Nikola Jokic has spent two of the past three years pushing the Denver Nuggets to sign polarizing veteran shot creators and playmakers. In 2024, it was Russell Westbrook. In 2026, it was DeMar DeRozan. Each time, the rationale was questioned. Each time, Jokic failed to receive the credit he deserved for being right about a pivotal truth: Denver has a desperate need for supplemental shot creation.
Unfortunately, that truth was put on display once again when Denver fell 110-100 to the Houston Rockets in a game that saw a familiar story play out: Jokic and Jamal Murray dominating as a duo, and no one else rising to the occasion.
Jokic and Murray were, per usual, magnificent. Murray even looked the part of an unstoppable scoring force, which Nuggets fans have become accustomed to seeing him do. Unfortunately, it was all for naught, as Denver struggled to generate any kind of consistent offense beyond their star duo.
By the numbers, Jokic and Murray combined to score 63 points. Unfortunately, the other Nuggets players combined for 39—just one more than Murray managed on his own.
Clearly, this was an extreme example of the problem at hand, as Denver typically scores in bunches. The Nuggets even ranked No. 1 in the NBA in offensive rating last season. In saying that, situational execution is a different animal—and Jokic has made it clear with his personnel requests that he wants help in creating offense.
Until the Nuggets commit to finding a sustainable solution to the need for at least one more player who can dependably create offense, Jokic and Murray will only be able to do so much.
Nuggets' lack of shot creation depth was on display vs. Rockets
When the Nuggets signed Westbrook, he was a few months shy of turning 36. He still provided value, but given his age, there was effectively a time limit placed on the length of his tenure. The same may be transpiring with DeMar DeRozan, who turned 37 in August.
That doesn't mean that signing players such as DeRozan or Westbrook is an inherently bad move, but the need for them speaks to Denver's inability to sign or develop a talent with a longer runway.
Perhaps that could've been Peyton Watson, who looked the part of a true two-way wing in 2025-26. Unfortunately, the Nuggets waited until the final season on his rookie-scale contract to give him an expanded role and ultimately lost him to free agency due to their financial restrictions.
It was yet another example of Denver seeming to realize what it needs a bit too late to actually do something sustainable to fix their flaw.
If Nuggets want to contend again, they need a true No. 3
Moving forward, the Nuggets must look internally at their options on the shot-creation front and make a difficult decision about whether or not they have the adequate personnel. Aaron Gordon has looked the part at times, but his scoring tends to be based more on complementing others than consistently creating his own offense.
Denver should thus look to the trade market or perhaps clear space for a run at a meaningful talent in free agency in 2027. Either way, sustainable help is needed.
The draft is a resource they should value more, as well, and should be utilized as a tool to bolster the rotation in any number of ways. Considering this coming February will see Jokic turn 32 and Murray turn 30, however, the Nuggets can't exclusively wait for the future to arrive in their efforts to address this issue.
Until at least one more reliable shot creator is acquired, the Nuggets will continue to be exposed for having limited shot creation depth and overburdening their stars.
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