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Nuggets' Barton credits 'opportunity' in Denver for breakout

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

One of the dark horses at All-Star Saturday Night figures to be Denver Nuggets shooting guard Will Barton, who'll take on Andre Drummond, Aaron Gordon, and defending champion Zach LaVine in the Slam Dunk contest.

Barton, who's burst onto the national scene as a Sixth Man of the Year candidate after more than doubling his scoring and rebounding averages this season, talked awards, dunk contests, and trades at Friday's Media Day.

Of the three individual awards you have a shot at - Sixth Man, Most Improved Player, and dunk contest champion - which one would mean the most to you?

"It would probably come down to Sixth Man and Most Improved. I would take either one. I really can't decide, because Sixth Man - that's my role coming off the bench. It would prove that I mastered my role the best this season. Most Improved would show how far I've come, from early in my career not really playing much, to seizing my opportunity that I was given now. Those would be two monumental wins."

Will Barton MPG PPG FG% 3P% RPG
2014-15 16.9 6.8 42.5 27.1 2.8
2015-16 28.5 15.5 45.5 38.0 6.0

What was your reaction like when you found out the NBA wanted you in the dunk contest?

"I was really excited - ecstatic. That's one of those things you dream of as a kid, being part of All-Star weekend and part of the dunk contest. We've seen greats like Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Dominique Wilkins, who were great dunkers, but great basketball players, too. It's something I can check off my list."

What was your favorite dunk contest moment growing up?

"I've watched all of them. Mike against Dominique, Vince when he came and just shut it down, had a couple good ones with Jason Richardson, and Desmond Mason, and those guys. It's a very exciting event."

Do you have anything planned that you're confident no one has seen before?

"You gon' have to wait and see."

What's been the biggest reason for your breakout this season?

"Opportunity. Opportunity and the coaching staff trusting in me. The organization believes in me. My teammates want me to do well. They believe in my talents."

It's no wonder Barton points to increased opportunity as what spurred his fourth-year explosion: The 25-year-old is on pace to log more minutes this season than he did in his first three years combined.

Barton, a second-round pick (40th overall) of the Trail Blazers in 2012, was traded from Portland to Denver at last year's deadline, eventually re-signing with the Nuggets for a reported $10.6 million over three years.

Was there a specific moment that you can pinpoint when you realized this breakout was coming, or when you realized you had elevated your game to a new level?

"I kind of felt it last season when I got traded, playing well toward the end of the season (Barton went from averaging three points and 10 minutes per game in Portland last year to 11 points and 24 minutes in Denver). This season, training camp went well, had a pretty good preseason, started off the season playing consistent basketball, and then in December, just took off. Earlier in December, that's when I realized, like ... I can play."

Barton's hot December MPG PPG FG%-3P%-FT% RPG APG
15 games 32.8 20.8 47-39-83 6.8 3.1

Nearly a year after his midseason trade from one Northwest Division team to another, Barton says Nuggets coach Mike Malone is building a great culture in Denver, and holds no ill will toward the Blazers.

"I didn't hold a grudge. With me it was that I'm a loyal guy. I like being with a team that I started with. I never like to jump ship. That part of it probably made me upset, because I made great relationships with the staff, the fans, and the players. Me, Dame (Lillard), and C.J. (McCollum) are pretty tight. We still talk almost every day.

"And I always thought I could have been special there, with those guys. But no grudges. It's a business. I grew from it. It made me a better player, and I can only focus on that."

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