Bryce Hopkins' Tough Love Path to the NBA | Denver News

Bryce Hopkins, a raw but relentless NBA rookie, is turning heads in the Summer League with his rebounding and defensive hustle — skills forged under Rick Pitino’s brutal, no-nonsense St. John’s regime. Once told he wasn’t “that F-ing good,” Hopkins credits that harsh truth with building the mental toughness needed to survive the pros. After battling knee injuries and transferring through three colleges, he found his footing at St. John’s — where his father believes Pitino’s daily weigh-ins and grueling workouts transformed him into a winner. Now with the Denver Nuggets, Hopkins is being groomed as a bench weapon, using his athleticism and rebounding to carve out a role — all while staying grounded and humble. Alongside fellow rookie Trevon Brazile, he’s poised to be a key spark for Denver’s Summer League squad. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/cbe54f36b3216fb4