The Nuggets’ challenge: to win the NBA

Denver faces a new season in a Western Conference loaded with talented teams, with the Golden State Warriors returning.

1- What’s taking the franchise’s sleep?
Capitalizing on the elite momentum of two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.

Jokic, 27, who enters his eighth NBA season as one of the league’s best players, all with the Nuggets with whom he just signed a historic five-year, $270 million contract extension that ends in 2028, is looking to dominate the West and, the league.

The paradox is that Denver, with a Jokic in his prime, has moved further and further away from reigning the West: in 2019-2020 it was eliminated in the Conference Finals, in the 2020-2021 season it finished in the semifinals and the previous campaign in the first round.

The challenge for the Nuggets is for Nikola Jokic’s elite level to translate into winning the West and the NBA, will he make it happen?

2- What is the Nuggets’ biggest unfinished business?
Seeing their first unit healthy, playing together and exploiting their full potential to stop being a mere cheerleader in the Western Conference and make the leap to the list of championship contenders.

The Nuggets are one of the most interesting teams heading into next season. They have two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, made some interesting moves last season with the arrival of Aaron Gordon and are waiting for Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. to be cleared to return to action, something that will undoubtedly catapult them into the mix in their conference.

Coach Michael Malone’s potential starting lineup looks solid, but at the same time fragile. Solid because of the quality, ability and experience of this likely starting quintet – Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Porter Jr, Grodon and Jokic; however, given Murray and Porter Jr’s injury history, they will need to be kept at bay or rotated so that their workload is not excessive in what will be a long season.

The depth also seems short to take on the Western contenders, as DeAndre Jordan, Jeff Green and Bruce Brown are the most recognizable faces.

Last season, Denver finished sixth in the Wild West (48-34) without Murray and Porter Jr. full time, so for the 2022-2023 campaign the obligation is to improve that ranking and make a longer run in the Playoffs.

3- Real or not: Is Denver a title contender with the return of Porter Jr. and Murray?

Real. Two-time MVP Nikola Jokic led this team – without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter – to the Playoffs, where they were eliminated to the eventual champion Golden State Warriors.

Murray’s absence obscures how good he actually is: 16.5 points, 3.7 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game with the Serbian center on the court, according to StatMuse.

Porter, meanwhile, records 14.1 with 6.1 rebounds with Jokic.

Add those two stats together and tell me they’re not title contenders. Of course they are, especially if you have a ‘unicorn’ like the Serbian distributing the game. In addition, the arrival of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will give them a new defensive dimension. Also Bruce Brown, who can contribute not only on defense, but also on offense.

The Nuggets are a dangerous opponent, which goes unnoticed for not being a big market team. We’ll have to give them time in the season, but once the playoffs come…. Watch out for the Western Conference.