McGlothan agrees to terms with Denver Nuggets

Gabe McGlothan walked out of Grand Canyon with the program in a better place than he found it, and the Lopes did the same for him as he joins the Denver Nuggets.

McGlothan agreed to terms with the Nuggets for an Exhibit 10 contract, a NBA deal that can be converted into a two-way contract before the regular season starts in October. Denver will hold McGlothan's G League rights.

Gabe McGlothan in Slam Dunk Contest

"It's super exciting to be in a situation like this that you dream of as a kid," said McGlothan, who started 100 games at GCU. "To look at the path that you've been going down to end up where we're at, it's a major thank you to everyone that's been involved – the coaches from Basha (High School) to Putnam Science (Academy) to West Point Prep to SEMO (Southeast Missouri) to the crazy ride that was GCU. It's cool to see that process end up right here."

McGlothan, a 6-foot-7, 235-pound power forward, will report next weekend for the Nuggets' NBA Summer League team preparation. Denver's entry in the 30-team league will play televised games at UNLV on July 12, 14, 16 and 18 and one or two more dates to be determined.

The All-WAC and all-district first-team honoree participated in on-site workouts for seven NBA teams with the help of his agent, Neal Rosenshein. But the June 11 workout in Denver proved fateful and impactful for the native of Gilbert, Arizona.

"The Nuggets' culture is something special," McGlothan said. "It's super exciting when you walk in the gym for your workout and their guys are already there working out. They have a culture of work and doing it the right way. I'm excited to be part of that and to see how we can grow and flourish in that one day."

McGlothan redshirted the 2019-20 season upon arrival at GCU and then was part of four seasons under head coach Bryce Drew with a cumulative 94-32 record and three NCAA tournament trips. In his final season, he averaged 12.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 0.9 blocks with 40% 3-point shooting to help GCU to a 30-5 mark and the program's first NCAA Division I tournament victory.

By the end of the season, McGlothan was one of 15 active Division I players with at least 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds in his career.

"Every single moment led to this," McGlothan said. "Every game, every night I spent in the gym, every morning I woke up early to get in the gym has all prepared me and built to this. It's a blessing.

Gabe McGlothan

"I'm thankful for GCU to give me a home to grow and provide me with the ability to have this opportunity. It's been really cool to represent GCU and continued to represent it into the future. It's been awesome from every step and everyone that's joined along the way."

Denver's director of scouting is Dethie Fall, who worked in the GCU men's basketball program from 2013 to 2017 as a graduate assistant and then the assistant direct of basketball operations and video coordinator. Fall first connected with McGlothan at a GCU basketball camp.

Amid his schedule of NBA workouts this month, McGlothan also accepted an award as the NIL Summit Athlete Advocate of the Year for how he leveraged his NIL to create impact on nonprofit causes.

"We are so excited for Gabe to be joining to former world champion Denver Nuggets," Drew said. "He has worked hard and is well deserving of this honor. The start to many more great things coming for him."

McGlothan has represented every facet of GCU, where his mother, Janelle Danley, has worked since 2011. His fervent faith fit the university's Christian mission and he excelled academically as an engineering graduate and athletically to lead the Lopes to new levels of prominence.

"My family took care of me and never gave up on me during this entire time during basketball, sacrificing so that I could have a chance," McGlothan said. "Thanks to God, my foundation. I can't thank him enough."

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