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NBA Guide 2025-26 : Denver Nuggets
What to Expect from the Nuggets in 2025-2026Denver Nuggets fans experienced one of the most dramatic seasons in recent memory in 2024-25. After the departure of starting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, then-general manager Calvin Booth opted for an internal replacement: young guard Christian Braun. In addition, the team brought in Russell Westbrook to come off the […]
What to Expect from the Nuggets in 2025-2026
Denver Nuggets fans experienced one of the most dramatic seasons in recent memory in 2024-25. After the departure of starting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, then-general manager Calvin Booth opted for an internal replacement: young guard Christian Braun. In addition, the team brought in Russell Westbrook to come off the bench.
Nuggets: The End of the Line for Michael Malone
At first, the fit of the veteran seemed questionable — but the move was endorsed by Nikola Jokic. After a shaky start, the Nuggets found their rhythm. In February, they won 11 of 13 games and looked like strong contenders for the No. 2 seed in the West, as the conference was already dominated by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
However, instability struck again. After a series of disappointing losses — including to the Washington Wizards and Portland Trail Blazers — a heartbreaking double-overtime defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves (despite a 61-point triple-double from Jokic) created tension in the locker room.
Three more losses followed, and on April 8, Denver made a drastic move: head coach Michael Malone was fired, ending a tenure that began in 2015 and produced the franchise’s only championship (2023). GM Calvin Booth was also dismissed, reportedly due to a “war” behind the scenes between the two.
At first, the decision was shocking — but under interim coach David Adelman, the Nuggets rebounded. They finished the regular season with three straight wins (50–32 overall), securing the 4th seed in the West. In the playoffs, they beat the Los Angeles Clippers in seven games, before losing another seven-game series to the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Nuggets Commit to Major Roster Changes
After pushing the eventual Western Conference champions to seven games, the Nuggets became determined to maximize Jokic’s prime. With a new front office in place, they acted aggressively in the offseason.
First, David Adelman was promoted to full-time head coach. Then, early in free agency, Denver made a major trade — sending Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Cameron Johnson.
Porter Jr. was vital during the 2023 title run but struggled with defense and consistency. Johnson brings similar floor spacing but with better defensive activity and should thrive playing alongside Jokic. Giving up a future first-round pick wasn’t ideal, but it was necessary for Brooklyn to absorb Porter’s large contract.
Among free agents, Denver re-signed Bruce Brown, a key player from their 2023 championship, and added Tim Hardaway Jr. on a veteran minimum deal. Brown returns after a disappointing stint with the Pacers but remains a low-risk, high-reward signing, likely to replace Westbrook’s minutes off the bench.
Hardaway Jr., though streaky, remains a solid shooter who can consistently hit open looks from deep.
Finally, Denver traded Dario Saric to the Sacramento Kings for Jonas Valanciunas. After nearly leaving for Greece’s Panathinaikos, the Lithuanian big man confirmed he will play out his two-year contract with Denver. For the first time in Jokic’s career, he’ll have a true backup center capable of maintaining quality minutes when he rests.
Maximizing Jokic’s Prime Is the Only Goal
Anything short of a championship chase will be seen as a failure. That’s the price of having one of the best players on the planet.
Jokic once again proved his brilliance last season — but also showed he needs help. This offseason, the Nuggets delivered. The main weakness in 2024-25 was lack of depth, particularly when Jokic sat.
Christian Braun’s development into a reliable starter was a major success, providing elite defense and improved offensive versatility. However, his promotion left a hole on the bench. And with Zeke Nnaji and Dario Saric (two of the team’s highest-paid players) barely playing in the postseason, the roster imbalance became glaring — and ultimately cost Booth his job.
Now, Denver’s roster looks complete. The starting lineup remains strong, while the bench mixes experienced veterans and promising young talents like Peyton Watson, Julian Strawther, and Jalen Pickett.
All told, the Nuggets are poised to be one of the biggest threats to Oklahoma City’s reign atop the Western Conference.
Aaron Gordon Steps Up as a True Co-Star
While Jokic remains the team’s engine, Aaron Gordon is the player to watch in 2025-26. The versatile forward was Denver’s most reliable secondary option in 2023-24 and shined in the playoffs.
A late injury before Game 7 of the Thunder series severely hurt Denver’s competitiveness. Now fully healthy, Gordon is expected to return stronger than ever.
Defensively, he continues to guard the opposing team’s best wings, but his biggest leap came offensively, especially from three-point range. Previously never above 35% from deep, he shot an impressive 43.6% on 3.4 attempts per game last season — a perfect fit next to Jokic’s playmaking.
Denver’s offense improved by +3.6 points per 100 possessions and its defense by +2.1 with Gordon on the floor, highlighting his all-around impact.
Valanciunas: Jokic’s Best Backup Ever?
The minutes without Jokic have long been Denver’s Achilles’ heel — even during their championship run. This year, that might finally change.
Of course, the Nuggets will always be worse with Jokic off the court. But the drop-off can’t be as catastrophic as it was last season. With Jokic, Denver’s offense averaged 125.6 points per 100 possessions — the best in the league. Without him? 104.1, dead last among all 30 teams.
Valanciunas won’t replicate Jokic’s brilliance, but he’s a massive upgrade over previous backups. A strong finisher, effective pick-and-roll partner, and even a capable shooter, he can keep Denver competitive while Jokic rests — potentially giving the Serbian star much-needed relief before the playoffs.
In 2024-25, Jokic ranked 5th in the NBA in minutes per game (36.7) — across 70 games. With Valanciunas anchoring the bench, that workload could finally ease, setting up the Nuggets for another deep playoff push.
