Just three seasons removed from an NBA championship and the Denver Nuggets suddenly feel like a team whose window to win is closing.
Yes, they have all-world center Nikola Jokić, and yes, they have Jamal Murray and plenty of other talented pieces. But key role players struggled to develop, and a debilitating salary cap situation have left the Nuggets in a precarious position.
So, while the Nuggets finished third in the West last season, they’ll need those role players to ease some of the pressure off Jokić and Murray, especially considering that the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves — Denver’s three biggest threats in the conference — are each superb defensive teams.
Here’s a breakdown of the Denver Nuggets’ offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
DENVER NUGGETS SCHEDULE: Dates, times and opponents for 2026-27 season
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NBA champions through the years
2026: New York Knicks (beat San Antonio Spurs in five games)
(Dustin Safranek, Imagn Images)
1 / 33
NBA champions through the years
2026: New York Knicks (beat San Antonio Spurs in five games)
(Dustin Safranek, Imagn Images)
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NBA champions through the years
2025: Oklahoma City Thunder (beat Indiana Pacers in seven games)
(Kyle Terada, Imagn Images)
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NBA champions through the years
2024: Boston Celtics (beat Dallas Mavericks in five games)
(Peter Casey, USA TODAY Sports)
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NBA champions through the years
2023: Denver Nuggets (beat Miami Heat in five games)
(Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports)
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NBA champions through the years
2022: Golden State Warriors (beat Boston Celtics in six games)
(Adam Glanzman, Getty Images)
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NBA champions through the years
2021: Milwaukee Bucks (beat Phoenix Suns in six games)
(Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)
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NBA champions through the years
2020: Los Angeles Lakers (beat Miami Heat in six games)
(Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports)
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NBA champions through the years
2019: Toronto Raptors (beat Golden State Warriors in six games)
(Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports)
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NBA champions through the years
2018: Golden State Warriors (beat Cleveland Cavaliers in four games)
(David Richard, USA TODAY Sports)
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NBA champions through the years
2017: Golden State Warriors (beat Cleveland Cavaliers in five games)
(Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports)
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NBA champions through the years
2016: Cleveland Cavaliers (beat Golden State Warriors in seven games)
(Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports)
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NBA champions through the years
2015: Golden State Warriors (beat Cleveland Cavaliers in six games)
(Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports)
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NBA champions through the years
2014: San Antonio Spurs (beat Miami Heat in five games)
(Brendan Maloney, USA TODAY Sports)
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NBA champions through the years
2013: Miami Heat (beat San Antonio Spurs in seven games)
(Brendan Maloney=, USA TODAY Sports)
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NBA champions through the years
2012: Miami Heat (beat Oklahoma City Thunder in five games)
(US PRESSWIRE)
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NBA champions through the years
2008: Boston Celtics (beat Los Angeles Lakers in six games)
(GABRIEL BOUYS, AFP via Getty Images)
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NBA champions through the years
2005: San Antonio Spurs (beat Detroit Pistons in seven games)
(ROBERT SULLIVAN, AFP via Getty Images)
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NBA champions through the years
2004: Detroit Pistons (beat Los Angeles Lakers in five games)
(Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images)
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NBA champions through the years
2003: San Antonio Spurs (beat New Jersey Nets in six games)
(JAMES NIELSEN, AFP via Getty Images)
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NBA champions through the years
2002: Los Angeles Lakers (beat New Jersey Nets in four games)
(Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY)
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NBA champions through the years
2001: Los Angeles Lakers (beat Philadelphia 76ers in five games)
(STAN HONDA, AFP via Getty Images)
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NBA champions through the years
1999: San Antonio Spurs (beat New York Knicks five games)
(TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AFP via Getty Images)
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NBA champions through the years
1997: Chicago Bulls (beat Utah Jazz in six games)
(JEFF HAYNES, AFP via Getty Images)
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NBA champions through the years
1996: Chicago Bulls (beat Seattle SuperSonics in six games)
(PAUL BUCK, AFP via Getty Images)
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NBA champions through the years
1995: Houston Rockets (beat Orlando Magic in four games)
(PAUL BUCK, AFP via Getty Images)
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NBA champions through the years
1994: Houston Rockets (beat New York Knicks in seven games)
(BOB STRONG, AFP via Getty Images)
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NBA champions through the years
1993: Chicago Bulls (beat Phoenix Suns in six games)
(US PRESSWIRE)
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NBA champions through the years
1992: Chicago Bulls (beat Portland Trail Blazers in six games)
(US PRESSWIRE)
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NBA champions through the years
1991: Chicago Bulls beat Los Angeles Lakers in five games.
(Ken Levine, Getty Images)
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NBA champions through the years
1990: Detroit Pistons (beat Portland Trail Blazers in five games)
(William Archie, Detroit Free Press)
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NBA champions through the years
1989: Detroit Pistons (beat Los Angeles Lakers in four games)
(US PRESSWIRE)
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NBA champions through the years
1988: Los Angeles Lakers (beat Detroit Pistons in seven games)
(US PRESSWIRE)
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NBA champions through the years
1987: Los Angeles Lakers (beat Boston Celtics in six games)
(US PRESSWIRE)
Record last season: 54-28 (3rd in Western Conference)
Playoff finish: Eliminated in first round (2-4, against Timberwolves)
Coach: David Adelman (second season)
2026-27 title odds: +2500 (per BetMGM)
Key roster additions
F Marving Bagley III (free agent signing)
F Trevon Brazile (NBA draft)
Key roster losses
Biggest question entering training camp
Strapped against the second apron, can this roster compete with the West’s best?
During the 2026 NBA Playoffs, the Nuggets suddenly looked old and slow. The Timberwolves harassed Denver’s role players, leaving much of the offensive responsibility to fall to all-world center and three-time Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokić and guard Jamal Murray. It became clear that the duo needed more help. Yet, because of Denver’s salary cap issues, major additions were going to be improbable, and the trade of ascending star Peyton Watson further depleted the roster. DeMar DeRozan is an excellent mid-range option, but he’s not enough to get the Nuggets past the Thunder and Spurs – perhaps even the retooled Timberwolves. Role players Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun disappointed last season, and they will need to prove their worth for Denver to make another push for a title.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) drives against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) during a game in Denver on Mar 12, 2025.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
Rotation players
What to expect in 2026-27 season
A team that may see its championship window close. The Nuggets absolutely need a dose of good health from forward Aaron Gordon, the player who unlocks the entire offense. He missed three games in the postseason, and Denver’s offense stagnated. Cameron Johnson was an addition who mostly disappointed. Christian Braun regressed. The key for the Nuggets will be if those two return to form. The Nuggets still have the best offensive player in the world in Nikola Jokić and an All-Star in Jamal Murray, so they will be competitive. But it’s clear those two are not enough to carry the team to the top of the NBA, and Jokić, who turns 32 in February, may need some load management to ensure he’s fresh for the playoffs.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Denver Nuggets season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction
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