Alex English is one of seven Nuggets who had their numbers retired by the franchise.
It’s sad that the Nuggets didn’t pick up their first title until 2022 because this franchise has been one of the best in the NBA over the last 20 years. Numerous superstar players have come through in that span, and many of those guys will have their numbers retired in the near future. The number 15 will surely be one of them because Carmelo Anthony and Nikola Jokic have been unbelievable with that number on their backs over the last 20 years!
(2) Alex English
Many people consider English the greatest Nugget of all time, and the emergence of Nikola Jokic is the only reason there is debate. English was selected in the second round of the 1976 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, but he played 11 of his final 12 seasons in Denver. That’s when he developed into a superstar, averaging 25.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists throughout his Nuggets career. That has him as one of the franchise leaders in nearly every statistic, making eight-straight All-Star appearances during that span. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997 and leads the Nuggets in games played and points scored.
(12) Fat Lever
Lever was alongside English when the Nuggets were running rampant in the 80s. Fat was the primary distributor for guys like English, playing point guard during that span. He was taken as the 11th overall pick in the 1982 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers but joined Denver in 1984. He made two All-Star appearances in the 1988 and 1990 seasons. His best statistical season came in 1988 where he averaged 18.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists. His final season with Denver was in 1989, but a knee injury forced him to retire in 1994.
(33) David Thompson
Skywalker was the top pick in both the ABA and NBA Draft in 1975. He spent his first season in the ABA with the Nuggets and the next six in the NBA after the merger. Thompson won Rookie of the Year and finished second in MVP voting. That was their final season in the ABA, with Thompson also making an All-Star appearance in his first three seasons in the NBA. He closed his career with two seasons in Seattle making another All-Star appearance in 1982. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996 and won two All-Star MVPs as well.
(40) Byron Beck
Beck spent his full 10-year career in Denver, with nine of those seasons happening in the ABA. His final season was when the Rockets transferred to the NBA and became the Nuggets, but he did most of his damage during his ABA days. Beck was taken 15th overall in the 1967 ABA Draft, and he made an All-Star appearance in his sophomore season. Beck was a presence in the paint for Denver, averaging 12.9 points and 9.0 rebounds in his first six seasons. He has the third-most rebounds in franchise history and retired in 1977.
(44) Dan Issel
Issel was one of the stars alongside Lever and English. He started his career in the ABA when the Kentucky Colonels drafted him, but he joined Denver the season before they shifted to the NBA. He made an All-Star appearance in his first two seasons with the Nuggets, playing his final 10 seasons in Denver. He was one of the best scorers in the league during that stretch, averaging 20.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals. He ranks second in franchise history in points scored, rebounds and games played. Issel was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.
(55) Dikembe Mutombo
Mutombo was famous for his patented finger wag because he was one of the greatest shot-blockers in NBA history. That all started in Denver, with Dikembe taken fourth overall in the 1991 NBA Draft. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting in his debut season and made three All-Star appearances in his five seasons with the Nuggets. He also won Defensive Player of the Year in 1994, leading the league in blocks three times with Denver. Throughout his Nuggets career, Mutombo averaged 12.9 points, 12.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 3.8 blocks. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.
(432) Doug Moe
Seeing 432 on a jersey is reminiscent of AAU, but Moe earned that jersey as the winningest coach in this franchise’s history.
