Against all odds, the Denver Nuggets won the 2023 NBA Championship. Nikola Jokić cemented himself in NBA history and is already considered one of the best centers of all time. When it comes to the 2022-23 preseason, the odds were not really in Denver’s favor. The preseason odds for Denver to win the title were ranked 9th in the whole NBA and were tied with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Looking at the roster right now, the Denver Nuggets have a relatively young squad. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the oldest member of the starting lineup at 30 years old. Jamal Murray is 26, Michael Porter Jr. is 25, Aaron Gordon is 27, and Jokić is only 28. The Nuggets’ championship window is still open and doesn’t look to be closing anytime soon.
When it comes to the championship odds for this season, the Nuggets have the best odds, tied with the Boston Celtics. Even though they lost both Bruce Brown and Jeff Green in free agency, the team still looks to be super competitive next season. Jamal Murray is now considered one of the NBA’s brightest stars ever since he torched the competition in the playoffs, and Jokić is now debatably the best basketball player in the world.
The Denver Nuggets do have a young squad, as written earlier. Even though their bench may be inexperienced, Christian Braun, the Nuggets’ best bench player, can take a jump in progression this season, especially with more touches and more minutes.
The Nuggets’ roster ranks 11th in average age, which is great. Having a balance between youth and veterans is tough, as there is no specific amount of each to have on a team. Having a mix is good, as the Nuggets have players to build around, as well as being able to compete each year with experienced players.
Now, with the Nuggets as talented and experienced as it is, there could be talks of Denver going back-to-back and winning the NBA Finals again this season. There have been many teams that have gone back-to-back. The Boston Celtics with Larry Bird, the Los Angeles Lakers with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, the Miami Heat with LeBron James, the Chicago Bulls with Michael Jordan, and the list goes on. The Denver Nuggets have what it takes to be added to that list.
Could the Denver Nuggets be the next NBA dynasty?
Now that begs the question, at what point does an NBA team become a “dynasty?” What does that term even mean? A dynasty is a team in any sport that dominates and succeeds at a high level for an extended period. Those teams previously mentioned could all be considered a dynasty. The Golden State Warriors with Steph Curry and Kevin Durant are the most recent NBA dynasty to be formed, and their dynasty may be ending soon, considering the age of their stars.
Nikola Jokić still has plenty of years left in his career. Considering his play style, he could be a dominant NBA player even in his late thirties. He does not rely on his athleticism a lot, and he’s not a very quick or agile player. His footwork and shot should not regress with age drastically, so he definitely can be a top player for many years.
As for the rest of the roster, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is 30 years old, and on the last year of his contract. Looking at the roster as a whole, Christian Braun definitely could take his spot once Caldwell-Pope is not on the team anymore. It’s unlikely Caldwell-Pope would want to leave in free agency next offseason, though, considering the role he has on the team as well as the success Denver has achieved.
The whole roster is built perfectly and has the making of an up-and-coming dynasty. With a great blend of offense and defense, as well as youth and veterans, the Denver Nuggets are definitely able to be a competitive team for many years to come.
If the Nuggets can win another championship, there is room to talk about them being labeled as a dynasty. At that point, we’d also have to consider Nikola Jokić as one of the greatest NBA players to ever play the game.