The Denver Nuggets will be a worse version of themselves if Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson miss time due to their respective injuries. It's an unavoidable truth that must be acknowledged before any other element of this conversation comes into play.
For the first time in longer than one might care to remember, however, the Nuggets have the depth to overcome two starters getting hurt—a silver lining that proves how legitimate their title dreams truly are.
Denver made it a point to address its dire need for depth during the 2025 NBA offseason. It brought back championship-contributing wing Bruce Brown Jr., signed Tim Hardaway Jr., and traded for Jonas Valanciunas in an encouraging sweep of moves to create depth that hasn't existed in quite some time.
As such, the Nuggets have a unique opportunity to overcome simultaneous injuries to two key starters, even if it depletes the depth of the rotation.
It's a luxury Nikola Jokic and company haven't experienced since winning a championship in 2023. While teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves have thrived on having deep rotations, Denver has put immeasurable pressure on its starters to play big minutes and maximize the time they're on the court with no margin for error.
The true quality of Denver's depth is about to be revealed, as well as how legitimate its championship aspirations truly are when the roster is at full strength.
Nuggets finally have the depth to overcome injuries to starters
With Braun and Johnson hurt, the Nuggets will need Brown and Hardaway to pick up the slack along the perimeter. They're certainly capable of playing quality minutes at the 2 and 3 spots, with Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray flanking them alongside Jokic.
That's materialized early in 2025-26, with Brown shooting 42.1 percent from beyond the arc and Hardaway averaging 11.0 points per game on .456/.459/.917 shooting.
Beyond the numbers, Brown and Hardaway have created an ideal balance along the second unit as both passive and assertive contributors. Brown takes what the game gives him, prioritizing defense and ball and player movement while knocking down open shots.
Hardaway, meanwhile, has taken on a more aggressive approach on offense by blending efficient catch-and-shoot proficiency with a fearlessness with the ball in his hands.
It's perhaps the biggest difference between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 Nuggets. A season ago, Denver would've been lost if two of its starters had gotten hurt. It would've been forced to turn to one veteran in Russell Westbrook and another player who was either inexperienced or on the fringes of an NBA rotation.
In 2025-26, however, Denver has the luxury of being able to turn to two proven veterans while still having a productive center in Valanciunas anchoring the second unit.
If Braun and Johnson miss time, the opportunity will then be presented to the younger players to make a statement. Some combination of DaRon Holmes II, Jalen Pickett, Julian Strawther, Hunter Tyson, and Peyton Watson would have a chance to play more minutes and potentially grow in the process.
Denver won't be able to contend if it's not at full strength, but the injury concerns for Braun and Johnson have revealed how deep this Nuggets team truly and finally is.