflalo, 28, is now back in Denver following a draft-night trade, and this time around, he thinks the Nuggets are destined for bigger things, as he told Basketball Insiders:

Being traded for me is a positive experience. I really enjoyed my time in Orlando. Rob [Hennigan], Scott [Perry], Coach [Jacque Vaughn], the assistants and all of my teammates really helped me develop as a player and as a person over the past two seasons so I’m very thankful for my opportunity there.

I’m happy to be back in Denver, I got some very familiar teammates. I believe this is a championship team under the right mindset and coaching.

Afflalo is coming off a season where he made claims for an All-Star Game appearance by averaging career-highs in points (18.2), rebounds (3.6), and assists (3.4). He also ranked eighth in 3-point percentage by shooting 42.7 percent from beyond the arc. 

Since being drafted 27th overall in 2007, Afflalo's points per game and rebounds per game have only increased with each passing season. The Nuggets will be hoping for yet another season of increases in 2014-15.