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The Denver Nuggets All-Time roster

By Grayson Moore

DENVER - MARCH 22: The Denver Nuggets pose for a team photo on March 22, 2009 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 2009 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER - MARCH 22: The Denver Nuggets pose for a team photo on March 22, 2009 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 2009 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Denver, CO_January 22– Denver Nuggets Carmelo Anthony, left, celebrates the scoring with new teammate Allen Iverson in the 2nd quarter of the game against Memphis Grizzlies at Pepsi Center on Monday. ( DENVER POST PHOTO BY HYOUNG CHANG) (Photo By Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Denver, CO_January 22– Denver Nuggets Carmelo Anthony, left, celebrates the scoring with new teammate Allen Iverson in the 2nd quarter of the game against Memphis Grizzlies at Pepsi Center on Monday. ( DENVER POST PHOTO BY HYOUNG CHANG) (Photo By Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

Primary Bench Players:

Backup PG: Chauncey Billups

Backup SG: Allen Iverson

Backup SF: Carmelo Anthony

Backup PF: Kiki VanDeWeghe

Backup C: Nikola Jokic

The astronomical number of points this bench unit would put up would probably outweigh the astronomical number of points they would allow.

Chauncey Billups is the only player among these reserves with the reputation of a good defender, so he would have to do a lot of the heavy lifting on the defensive side of the ball.

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But, he could also make a 3-point shot or layup when needed, or thread a perfect pass to a teammate for an easy shot. Iverson would serve a role similar to Thompson on the starting team, taking a lot of touches and creating his own shot. He would likely average the most points among the bench players.

Melo would specialize in isolation plays and fade away jumpers, but wouldn’t detract too many touches from the other arguably more talented scorers on this team(in an ideal world). He could focus on grabbing boards and creating his own shot when the other players around him are faltering to do so.

VanDeWeghe is one of the most underrated scorers in Nuggets and NBA history, and I could see him thriving in today’s game. He had a solid outside shot and an iconic step back that made him a 20+ point per game scorer for much of his career.

Finally, Nikola Jokic. I’m sure most Nuggets fans know what this guy can do already, and while it may be a little early to call him one of the best centers in Nuggets history, his masterful passing and smooth shooting stroke combined with above-average rebounding ability make him one of the most talented centers in today’s game. He would grab a lot of rebounds, set his teammates up with no-look passes or alley-oops, and give opponents nightmares with his repertoire of outside shooting and a dangerously underrated post game.

Billups averaged 1.1 steals per game in Denver, and in his second stint in the city, he amassed 4.9 defensive win shares in just 201 games. He shot 39.2% from 3-point range in Colorado and shot 54.2% from 0-3 feet away from the rim while putting up 5.3 assists per game.

Iverson put up 25.6 points per game on 45.6% shooting, the 2nd highest points per game average in Nuggets history. Anthony put up 24.8 points per game on 45.9% shooting, the 4th highest points per game average in Nuggets history. He also grabbed 6.3 boards per game with a 9.9% rebound percentage.

VanDeWeghe averaged 23.3 points per game on an impressive 54.1% shooting. That’s good enough for the 6th best points per game average in Nuggets history and the 4th best field goal percentage.

Finally, Nikola Jokic’s 4.4 assists per game average is the 3rd highest for a player 6’10 or taller in NBA history, and his 6.1 assists per game last year was the 15th best in the league last year and by far the best for a center. In fact, it was the 3rd highest APG average for a center in a season in NBA history. He has a career RPG average of 9.1, a career 3-point percentage of 36.6%(including 39.6% last year on 3.7 attempts per game), and he shoots 65.7% on shots 0-3 feet away from the rim for his career.

I don’t think any other team’s hypothetical all-time bench players could put up as many points as these guys.