Denver Nuggets: A Contender Once More?

The Denver Nuggets were shockingly unable to come up with a title repeat despite being favorites to win last season. Now more than ever, Denver is seeking to ensure that they will have the chance to redeem their worth after falling short last season, but it is also easy to say that they are one of the favorites to make a daring run in the coming season with the hopes of establishing a foothold in the Western Conference and delivering a promising run to the top once more.

Denver failed to capitalize in an otherwise successful season last year, they were the defending champions, finished with the second seed in a tie with the Thunder, and had the second-best record in the NBA, again tied with OKC. All seemed to be in a promising notion, and it is worth noting that the Nuggets were heavy favorites to win the league title. Now that they are entering this season with a bigger purpose, can they make the most of their chances?

Previous Season in Review

Denver was quite the team to watch last season, and it cannot be denied that there are a lot of expectations as to how the team was expected to make some noise in the league. The Nuggets were able to come up with some good strides in their record, and the previous year’s 57-25 was the best they’ve had in the last five years as well. Now the team seeks to build on the same trajectory with the hopes of proving that they have what it takes to win multiple titles and even build a dynasty.

There are also multiple talks as to how the Nuggets are expected to make a climb this season. The previous season has seen how the team has waded the rough waters of the Western Conference – which has a lot of massive teams that are pacing toward the playoff stage now more than ever.

Jokic won his third MVP award image

Still, Denver managed to come up with an impressive note as one of the top teams in the West, and this coming season will also determine their chances of proving their worth. Nikola Jokic has had a blast in his MVP season, and it cannot be denied that the big man has proved his stand as one of the best players in the league with a promising touch in his games. Winning his third MVP was already expected by the second half of the season, but it is also seen that the Joker would take his game to the next level, especially after that disappointing finish in the West Semis against the Minnesota Timberwolves, where they fell in Game 7.

There are also the big expectations of the team managing it well with their revamped roster so far. The team has lost two of its big contributors in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who has signed with the Orlando Magic, and Reggie Jackson sent over to the Charlotte Hornets. The Nuggets have also locked up Jamal Murray earlier this month, signing him to an extension deal for four more years.

Potential Starting Five in Hindsight

As said before, the Nuggets have seen some significant changes in its roster with the loss of its two key contributors on the scoring load. Denver has addressed that by signing Dario Saric and Russell Westbrook, who are both expected to make an impact heading into the coming season. At this point, it is easy to project that the Nuggets will field one of the most talented rosters in the game.

Denver Nuggets: Projected Starting Five + Stats

Position	Name	Points	Rebounds	Assists
PG	Russell Westbrook	11.1	5.0	4.5
SG	Jamal Murray	21.2	4.1	6.5
SF	Michael Porter Jr.	16.7	7.0	1.5
PF	Aaron Gordon	13.9	6.5	3.5
C	Nikola Jokic	26.4	12.4	9.0

It is expected that Russell Westbrook will take over the starting role for the Nuggets at this point. This means that Christian Braun will be taking a seat and will come off the bench instead, and this lineup will also allow Jamal Murray to thrive as an off-the-ball threat, which should make him a much more lethal offensive weapon for Denver. On top of that, the bench gets a promising spark in Dario Saric, who is a spark plug in his own right.

Key Player to Watch

The Nuggets have a well-rounded roster that has become more reliable in their games so far, and despite losing the likes of Reggie Jackson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was a huge blow, it is still worth considering that Denver’s squad remains a competitive one.

At this point, one can say that there is indeed a strong consideration that both Russell Westbrook and Aaron Gordon would be the key players to watch for this season. Russell Westbrook is already at the age of 36, and it is clear that his best years are already behind him as seen in his recession over the past few years. This is likely the last chance for him to earn a shot at the Larry O’Brien trophy, and his previous season doesn’t really reflect a good indication of his potential contribution to Denver’s title hopes this season. However, it is worth noting that the triple-double king is now a shadow of his former glory, and fans can say that this will definitely be a success, or a spectacular failure for the team.

Russell Westbrook is a player to watch for Denver image

It also cannot be denied that Aaron Gordon is expected to make a leap after coming up with a strong and consistent performance in the previous season. Gordon has essentially stepped up as the third-scoring option for the Nuggets so far, and it cannot be denied that the big man has become more efficient and reliable on the scoring load, going as far as being the main anchor in Jokic’s missed games as well.

The Last Five Seasons

Denver has had a good trajectory in their games in the last five seasons, and one can even say that the team has managed to come up with a huge rally to the top, becoming a contender in just a short period of time. The team has not missed the playoffs in the last five years, appearing in two conference finals, two conference semis, and a lone first-round exit. At this point, it is easy to say that the team is expected to make a continued success in the league as they strive to build a dynasty.

Denver Nuggets Record in the Last Five Years

Season	Record	Winning percentage	Result
2019-20	46-27	.630	Lost in Conference Finals
2020-21	47-25	.653	Lost in Conference Semis
2021-22	48-34	.585	Lost in First Round
2022-23	53-29	.646	Won NBA Finals
2023-24	57-25	.695	Lost in Conference Semis

The 2023-24 season is the best one that the team has seen in years, and it is no fluke that the Nuggets are continued to be one of the favorites that fans can expect at this point. Now more than ever, it is clearly easy to expect that the Nuggets will be making a dash to the top of the West and the NBA this season.

What to Expect from the Denver Nuggets in the 2024-25 Season?

The 2024-25 season can be quite the most promising campaign yet for the Nuggets. At this point, there is a huge chance that the Nuggets are closer to building a dynasty now more than ever, but they will have to brave the fiery warzone of the Western Conference if they want to achieve that.

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