History of the Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets are one of professional basketball's oldest continuously operating franchises. Their roots trace back to the American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1967, where they quickly became one of the league's flagship teams. After joining the NBA in the 1976 ABA-NBA merger, the Nuggets established themselves as one of the league's most consistent franchises, producing Hall of Fame players, high-powered offenses, and memorable playoff runs. Their greatest achievement came in 2023, when Nikola Jokić led Denver to its first NBA championship, cementing the franchise among the NBA's elite.

Origins in the ABA

The franchise began life in 1967 as the Kansas City Larks, one of the founding teams of the ABA.

Before playing a game, ownership changed and the club was renamed the Denver Rockets, a nod to Denver's growing aerospace industry.

The Rockets quickly became one of the ABA's premier organizations.

Playing at the Denver Auditorium Arena, the team built a loyal following while competing against many of the league's best clubs.

Becoming the Nuggets

In 1974, the franchise changed its name to the Denver Nuggets.

The change avoided confusion with the NBA's Houston Rockets and honored Denver's rich mining history during the Colorado Gold Rush. The name also paid tribute to the original Denver Nuggets team that played in the National Basketball League (NBL) during the late 1940s.

The Nuggets immediately became one of the ABA's elite teams.

ABA Championship Contenders

During the mid-1970s, Denver was consistently among the league's best teams.

Led by Hall of Fame forward David Thompson, along with stars:

• Dan Issel
• Bobby Jones
• Ralph Simpson

The Nuggets played an exciting, up-tempo style that made them one of the ABA's biggest attractions.

During the 1975–76 season, Denver posted the league's best regular-season record before advancing to the ABA Finals.

Although the Nuggets lost to the New York Nets and Julius Erving, they entered the NBA as one of the strongest franchises from the ABA.

Joining the NBA

When the ABA merged with the NBA in 1976, the Nuggets were among four teams admitted into the league.

Unlike many expansion clubs, Denver immediately proved competitive.

The Nuggets won the Midwest Division during their first NBA season and advanced to the playoffs.

David Thompson instantly became one of basketball's biggest stars, dazzling fans with his remarkable athleticism and scoring ability.

The David Thompson Era

Nicknamed "Skywalker," David Thompson was among the NBA's greatest high-flying players.

His spectacular dunks inspired future stars, including Michael Jordan.

During the 1977–78 season, Thompson averaged more than 27 points per game and finished second to Bill Walton in MVP voting.

On the final day of the season, Thompson scored 73 points against the Detroit Pistons, one of the greatest scoring performances in NBA history.

Unfortunately, injuries and substance abuse issues shortened what appeared destined to become one of basketball's greatest careers.

Dan Issel Leads Denver

Following Thompson's decline, Hall of Fame center Dan Issel became the face of the franchise.

Issel retired as one of professional basketball's all-time leading scorers after starring in both the ABA and NBA.

Throughout the 1980s, Denver remained a consistent playoff team.

The Doug Moe Years

Perhaps no team better represented offensive basketball than the Nuggets under head coach Doug Moe.

His fast-paced philosophy emphasized:

• Constant movement
• Quick shots
• Fast breaks
• High scoring

Throughout the 1980s, Denver regularly led the NBA in scoring, with games frequently featuring both teams scoring well over 120 points.

On December 13, 1983, Denver defeated the Detroit Pistons 186–184 in triple overtime, the highest-scoring game in NBA history.

Alex English Becomes a Superstar

The acquisition of Alex English transformed the Nuggets.

During the 1980s, no NBA player scored more total points than English.

Alongside:

• Fat Lever
• Kiki Vandeweghe
• Calvin Natt

Denver became one of the Western Conference's most entertaining teams, although an NBA Finals appearance remained elusive.

Rebuilding in the 1990s

Following the retirements of English and Issel, Denver entered a rebuilding phase.

New stars included:

• Dikembe Mutombo
• Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
• LaPhonso Ellis

During the 1993–94 season, the Nuggets became the first eighth-seeded team in NBA history to upset a No. 1 seed in a best-of-five playoff series by defeating the Seattle SuperSonics.

Mutombo's emotional celebration while clutching the basketball remains one of the NBA's iconic images.

Carmelo Anthony Revives the Franchise

The Nuggets selected Carmelo Anthony with the third overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.

Anthony immediately transformed Denver into a perennial playoff team.

Key teammates included:

• Chauncey Billups
• Marcus Camby
• Kenyon Martin
• Nene

2009 Western Conference Finals

Led by Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, Denver reached the Western Conference Finals during the 2008–09 season, losing to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers.

The Nikola Jokić Era

After selecting Nikola Jokić with the 41st pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Denver found one of the greatest draft steals in league history.

Jokić's unique passing ability, scoring touch, and basketball IQ revolutionized the center position.

He won NBA Most Valuable Player Awards in:

• 2021
• 2022
• 2024

Alongside:

• Jamal Murray
• Aaron Gordon
• Michael Porter Jr.

Denver became one of the NBA's premier championship contenders.

First NBA Championship

The pinnacle of franchise history came during the 2022–23 season.

Denver defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, and Los Angeles Lakers before beating the Miami Heat in five games to capture the first NBA championship in franchise history.

Nikola Jokić earned NBA Finals MVP, completing one of the greatest postseason performances ever by a center.

Continuing Success

Following their championship, the Nuggets remained among the NBA's elite contenders.

With Nikola Jokić entering the prime of his career, Denver continues pursuing additional championships while building upon the greatest era in franchise history.

Home Arenas

Denver Nuggets Timeline

Hall of Fame Players

• Alex English
• Dan Issel
• David Thompson
• Dikembe Mutombo
• Allen Iverson
• Spencer Haywood
• Carmelo Anthony

Franchise Greats

• Nikola Jokić
• Alex English
• David Thompson
• Dan Issel
• Carmelo Anthony
• Jamal Murray
• Fat Lever
• Dikembe Mutombo
• Chauncey Billups
• Bobby Jones
• Ralph Simpson
• Kiki Vandeweghe
• Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
• Aaron Gordon
• Michael Porter Jr.

Notable Coaches

• Larry Brown
• Doug Moe
• Dan Issel
• George Karl
• Michael Malone
• David Adelman

Legacy

The Denver Nuggets have enjoyed one of the richest histories in professional basketball, spanning both the ABA and NBA. From the electrifying play of David Thompson and the offensive fireworks of the Doug Moe era to the scoring brilliance of Alex English and the revolutionary playmaking of Nikola Jokić, the franchise has consistently showcased some of basketball's greatest talent.

The long-awaited breakthrough came in 2023, when Jokić led Denver to its first NBA championship, fulfilling decades of promise and establishing the Nuggets among the NBA's elite franchises. With a championship foundation and one of the game's all-time great players, the future remains bright in Denver.