The Nuggets have been handed their fair share of disrespect this offseason, but most of it has come from the media. There were plenty of loud critics of the teams’ decision to let KCP walk and put their faith in the young players.
There was plenty of ugly discourse around Jamal Murray; his play, his health, and his contract extension. For the most part, it seemed like NBA media had moved on from Denver, and they were focusing on the younger, sexier teams like the Thunder, Timberwolves, Mavericks, and others.
But fans and media members are pumping out hot takes and crazy opinions left and right, saying anything to get attention, and generally being wrong. Having them provide disrespect and bulletin board material is pretty much par for the course at this point for almost any team in pro sports.
However, when it’s coming from contemporaries within the league, in fact, the 29 other NBA General Managers, that’s another story. That’s a bit more eye-opening, and an actual reason to raise an eyebrow and take note.
Zero NBA GMs pick Nuggets to win title
And that’s exactly what happened on Tuesday as the NBA released its annual survey of the 30 GMs in the league and the results didn’t exactly exude confidence in the Denver Nuggets. The GMs were asked to predict the winner of the 2025 NBA Finals and the winner of each conference.
Just two voters (7%) picked the Nuggets to win the Western Conference this season, and not a single GM picked the Nuggets to win it all. For reference, last year the Nuggets were picked to win it all by 10 GMs (33%, tied for the most in the league with the Celtics) and were the overwhelming favorites to win the West with 70% of the vote (21 GMs).
This season, GMs picked two other West teams to win it all - the Thunder and Mavericks - and the Nuggets received the same amount of votes to win the West as the Phoenix Suns. How the mighty have fallen, indeed!
Just like with media criticism, this ultimately doesn’t mean much. But it is fascinating to see that even those closest to the league have essentially given up on the Nuggets. Just a few months removed from being the favorites, the team will have to prove itself all over again.
And that’s perfectly fine. Last year the Nuggets had a target on their back all year as defending champs and the team finally wilted and wore down, exhausted by the end of the season. This season they are refreshed and have a new vigor. The fact that nobody believes in them should only add fuel to the fire.