The Denver Nuggets have started the season as strong as they ended their last season. With their NBA title secured back in June, Denver has proved that they are among the NBA’s best teams and that Nikola Jokic is already one of the NBA’s all-time greats.
When Bruce Brown and Jeff Green left the Nuggets in free agency, there were questions if Denver would be able to maintain the success that they had in the 2022-23 season. The bench was in question, as the starting five was battle-tested and proven to be successful.
But to start the season, the Denver Nuggets have proven that their bench may not be at the same level in terms of production as last year, but it is good enough to be a successful bench unit.
Overall, their team is 4-0 and is one of three undefeated teams left in the NBA. The Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks are also undefeated but are 3-0 instead of 4-0 like Denver is.
The Denver Nuggets go up against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night away in the Target Center, which could give them another win to be 5-0. If Denver can be 5-0, it will be their first time starting a season like that since 2009, when Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups were on the team.
The last time Denver started 4-0, though was in 2018. Looking at the team, the team that the Nuggets have now is better than the Nuggets team back in 2009 or even 2018. Jamal Murray wasn’t playing at an All-Star level back in 2018, and the team didn’t have as much support five years ago.
Back in the 2009-10 NBA season, the Denver Nuggets finished the season fourth in the Western Conference going 53-29, and eventually lost to the Utah Jazz in six games in the first round, a disappointing ending to a solid season back then.
How have the Denver Nuggets been able to be such a dominant team early on? Nikola Jokic has continued his all-around offensive masterclass every single game and is shooting an incredible 42.9 percent from deep so far this season.
The Nuggets have beaten the Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Utah Jazz so far this season. The Lakers and Grizzlies are both trying to make it to the NBA Finals, while the Oklahoma City Thunder are fighting for a playoff spot. The Utah Jazz, though, are looking toward the draft lottery again.
Jamal Murray has also been playing very well, as he is shooting 50.0 percent from the 3-point line this season and had 14 assists on Monday night against the Utah Jazz, which tied his 2nd best assist total for a game.
The rest of the starting lineup has also played very well. Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Michael Porter Jr. have all been productive to start the season and all play valuable roles on the roster.
All in all, the Denver Nuggets have had an amazing start to the new season. It’s hard to say that they’ll keep up this success for 78 more games, but it wouldn’t be too surprising to see them passing their most wins in a season, as 54 was their most back in the 2008-09 season.
If the Nuggets can be as successful as some people think they can, then they might be able to get their second NBA championship, or maybe even two more.