2023-24 NBA Season Preview: Denver Nuggets
We are days away from the start of the 2023-24 NBA Season! Today, we’re going to break down the reigning champion Denver Nuggets! Let’s dive into it!
What happened last season?
Safe to say last season could not have gone any better for the Denver Nuggets. A 53-29 record saw the Nuggets win the Northwest Division for the first time since the 2019-20 season. The record was also good enough for the Nuggets to pick up their first-ever No. 1 seed in franchise history. Nikola Jokic was once again in the MVP conversation but did not manage to win it for a third straight season.
In the 2022-23 NBA Playoffs, the Nuggets cruised past the Minnesota Timberwolves in Round 1, beating the Northwest Division rivals 4-1. Next, they took down the Phoenix Suns 4-2 before sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 to win the franchise’s first-ever conference title. This set up a meeting with the Miami Heat with a chance at history on the line. The Nuggets did not let up one bit. After splitting the first two games in Denver, the Nuggets won three straight to become the NBA Champions in five games. Earning the respect of the league in the process.
Offseason Overview:
The Nuggets were always going to have an interesting offseason as NBA Champions. It started out with some tough news, as both Bruce Brown and Jeff Green left Denver for Indiana and Houston, respectively. Brown and Green were key members off the bench for the Nuggets last season. Filling that void will be a tall task. However, the draft may have presented the Nuggets with two future role players in guard Jalen Pickett and forward Hunter Tyson. The two rookies showed out for the Nuggets summer league team and may see minutes similar to what Christian Braun saw as a rookie last season.
Projected starting five
PG: Jamal Murray – There were doubts about how Murray would perform after a long layoff due to injury. He silenced those doubters rather quickly. The guard contributes to a very strong two-man game alongside Jokic. In the playoffs last year, Murray even almost outplayed Jokic finishing with 26.1 points per game. If he continues his play from the second half of last season then Murray could be in line for his first All-Star selection.
SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – Caldwell-Pope was the Nuggets’ best 3-point shooter last season shooting 42.3 percent from behind the arc. A typical three-and-d type player KCP was the perfect player to join this starting lineup in free agency last year.
SF: Michael Porter Jr – Similarly to Murray, Porter Jr. missed the majority of the 2021-22 season due to injury. Upon his return, Porter Jr. was a great third option for the Nuggets during the regular season. Shooting 41.4 percent from 3-point range — while averaging 17.4 points — he seemed poised for a strong playoffs. However, his shot selection became an issue at times and fell to 35.1 percent with 13.4 points in the postseason.
PF: Aaron Gordon – Since being traded to Denver from Orlando, Gordon has improved every season. Last year he started all 68 games that he played averaging 16.3 points and 6.6 rebounds. In the playoffs, his minutes increased but his stats all went down. Nonetheless, the 28-year-old should have another strong season in this starting five.
C: Nikola Jokic – After leading the Nuggets to the 2022-23 NBA title in historic fashion, there is almost no doubt that Jokic is one of, if not the best players in the NBA. The Serbian big man affects the game from everywhere, whether it’s scoring, passing or at the defensive end where he has improved the last couple of seasons. The Finals MVP may be back at his boring job, but do not expect last year’s title campaign to have him settled for anything less than a repeat.
Other rotational players:
G: Christian Braun – In his rookie season, Braun became a key rotational player off the bench for the Nuggets. He played in 76 games averaging only 4.7ppg. However, it was not on offense that he really made his name known. Defensively he was solid leading the Nuggets’ second unit.
F: Peyton Watson – Watson only appeared in 23 regular season games last year in his rookie season, but with the loss of Jeff Green he will likely get much more playing time. An athletic playmaker at both ends of the court can be an energy booster for the Nuggets once the 2023-24 season tips off.
F/C: Zeke Nnaji – Same sort of thing as Watson with the increased role for the upcoming season. Nnaji has always been on the cusp of breaking into the rotation, but will now get his chance. He is an undersized big man who does not shoot the three-ball all that well. This could be a make-or-break season for the 4th year player.
X-Factor: Center depth
With Nikola Jokic on the floor, the Nuggets were the best team in the NBA, but when the Serbian big man hit the bench the Nuggets drastically fell off the pace. A year ago the non-Jokic minutes were with Jeff Green or DeAndre Jordan playing the five. Green averaged 7.8 points, 1.2 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game last season. This season, Green is gone, so the weight of minutes will fall to the likes of Zeke Nnaji, Jordan and two-way player Jay Huff. If teams can learn to strike when Jokic is on the bench, then the Nuggets’ hopes to defend the title could take a big hit.
Projection
As long as Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray stay healthy, the sky’s the limit for this Nuggets team. With the same starting five as a season ago the Nuggets are poised for another strong season and another shot at the Western Conference’s top seed. The prediction for the Denver Nuggets is 56-26 while winning both the Northwest Division and Western Conference regular season titles.
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