The Denver Nuggets aren't just making changes on the court this offseason. They've now made a change to the bench as well, and newly hired lead assistant Dave Joerger could be one of the biggest and most important changes the Nuggets make, given the way their offseason is shaping up.
Longtime NBA coach Dave Joerger has agreed on a deal to become the lead assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets on head coach David Adelman's staff, sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 28, 2026
ESPN's Shams Charania was at it again in letting everyone know about the signing. It's great news for the Nuggets. First-year head coach David Adelman looked a little lost at times in his decisions last year, leaving some fans clamoring for his exit at season's end. But the Nuggets are sticking with Adelman, and they got him a seasoned former head coach with a defensive pedigree to help steady the ship next year.
Joerger could help the defense strategy of the Nuggets
Adelman led the Nuggets to the league's top-ranked offense last season, amassing an offensive rating of 121.2. However, he never got the Nuggets into the right defensive mindset, and they came in at a paltry 21st and a 116.0 rating. By contrast, the NBA champion New York Knicks were 7th at 112.3, and the runner-up San Antonio Spurs were 3rd at 110.4. The Oklahoma City Thunder led the league with a stingy 106.5 rating.
Clearly, defense got teams further into the playoffs. It was the second season in a row the Nuggets had a 21st-ranked defense, and something needed to change to improve that number. Since the Nuggets haven't made any changes to the core of their roster, a new defensive philosophy is needed instead. Enter Joerger.
Joerger is known as a defensive-minded coach. During his time as an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2010-11, Joerger was the defensive mastermind of the bench, and he helped take the Grizzlies from a 25th-ranked defense in 2009-10 to a 2nd-ranked defense by 2012-13. The defense steadily improved each of the three seasons prior to Joerger becoming the Grizzlies' head coach.
That's not to say the Nuggets will show that kind of improvement, but having Joerger on board in Adelman's ear is certainly a step in the right direction. Joerger is also a great player development coach, and he could be a big benefit to younger players like the Nuggets' newly re-signed Spencer Jones or the talented draft pick Trevon Brazile.
The Nuggets' defense was terrible in the paint last season, and any improvement that Joerger can help with strategy is welcome by fans. Joerger is a great addition to the Nuggets' bench, and if he truly improves the Nuggets' defensive resolve next year, he very well could be the Nuggets' best offseason addition.
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