Nuggets fans have already experienced a full range of emotions in the 21st century.
It started with a transfer of team ownership, a new arena to break in and the accompanying renewed hope for the future after a decade of bleak basketball. It stalled with years of playoff disappointment and a falling out with Denver’s franchise player. It peaked two years ago with the city’s first NBA championship, under the guidance of an idiosyncratic all-time great.
All in all, the Nuggets have reached the playoffs 17 out of 25 seasons in the new millennium, winning 55% of their regular-season games with nine 50-win seasons.