6 ways the Denver Nuggets made NBA history last season
By Ben Grunert
4. Denver Nuggets had best offense in team history
Denver has never boasted a better offense than they did last year. The Nuggets held a 117.6 offensive rating in the regular season, beating out the franchise record they had previously set during the 2020-21 campaign. The reigning champs poured in 115.8 points per game, and their 3.4 net rating was good for sixth-best in the league.
The Nuggets hit another level in the playoffs. They led the NBA with a 119.5 offensive rating (good for seventh-best all-time) and had an astonishing 8.7 net rating. Fueled by Jokic’s playmaking, the team averaged 25.8 assists and shot 49.2% from the field. This supreme ball movement and shot quality didn’t exactly come out of nowhere. After all, the regular-season Nuggets dished 28.9 assists each night on a league-leading 50.4% clip from the field.
Denver’s knack for creating quality looks also extended to the 3-point line as the Nuggets recorded their second-best 3-point percentage ever. Jokic and company shot a collective 37.9% from downtown on 2,559 total attempts. When they shot a franchise-high 38.8% from three in the 2010-11 season, the Nuggets only took 1,704 shots from beyond the arc.
Needless to say, last season marked Denver’s best team offense ever. Jokic’s sheer dominance and the well-rounded roster surrounding him made for an unsurpassed combination of shooting, scoring, and playmaking. The Nuggets finished top five in field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, offensive rating, assists, and assist-to-turnover ratio.