The Denver Nuggets are an up-and-coming NBA team that I believe will become the next best team in the league. While they are currently the 8th seed in the Western Conference which has been seen as a disappointing position by some fans, their upside is huge. They have a ton of young, promising players, veteran leaders that will provide valuable support and play time, and an intelligent front office that has signed very good players, executed positive trades, and drafted some great players late in the draft.
Here are five reasons why I think the Denver Nuggets will become an elite NBA team in the next few years:
1. Nikola Jokic is a Future MVP
Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets’ 41st pick in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft, has demonstrated that he possesses all the tools needed to become an NBA MVP. Since the 1946-47 NBA season, there have only been seven other players to match or exceed his current stats of 16.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, all while shooting the ball very well.
He also had the fastest triple-double in NBA history when he scored 30 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and dished 17 assists in only 14 minutes and 33 seconds, an amazing feat for a slow player who is 6’ 10”. His defense might be lacking at times, but this guy is only in his third year in the league and is going to continue to improve and help his teammates every game.
2. The NBA's Next Best Backcourt
Jamal Murray and Gary Harris, the Nuggets’ respective starting point guard, and shooting guard have shown this season that while they are young, they are also great (and getting better every year). Harris was signed to a four-year, $84 million contract this past offseason which was seen as a possible overpay by some, but the Nuggets’ gamble definitely seems to be paying off as Harris has improved in nearly every category and has solidified himself as the team’s best scorer.
Meanwhile, Murray is showing outstanding improvement in his scoring and passing, especially his three-point shooting as he shot a below-league-average 33% last year, but has improved to nearly 39% this year, which will open up the paint for himself and the Nuggets’ other scoring options.
3. Strong Veteran Leadership
Signing veterans is always a good move for front offices in the NBA because while they may be past their primes, they provide valuable guidance and leadership for the younger players on the team. Players like Richard Jefferson, Devin Harris, and Wilson Chandler have lost a lot of the athleticism and energy that once made them very good starting NBA players, but they are still providing valuable playing time and setting a strong example for the younger players on the team.
Furthermore, while signing the 33-year-old Paul Millsap to a three-year, $90 million contract may seem expensive for an aging veteran, the four-time All-Star does not seem to be declining as his skills are more focused on intelligent play than on athleticism, and his recent return from injury has improved the team’s defense from 29th to 26th which is a good sign for the team’s biggest weakness and inspired hope for a playoff berth.
4. Solid Coaching (Which Will Only Get Better)
This year, the Nuggets have an offensive efficiency of 108.7, meaning that they score this many points per 100 possessions. This is in large part due to the coaching of Michael Malone who has instilled a system of passing, cutting, and sharing the ball. He has embraced the positionless style of basketball in which players can perform a variety of duties that transcend the typical expectations of their positions.
While some are calling for Malone to be fired after this season if the Nuggets do not make the playoffs, the fact that players like Jokic and Murray have been standing up for him shows that the team has strong faith and confidence in their head coach which is a great sign for a young team, and that it is more valuable to stick with a coach who shows a lot of promise than to impulsively fire him and start anew.
5. Home Court Advantage
While the Nuggets are a disappointing 21st in NBA attendance this year, they still have one of the best home-court advantages in the league because Denver is a mile above sea level. This makes playing in Denver a nightmare for other teams because they are not used to its thinner air, and the results have certainly shown this, as the team has a 24-9 record at home compared to an 11-20 record away.
This advantage will be invaluable for the team if they make the playoffs this year as other teams will have to play in Denver at least twice in a playoffs series, and the energy and youth of the team may offer Denver a chance to upset the team they would be matched up against in the 2018 playoffs and beyond.
