The Denver Nuggets are gearing up for the 2025-26 NBA season with a retooled roster designed to complement superstar Nikola Jokić. After a humbling exit in the Western Conference Semifinals, the team made significant offseason moves, bringing in depth and versatility. Jokić, ever the pragmatist, has labeled his team a “dark horse,” but with an improved supporting cast, the path back to the Finals looks more viable than ever, provided key questions about health and bench production are answered.
The Denver Nuggets are once again looking to defy expectations and chase an NBA championship in the 2025-26 season. After a 2024-25 campaign that saw them finish fourth in the Western Conference with a 50-32 record, ultimately falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a hard-fought seven-game series, the front office has been busy. The goal is clear: provide reigning three-time MVP Nikola Jokić with the necessary reinforcements to ascend back to the league’s pinnacle.
Jokić, widely considered the best player in the world by bookmakers and NBA decision-makers, is entering his 11th season. His individual brilliance is undeniable, coming off a 2024-25 season where he averaged a triple-double and pushed the Nuggets through a turbulent year. His consistent ability to elevate his team is why he’s a perennial MVP candidate, with some, like former NBA champions Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson, even predicting he could win the next three MVP awards, akin to LeBron James’s historic run, according to a recent “Road Trippin” podcast discussion.
A Roster Reimagined: The 2025 Offseason Moves
The 2025 offseason for the Nuggets was anything but quiet. The team made significant changes to its supporting cast, aiming to add depth, shooting, and defensive versatility around Jokić. The headline move involved sending Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn, along with an unprotected 2032 first-round pick. In return, Denver acquired Cam Johnson, a dynamic wing known for his efficient three-point shooting (39% on 7.2 attempts per game) and off-ball activity. This trade also created crucial cap space, saving the Nuggets over $35 million over the next two seasons.
General Manager Jon Wallace and Executive VP of Basketball Operations Ben Tenzer immediately put those savings to work. They brought back a familiar face in Bruce Brown, a fan favorite and key contributor to the 2023 championship team, known for his versatile two-way play. Veteran scoring swingman Tim Hardaway Jr. was also added, providing more shooting and secondary playmaking off the bench. Furthermore, the Nuggets acquired bruising center Jonas Valančiūnas from the Kings in exchange for Dario Šarić, giving them a dependable and productive backup center option, and even opening up possibilities for “twin-towers” lineups alongside Jokić.
Taming the Second Unit: Addressing the Bench Weakness
One of the most persistent issues for the Nuggets in recent postseasons has been their struggles when Jokić is off the floor. Over the last three postseasons, Denver has been outscored by 96 points in 389 minutes with Jokić on the bench. This translates to the Nuggets being 8.1 points per 100 possessions worse without him, an 11.8-point swing compared to when he is on the court, according to PBPStats. Head coach David Adelman, now leading the team after a chaotic 2024-25 season that saw both Michael Malone and Calvin Booth get fired, recognizes this as a critical problem.
“We can’t be minus-12 every night in those [non-Jokić] minutes. It’s just a killer,” Adelman stated at Nuggets media day. The new additions, particularly Bruce Brown’s familiarity with the system and Valančiūnas’s ability to anchor a unit, are expected to provide much-needed stability and scoring punch to prevent these leads from vanishing. The development of rising youngsters like Julian Strawther, Peyton Watson, and the returning DaRon Holmes (who missed his rookie season with a ruptured Achilles tendon) will also be crucial for solidifying the bench.
The Core and the Critics: Murray, Gordon, and the Path Forward
While Jokić’s individual performance sets a high floor, the Nuggets’ ceiling often depends on the health and consistent play of his key supporting cast. Jamal Murray, the designated co-star, has battled injuries throughout his career, impacting his availability and consistency. His health and continued viability as Denver’s No. 2 option remain significant questions for the team.
Aaron Gordon has proven to be an invaluable two-way player since his arrival, bringing defensive presence and an improved three-point shot. However, he, too, has been hampered by injuries, limiting his games played. The integration of Cam Johnson into the starting small forward spot, replacing Porter Jr., will be closely watched, as will the ability of Brown and Jalen Pickett to effectively split backup point guard duties behind Murray.
Beyond individual player performance, the Nuggets face schematic questions. Despite boasting a top-five offense, they have ranked dead last in the share of their shots coming from beyond the arc in consecutive seasons, per Cleaning the Glass. The new additions are expected to help generate more three-pointers and, crucially, elevate the team’s defensive rating, which stood at a subpar 21st last season. Swapping out Michael Porter Jr. and Russell Westbrook for Johnson and Brown is anticipated to bolster the defensive effort.
Navigating the Gauntlet: Schedule Highlights and Season Predictions
The Nuggets will kick off their 2025-26 campaign on October 23rd at Golden State. The regular season schedule is packed with challenges, including 16 back-to-back sets and 29 national television appearances. One of the most anticipated matchups will be their Christmas Day game away against the Phoenix Suns, a team that has also re-tooled with stars like Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker.
A particularly tricky stretch looms in the first two weeks of March, following the All-Star break. This period includes a demanding road trip featuring games against the Boston Celtics (who lost just 6 home games last season), Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, a unique back-to-back against the Oklahoma City Thunder (March 9th and 10th), and a home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who eliminated Denver in the previous season’s playoffs. This grueling run, which includes eight games in 14 days against six 2024 playoff teams, will be a true test of the Nuggets’ improved depth and resilience.
Despite the inherent challenges of the Western Conference, the Nuggets’ outlook remains positive. Bookmakers have set their over/under win total at 53.5. The best-case scenario sees Jokić winning his historic fourth MVP, Murray staying healthy for a full All-Star caliber season, and the revamped second unit becoming a significant strength. This could propel Denver to 60 wins, the No. 1 seed, and a second NBA championship. However, a worst-case scenario would see the new additions not making a “league-shaking” impact, persistent injury concerns for key players, and the team once again failing to advance past the second round, potentially prompting the front office to consider even bigger roster shake-ups in the future.
Nikola Jokić himself, acknowledging the reigning champions Oklahoma City Thunder, wisely stated, “They are definitely the hunted one and they’re playing good. Hopefully we can be the — how do you say it? The silent knight? Silent horse? Dark horse,” as reported by NBA.com. This “dark horse” mentality, combined with a stronger, deeper roster, suggests the Nuggets are poised to make another serious run for the title, embracing the quiet confidence that has defined their past successes.
