Denver Nuggets Biography: Players, Net Worth, History, Stats

Denver Nuggets is one of the teams that compete in the National Basketball Association, the team based in Denver. The Nuggets play as a member of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference. The team was originally founded as the Denver Larks in 1967. Stan Kroenke who is an American billionaire businessman became owner of the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and Ball Arena on July 6, 2000.

The Denver Nuggets have 3 ABA (1970, 1975, and 1976) and 1 NBA championship throughout their history. Denver Nuggets won their first NBA Championship on June 12, 2023, the Nuggets beat the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat 4–1 to win their first NBA championship. They also have had some successful seasons and playoff runs in the NBA.

Denver Nuggets Profile

It’s been almost 50 years since the Denver Nuggets became a part of the NBA. The Nuggets have consistently ranked among the top 10 teams in the NBA in terms of attendance, with an average attendance of over 18,000 fans per game at Ball Arena. Here are some of the important details about Denver Nuggets –

Denver Nuggets History

The team has had some periods of success, qualifying for the ABA playoffs in every season of the ABA’s existence (except 1971 and 1974), losing in the 1976 ABA Finals to the New York Nets. The team joined the NBA in 1976 after the ABA–NBA merger and qualified for the NBA playoffs in nine consecutive seasons in the 1980s and ten consecutive seasons from 2004 to 2013. In 2023, the Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, reached their first NBA Finals and defeated the Miami Heat to capture the franchise’s first NBA championship.

The Nuggets were the last of the four surviving former ABA teams to reach the NBA Finals, and the second former ABA team to win an NBA title (after the San Antonio Spurs). The Nuggets play their home games at Ball Arena, which they share with the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League and the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League.

Denver Nuggets Stats

The Denver Nuggets are on a hot streak, with their latest win being a 129-115 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. They’re currently 2nd in the Western Conference with a 37-19 record. Their recent performance has been impressive, with star players like Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić making NBA history. Murray scored a career-high 55 points in their win over the Portland Trail Blazers, while Jokić has been dominating the court with his all-around skills. These Stats are taken from ESPN –

Western Conference

Denver Nuggets Famous Players

Denver Nuggets have seen a lot of players who give their best for the team. Many great players were part of past, present, and current teams of the Nuggets. Here are some of the most famous ones:

5. Dikembe Mutombo

Denver Nuggets selected Dikembe Mutombo in the fourth pick of the 1991 draft. His potential to wreak havoc defensively was plain to see, and though he only played five seasons with the team, he also lived up to expectations. One of the best shot blockers in the game’s history, Mutombo averaged 12.9 points and 12.3 rebounds in his time with Denver, to go with an incredible 3.8 blocks. It’s no surprise that he led the league in blocks for three consecutive years between 1994 and 1996, while he was also a three-time All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year, and member of the All-Defensive Second Team during his six years in Denver.

4. Carmelo Anthony

One of the most automatic scorers in league history, Carmelo Anthony averaged nearly 25 points per game during his time with the Nuggets, twice averaging over 28 points throughout a season. He was a four-time All-Star during his eight seasons in Denver, and his ability to get hot like few others in history made the Nuggets one of the more watchable teams in the league during his time there.

3. David Thompson

David Thompson was drafted with the number one pick in 1975, and he wasted no time showing exactly his potential. In his first season in the league, Thompson averaged a lazy 26.0 points, 6.3 boards, and 3.7 assists per game, and would go on to put up similar numbers over his next five seasons with the Nuggets. Testament to his ability and the entertainment value that he provided, he was one of Michael Jordan’s idols growing up, with a couple of examples which demonstrate why being his runner-up finish in the inaugural Slam Dunk contest, and a 73-point game in 1978.

2. Alex English

For a long time, Alex English was unequivocally at the top of this list. The man is Denver royalty; after moving to the Nuggets in his fourth season in the league, English went on to terrorize opposing defenses for a decade, averaging 25.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game in that time. He is unsurprisingly all over the Nuggets’ all-time stats categories; first in games, first in points, first in offensive rebounds, second in assists, and third in steals. He was an All-Star for eight consecutive seasons during his time with Denver and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997.

1. Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic is a two-time NBA MVP, the reigning Finals MVP, who led the Nuggets to their first-ever championship, a five-time All-Star, a three-time member of the All-NBA First Team, and a two-time member of the Second Team – and he’s still only 30. Nikola Jokic is the best NBA player in the current world and is rapidly rising up the ranks of the best players to ever play the game. Nikola Jokic is one of those players who revolutionized the game of basketball; a 7’0″, relatively unathletic guard who averaged 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists. His stats and achievements suggest that by the end of his career, Nikola will not just be high up in the list of greatest-ever Nuggets; he’ll be one of the greatest ever to play the game.

Denver Nuggets Roster

The Denver Nuggets’ current season roster is packed with talented players like Nikola Jokić – the Nuggets’ star center, Jamal Murray – A talented point guard, Michael Porter Jr. – A versatile small forward, and Aaron Gordon (PF) – A reliable power forward. This Denver Nuggets Roster is taken from the NBA Official Website –

Denver Nuggets Head Coach

The Denver Nuggets’ head coach is Michael Malone. He was appointed as a head coach in 2015 since then, Malone has become the franchise’s all-time leader in both regular season and playoff wins. Malone’s guidance led the Denver Nuggets to their first-ever NBA championship in the 2022-2023 playoffs. Under Malone’s guidance, the Nuggets have developed a strong team culture, and he’s earned praise from players for his tough but player-oriented approach.

Denver Nuggets Owner

Mr. E. Stanley Kroenke became owner of the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and Ball Arena on July 6, 2000. Enos Stanley Kroenke is an American billionaire businessman. Under Mr. Kroenke’s leadership, the Nuggets were one of only two NBA teams to make the playoffs in all 10 seasons from 2003 through 2013, which included a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2009. From 2006 to 2011, Denver won 50+ games in four consecutive years for the first time in team history and followed that up by winning a franchise-record 57 games in 2012-13. Kroenke has overseen two NBA Executive of the Year winners as well as one Coach of the Year award.

Denver Nuggets Net Worth

As of October 2024, the Denver Nuggets had an estimated net worth of $3.9 billion. This made them the 17th most valuable NBA team. The Nuggets’ net worth is based on their current arena deal and doesn’t include debt. The Nuggets’ 2024/25 team payroll is $185,864,258. The Nuggets’ player expenses, including benefits and bonuses, are $186 million. The Nuggets’ gate receipts, including club seats, are $83 million.

The Denver Nuggets are owned by Stan Kroenke, a billionaire businessman and sports entrepreneur. Kroenke is one of the richest owners in the NBA. The Nuggets have seen consistently generated growth in revenue over the past few years. It can be due to strong ticket sales, sponsorship deals, and media rights. Driven by the NBA’s growing popularity and also the team’s on-court success it can be said that the nuggests’ financial performance is expected to improve in the future.

Denver Nuggets Stadium

Ball Arena (previously known as the Pepsi Center) in downtown Denver, Colorado. Ball Arena opened in 1999, it is the home arena of the Denver Nuggets of the NBA, the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL), and the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Additionally, it hosts Concerts and mixed martial arts. The ball Arena has the capacity of 19,099 for the basketball games. The cost of the basketball court is $105,000.

Denver Nuggets Championships

The Denver Nuggets have 3 ABA and 1 NBA championships throughout their history. The Nuggets won the ABA championship in 1970, 1975 and 1976. They won their first NBA Championship on June 12, 2023, the Nuggets beat the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat by 4–1 to win their first NBA championship, with Jokić receiving the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.

Denver Nuggets Records

The Denver Nuggets have some impressive records to their name. The Nuggets have a record of 2394-2262 (.514 winning percentage) across their 58 seasons in the league. They’ve made 39 playoff appearances, 30 in the NBA and 9 in the ABA. The Nuggets have won one NBA championship, but they did take home three ABA championships in 1970, 1975, and 1976.

In 1997–98, the Nuggets had the worst record in the league and franchise history, finishing with a record of 11–71. The Nuggets appeared in the playoffs nine straight years from 1981 to 1989 and ten straight years from 2003 to 2013. In one game, David Thompson scored 73 points in a loss to Detroit, including 32 points in the first quarter. This was an NBA record at the time. Alex English is the Denver Nuggets’ career points leader with 21,645 points.