Under the tutelage of David Adelman, (left to right) Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokić , Jamal Murray, Peyton Watson and Christian Braun rebounded from a post-All-Star break slump, earning the No. 4 seed and reaching the West Semis. (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)
Get Caught Up
2024-25 Record: 50-32 (4th in West, lost in Conference Semifinals)
A shock rippled through the sports world when the Nuggets fired coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth with three games remaining in the regular season. Under the tutelage of David Adelman, the group rebounded from a post-All-Star break slump, earning the No. 4 seed and reaching the West semis. In a back-and-forth, seven-game series, Denver very nearly knocked out the eventual NBA champions.
Nikola Jokić and company are just over two years removed from lifting the franchise’s first Larry O’Brien Trophy, with Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray also remaining from that lineup. New leadership has welcomed in a mix of playmakers and role players who they believe can complement their three-time Kia MVP at a championship level.
Offseason
- Re-signing: N/A
- Additions: Bruce Brown (free agent), Tim Hardaway Jr. (free agent), Cameron Johnson (trade), Jonas Valančiūnas (trade)
- Draft: N/A
- Departures: Vlatko Čančar (overseas), Michael Porter Jr. (trade), Dario Šarić (trade)
- Unsigned Free Agents: DeAndre Jordan, Russell Westbrook
Denver parted ways with six-year veteran Michael Porter Jr. in favor of Cameron Johnson, who produced a career-best 18.8 points per game in 2024-25 and ascended quickly in Brooklyn. Newcomers Jonas Valančiūnas, Tim Hardaway Jr. and 2022-23 NBA champion Bruce Brown, meanwhile, should create an intriguing battle for minutes behind the starting five.
For the first time in a long time, the squad has some true sharpshooters in Johnson (39.2% career 3-point percentage) and Hardaway Jr. (36.1%), and that can only ease the burden on Jokić. Add in further development of Christian Braun and Peyton Watson and Denver has the pieces necessary to recapture the magic of 2022-23.
🃏 First player in NBA history to finish top 5 in points, rebounds, assists, and steals per game
🃏 Third player to EVER average a triple-double in a season
Join us as we rewind Nikola Jokić's #BestOfNBA season ⏪
pic.twitter.com/mN4brerOPb— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) September 11, 2025
Nikola Jokić posted one of the most dominant statistical seasons in NBA history in 2024-25, becoming the first player in NBA history to finish in the top 3 in points, rebounds and assists. What does the three-time Kia MVP have in store this year?
X-factor
Nikola Jokić. Every night he takes the court, it’s popcorn time. The 10-year veteran just became the third different player ever to average a triple-double for a season, finishing with averages of 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists. His 31-point, 21-rebound, 22-assist performance had never been done before. And he didn’t even win MVP, though he did finish top-two in voting for the fifth straight year.
What makes this a fascinating campaign for Jokić is that he has some of the best backup in years. New management made sure to load up on depth in the offseason, and even with the one-man wrecking crew he is, real reinforcements are necessary so he can be 100% whenever they need 100%. Jokić can casually put up 35 points on any given night, but he doesn’t need to for the Nuggets to be better in 2025-26.
> Watch Nikola Jokić on NBA League Pass
One key question
Where does Christian Braun go from here? The 6-foot-6 shooter made the largest leap of any Nugget last season, upping his scoring average from 7.3 to 15.4 while taking up the mantle as a lead guard. He also shot with career-best efficiency – sinking 58% of all attempts – and was remarkably consistent as a 71-time double-digit scorer.
The former NCAA champion at Kansas won an NBA title as a rookie, and continues to meet the moment, cementing himself as one of the league’s fastest risers. With defensive upside to complement his rapid growth as a scorer, there’s reason to believe there’s more to come from Braun as he adjusts to Johnson’s presence in the frontcourt.
Fantasy Outlook from RotoWire
The team at RotoWire broke down the top fantasy options for each team in the West. Here’s how they broke down some of the best options from the Nuggets:
“Denver fans have been waiting for management to make some moves, and they hit every one of them during the summer. Re-adding Bruce Brown was a nice start, but adding shooters around Jokić was the biggest development. They acquired Cameron Johnson and Tim Hardaway Jr. to establish some long-range shooting while adding Jonas Valančiūnas to back up Joker. This is the deepest roster around Jokić, and it should help them return to the 2023 championship form we saw not long ago.”
Key dates
- Preseason Opener: Oct. 4 vs. Timberwolves (9 ET, Broadcast TBD)
- 2025 NBA Canada Series: Oct. 6 vs. Raptors (10 ET, League Pass)
- Regular Season Opener: Oct. 23 at Warriors (10 ET, ESPN)
- Home Opener: Oct. 25 vs. Suns (9 ET, League Pass)
- Emirates NBA Cup West Group C Play: Oct. 31 at Trail Blazers (10 ET, League Pass), Nov. 7 vs. Warriors (10 ET, Prime), Nov. 21 at Rockets (9:30 ET, Prime), Nov. 28 vs. Spurs (9:30 ET, League Pass)
- Christmas Day: Dec. 25 vs. Timberwolves (10:30 ET, ESPN)
- Rivals Week: Jan. 20 vs. Lakers (10 ET, NBC)
What they’re saying
Tony Jones, The Athletic: “Denver, in my eyes, won the offseason. The Nuggets added depth and shooting. They upgraded significantly from Michael Porter Jr. to Cam Johnson at small forward. Getting Tim Hardaway Jr. on a vet-minimum deal is a steal, and they return Bruce Brown. The Nuggets also acquired the best backup center Nikola Jokić has ever played with in Jonas Valančiūnas. Denver has its best chance of winning a championship since its 2023 title team. The Nuggets are loaded.” (Read More)
