Season Record: 54-28, 2nd in the Western Conference
Head Coach: Mike Malone
Most Frequent Starting Five (22 Games): (G) Jamal Murray – (G) Gary Harris – (F) Will Barton – (F) Paul Millsap – (C) Nikola Jokic
Top Performers
- C Nikola Jokic – 20.1 PPG | 10.8 RPG | 7.3 APG
- G Jamal Murray – 18.2 PPG | 4.8 APG | .367 3P%
- F Paul Millsap – 12.6 PPG | 7.2 RPG | .484 FG%
Transactions
13 July 2018 – Traded F Darrell Arthur, F-C Kenneth Faried, a 2019 first-round pick, and a 2020 second-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for G Isaiah Whitehead.
16 July 2018 – Signed G Isaiah Thomas as a free agent.
25 July 2018 – Signed G Monte Morris to a multi-year contract.
The Good
The Nuggets Are Back on Track
In 18-19 the Denver Nuggets posted their first consecutive winning season since 12-13, where they lost in the Western Conference first round. A young team with some veteran pieces, all seemed to be in place for the Nuggets to succeed. Despite injuries and a disappointing end, their 18-19 campaign was very much a success.
All Eyes on The Joker
Whether you’re at the movie theatre or watching the TV screen, The Joker has been thrilling fans. Nikola Jokic came into the league a pudgy and sluggish boy. He is now one of the most dynamic centers we’ve seen since Sabonis and is giving the league fits with MVP-level play.
Jamal Murray Is Dangerous
While the play of Nikola Jokic took headlines, Jamal Murray was near an All-Star himself this year. The Canadian has always been a deadeye shooter, but his abilities off the ball with Jokic at the helm have only improved his production. Murray seems to be Canada’s most successful basketball export in years.
The Bad
The Injury Bug Hit Denver
The Denver Nuggets were able to pull off once of their most successful seasons in history. Amazingly, it came during an injury-riddled season. The combination of Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Paul Millsap, and Will Barton missed a combined total of 83 games in the 18-19 season. It was certainly a detriment to their rhythm come playoff time.
Questions at Power Forward
With Paul Millsap injured for parts of the year, the Nuggets looked for support from other members. They failed to find that in Juan Hernangomez and Trey Lyles, who were both expected to play a more beneficial role. Neither were able to quite find the mark offensively – Lyles in particular, who shot a career-low 25.5% from three.
It Wasn’t IT Time
The Denver Nuggets were fairly swinging for the fences when they signed Isaiah Thomas to a contract. Still only 29 years old, the one-time All-Star was thought to be on the road to recovery and redemption with the Nuggets. Instead, he failed to feature significantly, with sophomore Monte Morris overtaking him in the rotation.
The Surprises
A Youthful Surprise
Finding a capable backup to Jamal Murray was an important task for the Nuggets front office this past summer. They were able to sign Isaiah Thomas, but the true answer lied in an asset that they already had. Monte Morris grew to be a steady force for the Nuggets. appearing every game, averaging 10.4 points per game, and owning a near five-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio.
Torrey Craig Is Denver’s Enforcer
Denver’s Torrey Craig is generally not who you turn to for a bucket in the clutch. Instead, is the player that enforces your defensive identity from the minute he steps on the court. Craig showed he as the ability to guard one through four at times this past season. His versatility was vital to their success, while he improved offensively as the season grew on.
Mason Plumlee Was Brilliant
Another lynchpin to the Nuggets’ success this past year was the play of Mason Plumlee. A versatile forward-center with little technical ability, Plumlee was finally healthy and able to display his athleticism. His contributions on defense were brilliant, able to guard equally well in the paint and perimeter to help spell his less adept teammates.
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