In the 2025-26 regular season, the Nuggets had the most efficient offense in the NBA, scoring a league-best 1.23 points per possession. And yet, that figure could have been even better, as they put up 1.36 points per possession on trips in which the team attempted a three-pointer, whether it went in or not.
That includes their league-leading 39.1% shooting from three, but also their offensive rebounds on those misses, which led to baskets. That 1.36 figure would have led the league by far and would have created a record-setting offense that would have been unstoppable.
NBA offenses are more efficient when shooting 3s
This season, they’d be wise to lean into that even more and try to warp their identity slightly to become even more efficient. DeMar DeRozan isn’t exactly known for his three-point shooting, but he is elite in the midrange and can certainly make shots from outside.
Jamal Murray, Cam Johnson, and Aaron Gordon can all be marksmen, and Nikola Jokic is an outstanding offensive rebounder. Jokic and Murray can create shots, and even guys like Christian Braun and some of the bench players can be spot-up options who can’t hesitate to let it fly when they’re open.
As the numbers prove, that will lead to an absurdly efficient offense, and even if the percentage dips a bit, they’ll make up for it with higher volume. It’s a simple stat, but one that would benefit every team in the NBA, as all 30 teams had a more efficient offense on three-point attempt possessions.
Nuggets must raise three-point volume to maximize offense
In fact, even the team that was 30th in that category, the Dallas Mavericks, averaged 1.19 points per possession on those trips, which would have tied with the Rockets and Hornets for the fifth-best offense in the NBA last season, even though the Mavs shot just 31.9% on threes.
Threes certainly aren’t the only thing that matters in the NBA, but it’s undeniable how impactful the three-ball has become, and not maximizing its potential is a mistake. Despite how well they shot it, Denver was only 20th in three-point attempts per game last season, and that needs to change.
Getting up more shots will lead to more scoring and will help hide what could be a suspect defensive unit again this season. If the Nuggets have any hopes of being a contender this season, it’s going to be thanks to a juggernaut offense that can make up for the defense. They need to squeeze everything they can out of their advantages, and as the numbers clearly illustrate, that means shooting more threes than ever.
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