When the Nuggets won the title in 2023, it felt like they had finally broken through with a core in its prime and would be making frequent returns to the promised land. But the last two years haven’t gone according to plan, as the team has been decimated by free agency and poor roster building. Nobody can deny the greatness of Nikola Jokic, but Denver’s lack of depth has led them astray, and they’ve run out of gas in round two in consecutive seasons.
This season, that excuse is no longer on the table. The new front office has completely overhauled the bench, and combined with internal improvement and better injury luck, the Nuggets should actually be one of the deepest teams in the league now.