With the 2011-12 season in the books and 2012-13 approaching, Nuggets.com is taking a closer at the team’s primary rotation players and how they fared during a challenging 66-game schedule. Denver assistant coach John Welch was kind enough to provide candid assessments, which reflect the views of the Nuggets coaching staff as a whole.

Today’s featured player is forward Corey Brewer, who emerged as a key member of Denver’s second unit after being acquired from the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 13, 2011.

After winning an NBA title with the Mavericks, Brewer found himself playing for his third team in 10 months when he and Rudy Fernandez joined the Nuggets in exchange for a second-round pick.

Brewer played limited minutes in the first few weeks of the season but became a fixture in coach George Karl’s rotation because of his ability to defend, rebound and run the floor.

“I came a long way,” he said. “Sitting over there, I thought I could help the team. When I got my chance, I just tried to make the most of it.”

One of those opportunities came as the Nuggets dealt with injuries in the middle of the season. Brewer started 14 games from Feb. 11-March 9 and averaged 12.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists.

In 59 games overall, he averaged 8.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2. steals. He also scored 18 points in 18 minutes of Denver’s Game 6 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.

“Not a bad throw-in (to the Fernandez trade). That’s what I tell everybody,” Brewer said. “Now I’ve just got to get better so I can show everybody I can really play.”

Based on his first year with the Nuggets, Brewer surely will get an opportunity to prove himself again in 2012-13.

Courtesy of: nuggets.com