In the ultra-competitive Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets weren’t viewed as a legitimate playoff contender before the season started. Now late in the year, with only one game remaining, Denver sits about where the experts placed them at No. 10 in the West and No. 22 overall in the league.
After being ousted in the first round of the playoffs four straight times from 2010-2013, the Nuggets decided to go in a new direction. Now with a stable head coach in Michael Malone and a host of young talent, fans were able to see glimpses of the team’s future potential throughout the 2015-16 season.
Currently a contender for sixth man of the year, fourth-year player Will Barton exploded onto the scene as a high-flying, volume scoring guard. Nicknamed “Will the Thrill”, his athletic dunks landed him in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest this past February. Averaging an impressive 14.8 points, six rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, Barton gave the Nuggets a desperately needed scorer.
In his first season in the NBA, 2014 second round draft pick Nikola Jokic also found a solid niche on the team. The Serbian came to the United States for the first time ever to begin the season, but eventually played his way into the Rising Stars Challenge, an all-star event for the best young players in the game. At 6’10” with a rangy jump shot, Jokic has the tools to become an above-average power forward or center.
For rookie point guard and former seventh overall pick Emmanuel Mudiay, it was a season of tremendous growth. He failed to earn minutes early on, losing out to veteran Jameer Nelson. But as the season progressed, so did the 20-year-old, who averaged 12 points and five assists over the year. While his shots and decision-making need work, those are teachable skills, and Mudiay should evolve into an above average passer.
Arguably the Nuggets’ two best players, Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari, again struggled with injuries. Chandler never saw the floor after injuring his hip, while Gallinari only saw action in 53 games before an ankle injury sidelined him.
Power forward Kenneth Faried seems to have plateaued at his current talent level, one which doesn’t exactly match his salary. While his averages of 12 points and eight rebounds per game aren’t terrible, his poor defensive IQ and post-moves keep him from being a center-piece player.
Two more young players, Gary Harris and Jusuf Nurkic, played well in spots of the season. The two first round picks from 2014 have bright futures as secondary players in Denver. Harris blossomed late in 2016, while Nurkic has battled injuries down the stretch.
The Nuggets will likely hold a draft pick in the 10-12 range, allowing them to select another potential building block for the squad this summer. The draft will take place June 23. The Nuggets could receive additional first round picks from Memphis and Portland, depending on where those teams finish in the standings, while they also own the right to swap first-round picks with the New York Knicks.
Although the Nuggets aren’t a playoff team, management has still produced a young, promising roster without tanking. While they’re still searching for a superstar or two, Denver was the only NBA team to beat both the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs this season. As young players continue to develop, the Nuggets should surge back into relevance over the next few years.
