Top 3 emerging storylines for the Nuggets a month into the season

The long journey that is the NBA season has just begun as the Nuggets have played just 10 games of their 82-game schedule. But we almost have a full month in the books and Denver has played 12% of its season now. There is still a lot to play out, but some clear storylines are developing before our eyes.

Only time will tell if these are based on small sample sizes or if these are trends that will continue all season long. But one way or another, these three storylines have already emerged that will define the 2024-25 season in Denver.

Storyline #1: Nikola Jokic is going to win his 4th MVP Award

After winning three of the last four MVP awards, we figured it would take a gargantuan performance to overcome voter fatigue and the standard he has already set. But through ten games, that is exactly what is happening. Jokic has already separated himself from the field to such a degree that it’s hard to fathom him relinquishing this lead.

The only things that could realistically derail his campaign at this point would be injuries or lack of team performance. If he somehow can’t hit the 65-game threshold, he won't be eligible to win the award. And if the Nuggets struggle and finish outside of the top 6 in the West, he likely won’t win the award.

But otherwise, nobody is catching the Joker. He’s the best player in the world, playing the best basketball of his career, and right now there isn’t a close second. Unfortunately, some of this is a negative reflection on the team. The Nuggets shouldn’t need Jokic to do this much. It’s a dangerous game and may prove unsustainable, but currently, the Nuggets have no choice but to keep leaning on Jokic.

Storyline #2: Christian Braun > KCP was the right call

The most controversial decision of the offseason was Calvin Booth’s choice to let Kentavious Caldwell-Pope walk in free agency, replacing him in the starting lineup with Christian Braun. This move - or lack of move - was met with much skepticism and had people wondering if the Nuggets were being cheap and even wasting Jokic’s career.

But through one month, it appears that Booth may have been on to something. Through 10 games as a starter, Braun is averaging 16.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game while playing 35 minutes a night. He is also shooting 55% from the field and a whopping 50% on threes while playing stout defense, pitching in almost a full block and steal per game.

On the other end of the spectrum, KCP has struggled mightily on the offensive end in Orlando. In 12 games, Caldwell-Pope is averaging just 6.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. To make matters worse, KCP is shooting a league-worst 21% from three-point range.

He’s still a strong defensive player and a great fit for that Magic culture. But he’s not getting any younger and $22 million a year is suddenly starting to sound like a lot. Booth has definitely made his fair share of mistakes in recent seasons, but he seems to have hit the nail on the head with this one.

Storyline #3: Lack of depth will be the Nuggets’ undoing

But sadly, perhaps the biggest storyline that will define the season is the lack of reliable depth. Ultimately, will the Nuggets be able to survive when the starters - specifically Nikola Jokic - have to rest? So far, the results have been mixed at best.

Russell Westbrook has had some highs and lows, which seems to be his M.O. at this point in his career. His utility is clear during the long grind of the regular season, but I’m not convinced he can be a big part of a successful playoff rotation.

Julian Strawther has been pretty solid and Peyton Watson has picked it up after a slow start, but both players are still very young and unproven. We’ve never seen either one consistently thrive in a playoff setting.

Then there’s the disaster that is the backup center position. Dario Saric took all of one week to expose himself as completely washed and unplayable, Zeke Nnaji is who we thought he was, and DeAndre Jordan is more of a coach than a player at this late stage of his great career.

They can try those guys in spurts and they can go small with Gordon, MPJ, or Watson playing center for short stretches, but the Nuggets have to figure out a viable long-term solution to this problem. If they can’t, they are going to wear down by the end of the season and a Finals run seems unlikely.