Is This the Most Talented and Balanced Roster the Denver Nuggets Have Ever Had in the Franchise’s Long and Storied History?
The Denver Nuggets have been many things throughout their history—scrappy underdogs, offensive juggernauts, perennial playoff disappointments, and recently, NBA champions. But with each passing season, they’ve inched closer to sustained greatness, and now, as they prepare to defend their crown once again, a pressing question looms: is this the best roster the franchise has ever assembled?
It’s not just recency bias that prompts the discussion. Denver’s current construction—anchored by Nikola Jokić, guided by continuity, and sharpened through both smart drafting and patient development—may well represent the most complete, synergistic, and playoff-ready unit the Nuggets have ever put on the floor. That statement requires context, but it also demands respect.
Start with the centerpiece: Nikola Jokić, the best player in franchise history and one of the most unique superstars the league has ever seen. In the past, the Nuggets have had great players—Alex English, Carmelo Anthony, Fat Lever, David Thompson—but none have touched the all-encompassing brilliance of Jokić. He’s a walking offense, capable of controlling every aspect of the game without ever needing to dominate it through brute force. He makes everyone around him better, and his efficiency, vision, and decision-making allow Denver to play a cerebral, fluid brand of basketball few teams can match.
What separates this roster from previous iterations is how perfectly it complements its star. Jamal Murray, now a postseason-proven weapon and fully healthy, has developed into a co-star with his own identity. His pick-and-roll chemistry with Jokić is the engine of the offense, but what makes this version of the Nuggets more dangerous is how little they have to force-feed it. Murray can create on his own or off the ball, trusting that others can carry stretches and make plays within the flow of the system.
Michael Porter Jr. has matured—both as a scorer and as a role player. No longer a liability on defense and no longer forcing bad shots in crunch time, Porter has settled into an efficient, impactful wing scorer who doesn’t need 20 shots to influence a game. His rebounding has improved, his rotations are cleaner, and he spaces the floor in ways that open up lanes for cutters and screeners. He’s a former question mark who has now become a reliable checkmark.
Aaron Gordon, too, embodies the spirit of this roster: selfless, physical, intelligent. He doesn’t hunt stats, doesn’t need post touches, and doesn’t flinch when asked to guard the opposition’s best scorer. Whether it’s switching on pick-and-rolls, cleaning the glass, or finishing through contact, Gordon does the gritty, thankless work that often goes unnoticed in box scores but is critical in playoff wins.
But what elevates this version of the Nuggets above other strong Denver rosters—such as the 2008–09 Western Conference Finals team or the high-flying early 2010s squads—is the depth and intentionality behind each roster spot. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope might be one of the most underrated acquisitions in team history. A veteran who understands his role to perfection, KCP brings championship pedigree, elite perimeter defense, and reliable shooting. He doesn’t demand touches, doesn’t gamble defensively, and hits timely threes that swing momentum.
Beyond the starters, this Denver bench might not have the star power of other contenders, but it has something arguably more important: cohesion and purpose. Christian Braun brings defensive intensity and a fearless mindset, making plays that swing quarters if not entire games. He’s young, but already hardened by championship basketball. Peyton Watson is another name to watch, a versatile defender with freakish length who’s starting to understand how to use it within team concepts. And then there’s the newest crop of contributors—young, athletic, smart players brought in not just for potential, but because they fit the system.
That’s perhaps the biggest reason this roster deserves to be considered Denver’s best. It’s not just a collection of talent—it’s a synchronized machine. Every player knows his role, and almost none are playing above or below it. This isn’t always the case in the NBA. Many great teams are top-heavy or have clunky fits. This Nuggets roster is lean, disciplined, and remarkably self-aware. They know who they are, what they’re good at, and what they need to avoid.
Think back to some of the great Nuggets teams in the past. The 2009 team with Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony had firepower and grit, but it was often a clash of egos and lacked the deep roster balance of today’s squad. That team leaned heavily on isolation play and struggled in tight half-court sets. They were tough, battle-tested, and could explode offensively—but they didn’t have the same composure, playmaking depth, or off-ball movement that defines this current group.
The George Karl-era Nuggets, particularly from 2012–13, were a regular-season juggernaut. They ran teams off the floor with pace, altitude, and depth. But come playoff time, they lacked a true half-court identity and never had a player who could slow the game down and impose his will possession by possession. That team won 57 games but fizzled out against a hungrier, more surgical Warriors team led by Steph Curry. It was a fun ride, but it wasn’t built to last in May or June.
This current group is different. They can run if needed, sure—but they’re built for the half court. They can execute sets with surgical precision. They can win games in the mud. They can blow teams out or grind out 89–85 slugfests. And that adaptability is what championship basketball demands.
Another underrated aspect of this roster is how well it’s been managed. Tim Connelly laid the foundation with smart drafting, but Calvin Booth has elevated the execution. Rather than panic after winning the title, Booth doubled down on the core identity—maintaining chemistry, avoiding luxury tax landmines, and targeting players who bolster what Denver already does well. The temptation to chase big names or swingy trades was there, but the Nuggets bet on continuity. That bet may be their biggest strength heading into another title chase.
Critically, this version of the Nuggets also boasts championship experience. That alone changes the dynamic. Every player on this roster knows what it takes to win at the highest level. They’ve been in hostile arenas, faced adversity, dealt with media scrutiny, and still came out on top. That experience breeds a different kind of confidence—quiet, unwavering, and contagious. It allows a team to stay composed when others crack.
Even the coaching staff reflects this growth. Michael Malone, once considered too rigid or emotional in big moments, has matured alongside his team. He now commands respect not just through volume, but through results. His defensive principles, rotations, and motivational tactics are sharper. He trusts his players more. And they reward that trust by executing his vision with near-religious commitment.
Of course, no team is without flaws. Denver’s bench still lacks a pure scorer. Injuries can derail even the best-laid plans. Jokić, while durable, carries a massive load. And the Western Conference is deeper than ever, with threats like the Timberwolves, Mavericks, Thunder, and Clippers looming. But the Nuggets no longer need to be perfect. They just need to be themselves—and that, perhaps more than anything, is why this roster might be their best ever.
It’s not just about top-line talent or box score stats. It’s about chemistry, identity, and timing. This team has grown organically. It has endured heartbreak and answered every challenge. It has a true alpha in Jokić, a killer second option in Murray, two elite complementary players in Porter and Gordon, and a bench full of contributors who understand their mission.
This isn’t a team built overnight. It’s the product of patience, vision, and development. And now that it’s reached full maturity, it’s fair to wonder if we’re witnessing the most complete version of the Nuggets in franchise history.
Because while Denver has had exciting teams before, they’ve never had one this balanced. They’ve never had one this poised. And they’ve certainly never had one with a player as transcendent as Nikola Jokić leading the way.
The question isn’t whether this is Denver’s best shot—it might be their best ever.
