The Denver Nuggets looked like a lost cause when they went on a four-game losing streak at the end of the regular season, but then the unthinkable happened — Kroenke fired Michael Malone and Calvin Booth. David Adelman became the interim head coach, a tag that was since removed.
Denver's season ended earlier than the organization and its fans wanted, but on the other hand, it lasted longer than many expected. The Nuggets won their last three games of the regular season, securing the No. 4 seed, avoiding the Play-In Tournament. Their first-round series against the Clippers went to seven games, with Denver coming out on top with a 120-101 win.
The Nuggets were one win away from advancing to the Western Conference Finals, but they ran out of gas against the Thunder. Oklahoma City cruised to a 125-93 victory in Game 7. The series could end up being the most challenging test the Thunder will face en route to their first title since relocating to OKC.
Denver was written off last summer after losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency. The team's biggest splash was signing Russell Westbrook to a two-year deal, another move that was criticized. The way the Nuggets' season ended proved that they're still a threat in the West, but there is work to be done.
Nuggets aren't the lost cause people made them out to be
It turns out that having the best player in the league pays off. Their season would have ended earlier (possibly in the Play-In Tournament if they had made it that far) if it weren't for Nikola Jokic. When you think he can't get any better, he elevates his game. He averaged a career-high 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game in his 10th season with the Nuggets, shooting 57.6% from the field and 41.7% from three.
Kroenke understands the urgency to build a winning roster around Jokic so Denver can have a real shot at winning another title. He didn't approach things in the best way by firing Malone so late in the regular season, but it ultimately paid off. Next up for the Nuggets is hiring a new GM, and it sounds like that could be Ben Tenzer.
Denver's biggest need this offseason is depth. The team is limited on how it can upgrade the roster, and doesn't have a pick in the draft. The Nuggets could trade into the draft, but if they don't, the silver lining is that their 2024 first-round pick, DaRon Holmes II, will make his NBA debut next season after missing the 2024-25 season due to an Achilles injury.
Contrary to what many thought, the Nuggets' championship window isn't closed. It will be tricky to find ways to maximize the roster with limited resources, giving the front office plenty to work on this summer. Denver doesn't want to be eliminated in the second round for a third consecutive year, or even fail to advance past the WCF. They want another title.