The Denver Nuggets of the 2025-26 season are poised to be a blend of new and familiar faces. David Adelman steps into his inaugural role as head coach, though this marks his ninth season with the team, having previously served as an assistant. Cam Johnson is set to replace Michael Porter Jr. as the starting small forward. The remaining four starters will retain their positions from the previous season when they pushed the eventual champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, to a grueling seven-game second-round series that many viewed as a de facto conference final. Under the continued leadership of Ben Tenzer, now in his 17th season, the front office bolstered the roster depth by acquiring several free agents, notably including Bruce Brown, a key contributor in the Nuggets` 2023 championship campaign.
Tenzer emphasized that the primary objective of increasing roster depth is to reduce the playing time of key starters during the regular season. With new additions like Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valančiūnas, alongside anticipated consistent contributions from Denver`s younger talent, the strategy aims to gain marginal improvements and ensure player health for the playoffs. The team hopes to transform the second unit from a liability—which saw the Nuggets outscored by 9.8 points per 100 possessions in non-Jokić minutes during 2024-25, according to Cleaning The Glass—into a group capable of preserving, or even extending, leads. Jamal Murray faces heightened expectations to perform at an All-Star level from the season`s start and maintain peak physical condition. The entire squad is expected to commit fully to the pursuit of another championship, a goal they narrowly missed last year despite their limited depth.
The State of Play
Last Season`s Overview: The previous season began with a setback: Daron Holmes II, their 2024 Draft pick (22nd overall), suffered an Achilles tear in his Summer League debut. Following an opening-night defeat to OKC, Nikola Jokić frankly labeled the Nuggets `not a good shooting team,` intensifying worries about the void left by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope`s departure. Internal tensions between coach Michael Malone and then-GM Calvin Booth led owner Josh Kroenke to contemplate their dismissal twice – near Thanksgiving and during the All-Star break – ultimately delaying action until only three regular-season games remained. Despite a 47-32 record, a four-game losing streak, and the threat of falling into the play-in tournament, Denver secured three consecutive wins, finishing fourth in the Western Conference. They then triumphed in a thrilling seven-game series against the Clippers. A memorable Game 4 in Los Angeles featured Aaron Gordon`s clutch game-winning dunk, one of his three critical playoff plays; against the Thunder, he hit the Game 1 winner and the three-pointer that forced overtime in Game 3. Adelman`s zone defense initially troubled OKC, but Denver`s offense faltered in closing out Game 4 and sustaining their Game 7 lead. In the series` final moments, with Gordon battling a Grade 2 hamstring strain, even getting the ball to Jokić became a challenge.
Offseason Moves: Denver executed a trade, sending its unprotected 2032 first-round pick to Brooklyn to acquire Cam Johnson in exchange for Michael Porter Jr. This move also provided the cap flexibility to trade Dario Šarić to Sacramento for Jonas Valančiūnas. Additionally, the team strengthened its wing depth by signing Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. to minimum contracts. The futures of veteran free agents Russell Westbrook and Deandre Jordan are currently unknown, while Vlatko Čančar has moved to Olimpia Milano.
Vegas projected their win total at 53.5 games.
The Conversation
Nuggets Believer: If justice prevailed, Nikola Jokić would have secured his fifth consecutive MVP award last season. Aaron Gordon’s unfortunate injury would have been avoided, and the Nuggets would have triumphed over the Thunder, subsequently avenging their prior year`s defeat to the Timberwolves, culminating in another championship. However, I’m focused on the present, which is easier now that the front office has meticulously addressed every roster deficiency. Cam Johnson appears perfectly suited to play alongside Jokić, Bruce Brown’s return feels like a natural correction, and the second-unit offense is poised for significant improvement with Jonas Valančiūnas and Tim Hardaway Jr. bolstering the bench. Even before they’ve played a single game together, I’m convinced this is the greatest Nuggets team in history.
Nuggets Skeptic: The initial enthusiasm surrounding Denver’s offseason moves was certainly understandable. After enduring years without a reliable backup center, someone like Valančiūnas might understandably appear revolutionary. Yet, with a few months` perspective, that early July excitement seems a bit overblown. While Johnson integrates well with Jokić, so did Michael Porter Jr. The trade arguably had more to do with salary cap management than a substantial on-court upgrade that Johnson still needs to prove. The return of Bruce Brown is a heartwarming narrative, but it`s important to remember that both he and Hardaway were signed on minimum contracts for a reason. I recall similar hype when Dario Šarić was dubbed `the Joker of the second unit.` My fundamental questions about the Nuggets remain unchanged over the years: Can they construct playoff lineups capable of both effective floor spacing and defensive stops? Can they adequately manage the minutes when Jokić is off the court? And can Jamal Murray consistently perform at his peak for nearly an entire season? Until these questions are decisively answered, discussing whether this roster surpasses their championship-winning team feels premature.
Nuggets Believer: It`s easy to dismiss valid points by accusing others of `overreacting` when one lacks a substantive counter-argument. Instead of reiterating familiar concerns, consider the substantial transformations in Denver: a new lead executive, a new head coach, a new starting small forward, and a revamped bench! To equate Johnson with Michael Porter Jr. is to miss the crucial distinctions. Johnson, though not an elite lockdown defender or rim protector, represents a significant defensive upgrade due to his fewer mental errors. Offensively, he’s a far more complete player. His screen-setting alone will be impactful, and critically, he`s not just a finisher but a true `connector` who sustains offensive advantages and executes intelligent passes. Players will undoubtedly enjoy his presence on the court, and given Bruce Brown`s proven success with this team, his return will be equally welcomed. I question if you`ve truly considered the quality of shots Tim Hardaway Jr. will receive, the unprecedented offensive threat Jonas Valančiūnas brings, or the expected internal growth from our existing roster.
Nuggets Skeptic: Rest assured, I am fully cognizant of the changes made. I don’t even view them negatively—I appreciated Adelman`s coaching last season, and I agree this roster is an improvement over the previous one. Fundamentally, this team should be excellent! However, I anticipate the Thunder’s internal development will be more substantial than Denver`s. Jamal Murray has been with the Nuggets for nine years; I cannot simply assume he will finally begin and sustain a strong season. Nor can I assume Christian Braun will suddenly become a high-volume three-point shooter, or that all the young players will evolve into two-way threats capable of competing effectively against OKC. I confess to being weary of discussing Julian Strawther’s defensive shortcomings and Peyton Watson’s offensive struggles, but their limitations remain a significant factor.
Nuggets Believer: Alright, so you`ve opted to wait for Christian Braun to definitively prove his improvement, despite his consistent annual progress. If that`s your stance, then you should apply the same cautious skepticism to the potential offensive advancements of players like Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace. And even if your assessment that Denver is only `a bit better` this year holds true, perhaps that’s all that’s needed! I acknowledge the Nuggets suffered a decisive loss in their last game, but that was a Game 7 showdown against the eventual champions. We mustn’t overlook the incredibly fine margins in such high-stakes scenarios, nor the fact that just days earlier, they had a genuine opportunity to take a 3-1 series lead. Had Aaron Gordon not strained his hamstring, we might be discussing his prospects of becoming a three-time champion right now.
Nuggets Skeptic: Aaron Gordon deserves immense credit; his courageous effort playing on one leg in Game 7 will not be forgotten. It was truly a remarkable display. However, I believe Denver’s lack of depth significantly contributed to his forced presence on the court that night. If, hypothetically, Lu Dort had sustained a similar injury at that critical juncture, do you imagine the Thunder would have risked him, or would they have confidently reallocated his minutes among their other capable role players? The answer, to me, is clearly the latter, highlighting OKC`s superior depth as a decisive factor in that series. Despite all the roster adjustments the Nuggets have made, I`m not convinced they are substantially better equipped to absorb an injury to any of their core starters. While they appear to be legitimate title contenders on paper, their margin for error remains uncomfortably slim.
