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Nuggets: Top five enforcers of all time

Brandon Ewing
Brandon Ewing

Nugg Love

HOUSTON - NOVEMBER 24: Dikembe Mutombo

OKLAHOMA CITY – DECEMBER 25: Chris Andersen #11 of the Denver Nuggets waits on court during a timeout against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the game at the Oklahoma City Arena on December 25, 2010 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Larry W. Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY – DECEMBER 25: Chris Andersen #11 of the Denver Nuggets waits on court during a timeout against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the game at the Oklahoma City Arena on December 25, 2010 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Larry W. Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)

Chris Andersen

Birdman played seven seasons in a Nuggets uniform between 2001-2004 and 2008-2012. During his Nuggets career he played in 378 games and averaged 5.1 rebounds and 5.1 points per game. Birdman makes the list because he was a big guy who played tough down low and was a fan favorite here in Denver.

Birdman won an NBA championship in 2013 with the Heat and it was awesome to see such a Nuggets fan favorite have success and accomplish something as special as an NBA championship. Birdman will always go down as one of the best Nuggets enforcers of all-time because he was a guy who protected his teammates and gave it everything he got when he was on the court.

NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 21: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Nene Hilario #31 of the Denver Nuggets in action against the New York Knicks on January 21, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Nuggets defeated the Knicks 119-114. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 21: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Nene Hilario #31 of the Denver Nuggets in action against the New York Knicks on January 21, 2012 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Nuggets defeated the Knicks 119-114. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Nene

Nene is the longest tenured Nugget on this list after playing 10 seasons in a Nuggets uniform. The Brazilian started with the Nuggets in 2002 and left the team during the 2011-2012 season when

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the Nuggets traded him in a there-team deal with the Wizards and Clippers. The deal is often remembered because the Nuggets received JaVale McGee who was not so great in a Nuggets uniform.

Nene was a force in the post for over a decade and was a leader for the Nuggets franchise. In his career with the Nuggets Nene averaged 12.4 points per game and 7 rebounds per game. Nene appeared in 555 games, 451 of those games Nene started. Nene was always a good teammate here in Denver and was part of seven different Nuggets teams that made the postseason. Nene definitely brought some good skill to the big man position in his Nuggets tenure and was a guy who certainly kept the other team in line when he was on the court.

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 31: Timofey Mozgov #20 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Jusuf Nurkic #23 of the Denver Nuggets chase down a rebound in the first half of the game at Staples Center on January 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 31: Timofey Mozgov #20 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Jusuf Nurkic #23 of the Denver Nuggets chase down a rebound in the first half of the game at Staples Center on January 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

Jusuf Nurkic

This one’s still a little sore as the Nuggets fans and Nurkic had a bit of a rocky departure last

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Denver Nuggets

season. Nurkic wasn’t happy with his playing time and the Nuggets were certainly not happy with his attitude, so he was shipped off to Portland during the middle of the season. It can’t be denied though that Nurkic is a huge body when on the court and certainly doesn’t put up with anyone messing with him or his team.

One of the things I loved about Nurkic was that he wasn’t scared of anyone. Whether it was LeBron James or just some average NBA player, Nurkic had one mission and that was to destroy his opponent, and he was cocky while doing it. My favorite Nurkic move is the make a lay-up after posting a guy up, and then placing the ball in the guys lap when he’s on the floor. Even though it results in a technical, I still had no issue with it because the Nuggets needed that kind of attitude when he was on the court.

He brought a certain swagger and attitude when on the court and that might be what ultimately doomed him in the end. The Nuggets were tired of that attitude because it resulted in Nurkic not being as much of a team player and it became all about him towards the middle of last season. The two were definitely on a road where they needed to split up and Nurkic had some great success in his short stint with the Blazers last season. It’ll be interesting to see how Nurkic performs this season and if he returns to his old form that made him one of the greatest Nuggets enforcers off all-time.

SAN ANTONIO – JANUARY 28: Dikembe Mutombo #55 of the Denver Nuggets grabs a rebound against the San Antonio Spurs during an NBA game at the Alamo dome on January 28, 1995 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1995 NBAE (Photo by Andy Hayt/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO – JANUARY 28: Dikembe Mutombo #55 of the Denver Nuggets grabs a rebound against the San Antonio Spurs during an NBA game at the Alamo dome on January 28, 1995 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1995 NBAE (Photo by Andy Hayt/NBAE via Getty Images)

Dikembe Mutombo

Dikembe is one of the best defensive players in NBA history so it’s no surprise that he makes the list. Mutombo was not a guy to mess with on the court and didn’t like it when opposing players came down low. Dikembe’s first five seasons in the NBA were in a Nuggets uniform, so he got his enforcer mentality here in Denver and it definitely carried him throughout his career.

In his five seasons with the Nuggets Dikembe averaged 12.9 points per game, 12.3 rebounds per game, and 3.8 blocks per game. His blocks per game was his best average he had with any of the six teams he played on. Mutombo just got his jersey retired by the Nuggets last season and continuous to be an important ambassador of the Nuggets franchise. The good he brought to the Nuggets franchise and the defensive player he was on the court is what puts him on the list of one of the greatest Nuggets enforcers of all-time.

DENVER, CO – APRIL 23: Denver Nuggets power forward Kenyon Martin #4 looks on during action against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2011 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – APRIL 23: Denver Nuggets power forward Kenyon Martin #4 looks on during action against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Three of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2011 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Kenyon Martin

K. Mart was been one of the baddest dudes to put on a Nuggets jersey and was a guy who definitely meant business when on the court. Kenyon was the Nuggets instigator during his seven year tenure with the team between the 2004-2011 seasons. Kenyon was on the team the same time as Nene and they both formed a pretty good enforcer connection when on the court.

Kenyon also posted some pretty good stats in his Nuggets career averaging 12.3 points per game and 7 rebounds per game. It’s almost crazy how close those stats are to Nene’s Denver career and Kenyon was also part of six different Nuggets playoffs team. Kenyon will always go down as a great Nugget and should definitely be on the list of greatest Nuggets enforcers.

Next: Vegas' hopes for Denver

Hopefully this list gets a few more additions over the next couple of seasons and possibly a few guys stepping up to give the Nuggets that attitude and edge they are looking for. It’s certainly something the team needs for this upcoming season and could help potentially put them over the top this season.

Brandon Ewing

Brandon Ewing