JaKarr Sampson being the starting small forward for the Nuggets is almost as weird as him being the starting small forward for much of his tenure with the Sixers. Scratch that, it’s actually way weirder: the Sixers were and are garbage so it makes sense that they would have to start somebody like JaKarr. The Nuggets, while themselves a not-very-good team, are not on that level of total futility at all levels of the franchise. They shouldn’t have to start this LeBron-looking dude.
It all comes down to the fact that Danilo Gallinari is out for the season and his backup, Wilson Chandler, has not even played a game this year because he has 80-year-old hips. Mike Miller’s on the roster but his entire body is 80 years old. That’s three small forwards who are ineligible to start. JaKarr, meanwhile, is young and spry, and can dunk; you will see evidence of his dunking ability if you watch this video. Those factors make him eligible for the position of Nuggets starting SF, a position which he definitely fills with…well, he fills it, anyway.