Tall Orders

It shouldn’t be difficult to spot the Denver nuggets around town: they’re tall and they’re rich. We asked the local NBA stars where they go in Denver when they get hungry and don’t want to cook.

Authored by Susan Fornoff

Photo courtesy of Denver Nuggets

“I’ll go to Piatti for Italian, or maybe Chop House. And I can cook.”—That would be Malik Beasley, a 23-year-old guard who grew up in Georgia and spent a year at Florida State before the Nuggets drafted him in the first round in 2016.

Photo courtesy of Denver Nuggets

“I call my mom and try to get her to come out. She’ll cook some salmon, some shrimp alfredo.”—That’s Jerami Grant, a 25-year-old forward who grew up in Maryland and went to Syracuse. He played for Philadelphia and then Oklahoma City before joining the Nuggets this year.

Photo courtesy of Denver Nuggets

“Guard and Grace. I mix it up. I feel like everything there is good. I also like Mizu Izakaya, in the Highlands.”—That’s Gary Harris, the 25-year-old guard and longest-tenured Nugget, who grew up in Indiana and went to Michigan State before joining the Nuggets as a first-round draft pick in 2014.

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Photo courtesy of Denver Nuggets

“I like El Five because they have good views and a Spanish style of food. Sushi Den is another one. Barcelona Wine Bar is pretty good.”—No surprise here, that’s Juancho Hernangómez, a 24-year-old forward who was born in Madrid and at 16 signed with CB Estudiantes. The Nuggets drafted him in the first round in 2016.

Photo courtesy of Denver Nuggets

“I like Cheesecake Factory, because you can have fish, burger, pasta, or pretty much whatever you want.”—Nikola Joki´c, the 24-year-old, 7-foot center and star of the Nuggets, grew up in Serbia and laments the absence of a Serbian restaurant in Denver. Luckily, his girlfriend can cook up his favorite dishes from home.

Photo courtesy of Denver Nuggets

“There’s a Jamaican spot I order from, Jamaican Grill. And I like Earls Kitchen +Bar. Sometimes I cook up some chicken.”—That’s Jamal Murray, the sharpshooting 22-year-old star in the making who was born in Canada and attended Kentucky for a year before the Nuggets drafted him in 2016.