Denver Nuggets facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Denver Nuggets
Conference	Western
Division	Northwest
Founded	1967
History	Denver Rockets 1967–1974 (ABA) Denver Nuggets 1974–1976 (ABA) 1976–present (NBA)
Arena	Ball Arena
Location	Denver, Colorado
Team colors	Midnight blue, sunshine yellow, Flatirons red, skyline blue
Main sponsor	Ibotta
CEO	Josh Kroenke
President	Josh Kroenke
General manager	Calvin Booth
Head coach	Michael Malone
Ownership	Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (Stan Kroenke, Owner/Governor)
Affiliation(s)	Grand Rapids Gold
Championships	1 (2023)
Conference titles	1 (2023)
Division titles	12 ABA: 2 (1970, 1975) NBA: 10 (1977, 1978, 1985, 1988, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2019, 2020, 2023)
Retired numbers	6 (2, 12, 33, 40, 44, 55, 432)
Association Icon Statement

The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team from Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team is part of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference.

The team started in 1967 as the Denver Larks. They were a founding team of the American Basketball Association (ABA). Before their first season, they changed their name to the Rockets. In 1974, they changed their name again to the Nuggets. In 1976, the Nuggets played in the last ever ABA Championship game, but they lost to the New York Nets.

The Nuggets have had many successful periods. They made the ABA playoffs almost every year. After the ABA and NBA merged in 1976, the Nuggets joined the NBA. They reached the NBA playoffs for nine years in a row in the 1980s. They also made the playoffs for ten years straight from 2004 to 2013. In 2023, with star players Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, the Nuggets reached their first NBA Finals. They won their first NBA championship by defeating the Miami Heat. The Nuggets were the last of the four former ABA teams to reach the NBA Finals. They were also the second former ABA team to win an NBA title. The Nuggets play their home games at Ball Arena. They share this arena with the Colorado Avalanche (hockey) and the Colorado Mammoth (lacrosse).

Team History

How the Team Started (1967–1969)

Before the current team, there was an earlier Denver Nuggets team. That team played in the NBL and then the NBA from 1948 to 1950. However, their history is separate from today's Denver Nuggets.

The team we know today began in 1967. A businessman named James Trindle was given a team in Kansas City, Missouri. But he couldn't find a good place for them to play. The league commissioner suggested moving the team to Denver. Trindle agreed and named the team the Denver Larks. This was after Colorado's state bird.

Trindle didn't have enough money to keep the team going. So, he sold most of it to Bill Ringsby, a trucking business owner from Denver. Ringsby then changed the team's name to the Rockets, like his company's trucks.

The ABA Years (1969–1976)

The Rockets played at the Denver Auditorium Arena. They quickly became a good team and gained many fans. However, they often lost early in the playoffs. They only reached the ABA championship series once.

Early on, the team had strong players like Byron Beck and Larry Jones. Later, Beck and Ralph Simpson were key players. Lonnie Wright from the American Football League's Denver Broncos also played for the Rockets. He was the first person to play professional football and basketball in the same season.

In the 1969–70 season, Spencer Haywood joined the team. He was one of the first players to become a pro before finishing college. Haywood was amazing, averaging almost 30 points and 19.5 rebounds per game. He was named ABA MVP and Rookie of the Year. The team finished with a great record of 51 wins and 33 losses. They won their division but lost in the second round of the playoffs.

Just before the next season, Haywood left to play in the NBA. Without him, the team's record dropped to 30 wins and 54 losses. Fewer fans came to watch.

Becoming the Denver Nuggets

In 1972, Ringsby sold the team to Frank Goldberg and Bud Fischer. In 1974, the team wanted to join the NBA and move to a new arena. They held a contest to pick a new name because "Rockets" was already used by the Houston Rockets. The winning name was "Nuggets." This honored the original Denver Nuggets team from 1948 to 1950. Their new logo showed a miner finding an ABA basketball.

Goldberg and Fischer later sold the team to a local group in 1976. With new players like future Hall of Famer David Thompson, Marvin Webster, Dan Issel, and Bobby Jones, the Nuggets had their best seasons. Coach Larry Brown led them. In the 1974–75 season, they won 65 games and lost only 19. They were especially strong at home, winning 40 games and losing only 2. But they lost in the Western Conference Finals.

In the 1975–76 season, playing in their new arena, the Nuggets won 60 games and lost 24. They beat the Kentucky Colonels to reach the ABA finals for the first time. However, they lost to the New York Nets and superstar Julius Erving in 6 games. They didn't get another chance to win an ABA title. The ABA and NBA merged after that season. The Nuggets, Nets, Indiana Pacers, and San Antonio Spurs joined the NBA.

Joining the NBA (1976–1982)

The Nuggets continued to play well when they joined the NBA. They won their division in their first two seasons. However, they didn't have much success in the playoffs. Joining the NBA also came with big costs, like a $2 million entry fee. Red McCombs bought the team in 1978.

In 1979, coach Larry Brown left, and the team's performance declined for a short time. This changed in 1981 when Doug Moe became the head coach. Moe used a "motion offense" style of play. This meant players moved the ball until someone was open to shoot. Moe's teams focused a lot on scoring. In the 1980s, the Nuggets often scored over 115 points per game. In the 1981–82 season, they scored at least 100 points in every game. This streak lasted for 136 games, which was an NBA record. That season, the Nuggets also set an NBA record for the highest average points per game, with 126.5 points.

The Alex English Era (1982–1989)

The team's main scorers were Alex English and Kiki Vandeweghe. Dan Issel played center. English and Vandeweghe both averaged over 25 points per game. This scoring power helped Denver win their division and make the playoffs. On December 13, 1983, the Nuggets and the Detroit Pistons played a game where they combined for an NBA record 370 points! Detroit won 186–184 in triple overtime. At the end of the season, Alex English won the NBA scoring title.

In the 1984–85 season, the Nuggets reached the Western Conference finals. They had been regular playoff teams before this. They lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.

Before the 1984–85 season, Vandeweghe was traded. The Nuggets received Fat Lever, Calvin Natt, and Wayne Cooper. With Alex English leading, and strong defense from Bill Hanzlik and TR Dunn, the team continued to succeed. They won 54 games in the 1987–88 season. This was their most wins ever as an NBA team. However, they lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the 1988 NBA Playoffs.

The team changed owners a few times during this period. Red McCombs sold the team to Sidney Shlenker in 1985. Shlenker then sold it to COMSAT in 1989.

A Tough Period (1989–1991)

Coach Doug Moe left the team in 1990. Paul Westhead took over. He also liked a fast-paced "run and gun" style of play. This meant players would quickly shoot rather than setting up plays.

The Dikembe Mutombo Era (1991–1996)

Denver started to rebuild by drafting Dikembe Mutombo in 1991. Mutombo was a great center from Georgetown University. He finished second for NBA Rookie of the Year that season. Denver finished with 24 wins and 58 losses that year.

Denver fired Westhead before the 1992–93 season. Former star player Dan Issel became the new coach. The Nuggets drafted two promising players: LaPhonso Ellis and Bryant Stith. Denver improved to 36 wins and 46 losses, just missing the playoffs.

In the 1993–94 season, Denver changed their team colors to dark navy, metallic gold, and wine. Led by Mutombo, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, and Ellis, Denver had its first winning season since the Doug Moe era, with 42 wins and 40 losses. They earned the eighth spot in the Western Conference playoffs. They played the top-seeded Seattle SuperSonics. Most people thought Denver would lose easily. After losing the first two games in Seattle, the series moved to Denver. The Nuggets won both home games, tying the series. In Game 5, the Nuggets made NBA history. They upset Seattle in overtime, winning 98–94. They became the first 8th-seeded team to beat a 1st-seeded team in NBA playoff history. Denver almost did it again but lost to the Utah Jazz in Game 7 of the second round.

After that season, Denver got Dale Ellis and drafted Jalen Rose. The team struggled, and Issel resigned as coach. The Nuggets still made the playoffs as the eighth seed, finishing 41 wins and 41 losses. But they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round.

After that season, Antonio McDyess joined the team. He became the main player for the next few years. Mutombo left for the Atlanta Hawks after the 1995–96 season.

Another Difficult Time (1996–2003)

The Nuggets had a very tough time in the late 1990s. In the 1997–98 season, they almost set the record for the fewest wins in an 82-game season (11 wins). They also tied the NBA's longest losing streak at 23 games. This streak was later broken by other teams. Several years later, in the 2002–03 season, the Nuggets had one of the worst records in the NBA again.

New Owners

The team's struggles were partly because of problems with its owners. The company that owned the Nuggets, COMSAT, was having financial issues. They decided to sell the team. After some complicated deals and disagreements, Stan Kroenke bought the Nuggets, the Colorado Avalanche (hockey team), and the Pepsi Center arena in 2000. Kroenke promised to keep the teams in Denver until at least 2025.

The Carmelo Anthony Era (2003–2011)

In 2003, the Nuggets drafted future All-Star Carmelo Anthony. He was the third overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft. That same year, the team also changed its logos and uniforms. They used new colors: powder blue, gold, and royal blue. The royal blue was changed to navy blue in 2008.

In just two months of the 2003–04 season, the Nuggets won more games than they had in the entire previous season. This amazing turnaround was thanks to new general manager Kiki Vandeweghe, a former Nuggets player. In April, they made history. They became the first team in NBA history to make the playoffs after winning fewer than 20 games the year before. However, they lost in the first round of the playoffs.

In December 2004, head coach Jeff Bzdelik was fired. George Karl was hired as the new coach. Karl led the team to a great record of 32 wins and 8 losses in the second half of the season. This sent the team to the playoffs for the second year in a row.

In the playoffs, the Nuggets faced the San Antonio Spurs. They won Game 1 but then lost the next four games, losing the series 4–1.

In the 2005–06 season, the Nuggets won their division title for the first time in 18 years. This put them as the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs. They played the Los Angeles Clippers and lost in 5 games.

In December 2006, star player Carmelo Anthony, J. R. Smith, and Nenê were suspended by the NBA. This was because of a fight during a game against the New York Knicks.

Anthony and Iverson Play Together (2006–2008)

In December 2006, the Nuggets traded for superstar Allen Iverson. At the time, Anthony and Iverson were the top two scorers in the league. With Iverson, many thought the Nuggets would be one of the best teams. But team chemistry was a problem. The Nuggets finished as the sixth seed. They faced the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs. The Nuggets won Game 1, but the Spurs won the next four games. The Nuggets were eliminated in the first round for the fourth year in a row.

On March 16, 2008, the Nuggets scored 168 points in a game against the Seattle SuperSonics. This was one of the highest scores in NBA history for a regular game.

They finished the 2007–08 NBA season with 50 wins. This was the first time since the 1987–88 NBA season that the Nuggets won at least 50 games. They were the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Their 50 wins were the most ever for an eighth seed. They faced the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers swept them in four games. This was Denver's fifth straight first-round playoff loss.

Anthony and Billups Play Together (2008–2011)

In November 2008, Allen Iverson was traded to the Detroit Pistons. The Nuggets received Chauncey Billups in return.

With Carmelo Anthony and Billups, the Nuggets had a great season. Their 54 wins matched the most wins the team had ever gotten in the NBA. This was also the first time the team had two back-to-back 50-win seasons. They won their division and finished as the #2 team in the Western Conference. This was the highest the team had ever been seeded for the playoffs.

They won Game 1 of the playoffs against the New Orleans Hornets by 29 points. This was the largest Game 1 victory in the first round of the 2009 NBA playoffs. Chauncey Billups set a Nuggets record with 8 three-pointers in a playoff game. They beat the Hornets in 5 games, including a 58-point win in Game 4. This tied the record for the most one-sided win in NBA playoff history.

They then beat the Dallas Mavericks four games to one. This sent them to their first Western Conference Finals since 1985. They lost the first game against the Los Angeles Lakers but won the second game to tie the series. Anthony became the first Denver player to score at least 30 points in five straight playoff games. They lost the series 4–2. This was Denver's longest playoff run in team history.

In the 2009 NBA draft, the Nuggets drafted Ty Lawson. In the 2009–10 season, Anthony averaged 28.2 points per game and Billups averaged a career-high 19.6 points per game. Despite injuries to key players and coach George Karl being out for cancer treatment, the Nuggets still won 53 games. This was their third straight 50-win season, a first for the Nuggets. They won their division again and finished as the fourth seed. However, they were eliminated by the Utah Jazz 4–2 in the first round.

After Carmelo Anthony (2011–2015)

On February 22, 2011, Carmelo Anthony was traded to the New York Knicks. The Nuggets received several players, including Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, and Danilo Gallinari. On the day of the trade, the Nuggets played with only nine players and won 120–107. Many fans chanted, "Who needs Melo?" Coach George Karl said the team played well when faced with tough situations. The trade seemed to make the team better. Their teamwork improved, and their defense got stronger. Denver finished with 50 wins, their fourth straight 50-win season. They lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.

In the first full season without Anthony, Danilo Gallinari played very well. However, he got injured. In March 2012, the Nuggets traded Nenê to make the team younger. They received JaVale McGee. McGee had some strong games in the playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nuggets came back from being down in the series but eventually lost in Game 7.

In August 2012, the Nuggets got All-Star Andre Iguodala in a trade. The 2012–2013 Nuggets finished with a team-best 57 wins and 25 losses. They also had an amazing home record of 38 wins and 3 losses. Denver was the third seed in the Western Conference. They faced the Golden State Warriors in the first round. The Nuggets won Game 1, but the Warriors won the next three games. Denver won Game 5 at home, but the Warriors eliminated them in Game 6. This was Denver's ninth first-round loss in 10 seasons.

Even though coach George Karl won the NBA Coach of the Year Award that year, he was fired after the season. The team also had changes in its management. Brian Shaw was hired as the new head coach. The Nuggets also traded Andre Iguodala and acquired Randy Foye, JJ Hickson, and Nate Robinson. In the 2013–14 season, the Nuggets had many injuries and finished with only 36 wins, missing the playoffs.

In 2014, the Nuggets brought back Arron Afflalo. In the 2014 NBA draft, the Nuggets drafted Jusuf Nurkić and Gary Harris. They also picked 19-year-old Nikola Jokić from Serbia. In March 2015, coach Brian Shaw was fired, and Melvin Hunt became the interim head coach.

The Nikola Jokić Era and First NBA Championship (2015–Present)

Early Years (2015–2018)

In June 2015, Michael Malone was named the new head coach. In the 2015 NBA draft, the Nuggets drafted Emmanuel Mudiay. A week later, they traded their starting point guard, Ty Lawson, to the Houston Rockets.

Under Michael Malone, the Nuggets slowly improved. They relied on young players like Emmanuel Mudiay, Nikola Jokić, Gary Harris, and later Jusuf Nurkić. In January 2016, Mudiay and Jokić were chosen to play in the Rising Stars Challenge.

In the 2016 NBA draft, the Nuggets added Jamal Murray, Juan Hernangómez, Malik Beasley, and Petr Cornelie. In February 2017, Nurkić was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. Thanks to Nikola Jokić's continued improvement, the Nuggets got much better. They just missed the 2017 NBA playoffs by one game.

In June 2017, Artūras Karnišovas became the general manager and Tim Connelly became the president of basketball operations. In the 2017 NBA draft, the Nuggets selected Tyler Lydon, Vlatko Čančar, and Monté Morris. In December 2017, the Nuggets retired Fat Lever's number. The team had its first winning season since 2013. But they missed the 2018 playoffs after losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the final game of the season.

Jokić Becomes a Star (2018–2020)

In the 2018 NBA draft, the Nuggets drafted Michael Porter Jr.. In January 2019, Jokić was selected for his first All-Star team. He was the Nuggets' first All-Star since Carmelo Anthony in 2011. The Nuggets finished the 2018–2019 season with 54 wins. They were first in their division and second in the Western Conference. They made the playoffs for the first time since 2012–2013. In the first round, they beat the San Antonio Spurs in game seven. But the Nuggets lost in the second round to the Portland Trail Blazers in 7 games. Game three of that series had four overtimes, tying for the longest NBA playoff game ever.

After the suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season, the Nuggets played in the NBA Bubble. Led by Jokić and Murray, the team made history. They became the first team in NBA playoff history to come back from a 3–1 deficit twice in a row. In the first round, they beat the Utah Jazz in 7 games. They did the same thing against the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round. In the Western Conference Finals, the Nuggets lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.

Jokić Wins Back-to-Back MVP Awards (2020–2022)

In the 2020–21 NBA season, Jokić was named the NBA Most Valuable Player. He was the first center to win it since 2000. He was also the first player in Nuggets history to win the award. Jokić was the lowest drafted player (41st pick) and the first second-round pick to win the MVP award. The Nuggets finished as the third seed and beat the Portland Trail Blazers in six games in the first round. However, starting guard Jamal Murray tore his ACL, which was a big loss. The team was then swept by the Phoenix Suns.

The next season also had bad injury luck for the Nuggets. Early in the season, Michael Porter Jr. also had season-ending back surgery. Despite the injuries, Jokić and Aaron Gordon led the Nuggets to the sixth seed. Jokić became the first player in NBA history to get 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists in one season. Jokić won the Kia MVP Award for the second year in a row. He joined only 12 other players in NBA history to win the award in back-to-back years. In the first round of the playoffs, Jokić's Nuggets lost to the Golden State Warriors in five games. The Warriors went on to win the championship.

First NBA Title (2022–2023)

In the 2022–23 season, the Nuggets added Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown. They secured the top spot in the Western Conference with 53 wins and 29 losses. The Nuggets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 4–1 in the first round of the 2023 playoffs. Then, they beat the Phoenix Suns 4–2 in the Conference Semifinals.

The Nuggets continued their strong playoff run in the Conference Finals. Led by amazing play from Jokić, who was named the Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player, the team swept the Los Angeles Lakers in four games. This sent them to their first ever NBA Finals. It was also the first time the Nuggets had beaten the Lakers in a playoff series. And it was the first playoff series sweep in the team's history. In the NBA Finals, on June 12, 2023, the Nuggets beat the Miami Heat 4–1 to win their first NBA championship. Jokić received the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.

Defending Champions (2023–2024)

In the 2023–24 season, the Nuggets were defending champions. They finished as the 2nd seed in the Western Conference with a 57–25 record. On May 8, 2024, Nikola Jokić won his third Most Valuable Player Award. He became the ninth player to do so, joining legends like Moses Malone and Larry Bird. In the first round of the playoffs, the Nuggets beat the Lakers 4–1. Jamal Murray made several game-winning shots in that series. However, in the conference semifinals, the Nuggets lost to the Timberwolves in Game 7. They had been up by 20 points in the third quarter but lost the game 98–90.

Season-by-Season Record

Here are the results for the last five seasons. For the full history, see List of Denver Nuggets seasons.

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, W–L% = Winning percentage

Season	GP	W	L	W–L%	Finish	Playoffs
2019–20	73	46	27	.630	1st, Northwest	Lost in Conference Finals, 1–4 (Lakers)
2020–21	72	47	25	.653	2nd, Northwest	Lost in Conference Semifinals, 0–4 (Suns)
2021–22	82	48	34	.585	2nd, Northwest	Lost in First Round, 1–4 (Warriors)
2022–23	82	53	29	.646	1st, Northwest	NBA champions, 4–1 (Heat)
2023–24	82	57	25	.695	2nd, Northwest	Lost in Conference Semifinals, 3–4 (Timberwolves)

Head Coaches

Home Arenas

• Denver Auditorium Arena (1967–1975)
• Denver Coliseum (1967–1975)
• McNichols Sports Arena (1975–1999)
• Ball Arena (1999–present)
  • formerly known as Pepsi Center (1999–2021)

Team Colors, Logos, and Uniforms

The Nuggets have used many different colors, logos, and uniforms over their history. This includes their time as the "Denver Rockets" in the ABA.

Denver Rockets (1967–1974)

From 1967 to 1971, the Denver Rockets used black, orange, and white colors. Their uniforms and logos featured these colors. From 1971 to 1974, they changed to gold and purple. Their logo showed a cartoon rocket bouncing a gold and purple basketball, with a snowy mountain in the background.

Maxie The Miner (1974–1982)

When the team became the "Nuggets" in 1974, their logo featured a cartoon miner called "Maxie The Miner." He had a red beard and held a pick-axe and a basketball. When the Nuggets joined the NBA in 1976, they kept this pick-axe logo on their jerseys. The home jerseys were white with "Nuggets" in red. The road jerseys were blue with "Denver" in blue. In 1977, they simplified their uniforms. The home jerseys were white with "Nuggets" in royal blue and gold trim. The away jerseys were royal blue with "Denver" in white and gold trim.

Rainbow City Skyline (1982–1993)

From 1982 to 1993, the Nuggets wore uniforms with the Denver "rainbow city" skyline design. This design was on both the front and back of their jerseys. Some fans called it the "Tetris" logo because the buildings looked like Tetris blocks. The initial home uniforms were white with navy and green trim. The word "Nuggets" and numbers were gold with blue trim. In 1985, they changed the blue to royal blue and removed the green. The road uniforms were navy blue with green trim, then royal blue. This "skyline" logo was brought back on special alternate jerseys starting in 2012.

Navy Blue, Gold, and Maroon (1993–2003)

For the 1993–94 season, the Nuggets changed their look a lot. They used navy blue, metallic gold, and maroon colors. The "rainbow city skyline" was replaced. The new logo showed a navy blue mountain above a large "Nuggets" wordmark in gold. A maroon ribbon with "Denver" was placed between them. The home jerseys had "Nuggets" in navy blue. The away jerseys were navy blue with "Nuggets" in metallic gold. They wore these uniforms for ten years.

Powder Blue, Navy Blue, and Gold (2003–2018)

For the 2003–04 season, the Nuggets changed their uniforms again. This was when Carmelo Anthony joined the team. The new colors were powder blue, gold (yellow), and royal blue. The main logo was updated with these new colors. The mountain was royal blue, the ribbon was powder blue, and "Nuggets" was golden yellow. The jerseys had "Nuggets" in powder blue on white home jerseys. The powder blue road jerseys had "Denver" in white. In 2008, the royal blue was changed to navy blue. These jerseys were used until 2015.

In 2005, the Nuggets also introduced an alternate logo. It had two gold pick-axes crossing each other inside a powder blue circle. They also had an alternate navy blue uniform. This uniform had "Nuggets" in gold. This circular "pick axe" logo became the team's new main logo in 2018.

In 2012, the Nuggets added a gold alternate jersey. This jersey brought back the Denver "rainbow skyline" logo but used the new team colors.

For the 2015–16 season, the Nuggets changed the fonts on their home and away jerseys. The gold "Nuggets" script was on the white home jersey, and the gold "Denver" script was on the powder blue away jersey.

The Nuggets updated their uniforms for the 2017–18 season. Navy blue became a main color again, and powder blue was used less. Western Union became the team's jersey sponsor.

New Identity (2018–Present)

For the 2018–19 season, the Nuggets changed their logos and uniforms again. They used colors from different parts of their history. The current colors are midnight blue (navy), sunshine yellow, flatirons red (maroon), and skyline blue (royal). Powder blue was removed from all logos and uniforms.

The white "Association" jersey has "Nuggets" in flatirons red. The midnight blue "Icon" jersey has "Denver" in sunshine yellow. Both have mountain peak designs on the shorts. The skyline blue "Statement" jersey says "Mile High City" in white. It also has a mountain silhouette and a pick axe logo on the sides. The circular "pick axe logo" became the team's new main logo.

In 2022, the "Statement" uniform was slightly changed. It used more gold and red.

City Edition Uniforms

Since 2017, Nike has released special "City" uniforms each year.

• The 2017–18 "City" uniform was navy blue with a pick-axe and mountain logo.
• The 2018–19 "City" uniform was a throwback to the 1980s rainbow uniforms.
• The 2019–20 "City" uniform was similar but black.
• For 2020–21, the "City" uniform was red with a mountain design that had a red, yellow, and orange fade.
• In 2021–22, for the NBA's 75th anniversary, the "City" uniform mixed designs from many past uniforms.
• The 2022–23 "City" uniform was white with navy letters and gold/red trim. It was inspired by Denver's buildings.
• For 2023–24, the "City" uniform was black with blue lines for the Rocky Mountains. It had "5280" in gold, which is Denver's elevation.
• The 2024–25 "City" uniform was white with "5280" in black and rainbow mountain accents.

Earned Edition Uniforms (2020)

Teams that made the NBA playoffs got a special "Earned" uniform. The Nuggets got one in the 2020–21 season. This white uniform had a changed pickaxe logo, with the top half in skyline blue and the bottom half in flatirons red.

Personnel

Current Roster

Retired Numbers

Denver Nuggets retired numbers
No.	Player	Position	Years Played	Date Retired
2	Alex English	F	1980–1990	March 2, 1993
12	Fat Lever	G	1984–1990	December 2, 2017
33	David Thompson	F/G	1975–1982	November 7, 1992
40	Byron Beck	F/C	1967–1977	December 16, 1977
44	Dan Issel	C/F	1975–1985	April 5, 1985
55	Dikembe Mutombo	C	1991–1996	October 29, 2016
432 1	Doug Moe	Head coach	1980–1990	November 7, 2002

Notes:

• ¹ This number is how many regular season games he won as coach.
• The NBA retired Bill Russell's No. 6 for all teams on August 11, 2022.

Basketball Hall of Famers

Denver Nuggets Hall of Famers
Players
No.	Name	Position	Years Played	Inducted
25 44	Dan Issel 1	C/F	1975–1985	1993
33	David Thompson	F/G	1975–1982	1996
2	Alex English	F	1980–1990	1997
8	Šarūnas Marčiulionis	G	1996–1997	2014
24	Spencer Haywood	F/C	1969–1970	2015
55	Dikembe Mutombo	C	1991–1996	2015
3	Allen Iverson	G	2006–2008	2016
30	George McGinnis	F	1978–1980	2017
11	Charlie Scott	G	1978–1980	2018
24	Bobby Jones	F	1974–1978	2019
10	Tim Hardaway	G	2002	2022
6	Walter Davis	G/F	1988–1991 1991–1992	2024
1 4 7	Chauncey Billups	G	1999–2000 2008–2011	2024
Coaches
Name		Position	Years Coached	Inducted
Alex Hannum		Head coach	1971–1974	1998
11	Larry Brown 3	Head coach	1974–1979	2002
John McLendon 2		Head coach	1969	2016
George Karl		Head coach	2005–2013	2022
Contributors
Name		Position	Years with Team	Inducted
John McLendon 2		Head coach	1969	1979

Notes:

• ¹ He also coached the team in 1992–1994 and 1999–2001.
• ² John McLendon was inducted into the Hall of Fame three times for different roles.
• ³ He also played for the team in 1971–1972.

FIBA Hall of Famers

Denver Nuggets Hall of Famers
Players
No.	Name	Position	Years Played	Inducted
8	Šarūnas Marčiulionis	G	1996–1997	2015

Team Records

Images for kids

• 

  Michael Porter Jr. helped the Nuggets win their first title in 2023.

• 

  Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke (center), star players Nikola Jokić (right), and Jamal Murray (left) at the team's first NBA championship parade.

See also

In Spanish: Denver Nuggets para niños