Nikola Jokic is back at No. 1 in ESPN’s preseason NBA player rankings, and that part is easy to understand. The Nuggets star has now held the top spot for a third straight year, which feels about as unsurprising as anything on this list.
After that, though, the annual exercise turns into exactly what it always is: a stack of opinions from other writers, with plenty of room for debate. Peyton Watson landed at No. 96 after what the source describes as one good month, while new Lakers center Walker Kessler jumped from 98 to 73 after playing five games for the Utah Jazz last season. That’s the kind of movement that keeps these rankings from feeling especially sturdy.
For Denver, the list only includes three players. Jokic sits at No. 1, Jamal Murray climbed 25 spots from 46 to 21 after earning his first All-NBA Third Team nod, and Aaron Gordon slid from 40 to 64 after an injury-hit season that kept him in street clothes for more than half the year.
Gordon’s drop stands out because his production was actually better than the previous season. He averaged 16.2 points, up from 14.7, and 5.8 rebounds, up from 4.8. He also reminded everyone what he can do from deep on opening night, when he went 10-for-11 from three and dropped 50.
Christian Braun is another Denver name that disappeared from the rankings after being listed at No. 62 last year. The source ties that fall to a poor season and the fact that he was hurt and never really got healthy. Cameron Johnson also fell off the board after checking in at No. 67 a year ago, with injuries and a lack of chemistry in his new setting cited as the reasons.
Johnson did provide a late spark, though. In Games 5 and 6 of the first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he scored 18 points in Game 5 while attacking the rim and then poured in 27 in Game 6, hitting five of 10 from three.
Jonas Valanciunas was ranked 87th last year, but that didn’t pan out either. In the end, the list doesn’t change the bigger picture: the Nuggets are expected to be really good in 2026-27, and that’s what matters.
In Other News...
Nuggets May Finally Have A Bench Unit That Solves Their Biggest Problem
The Nuggets have spent enough time living with their second-unit issues that any sign of a cleaner fit is worth watching, and this season may offer one. Denver is expected to lean on a bench group built around DeMar DeRozan, Julian Strawther, Alpha Diallo, Spencer Jones and Marvin Bagley III, a mix that looks very different from last years reserve rotation and has a better chance to bring some balance, shot creation and energy when the starters sit.
What makes the group intriguing is the range of roles it can cover. DeRozan gives the bench a proven half-court scorer, Strawther brings shooting, and the younger wings and frontcourt pieces give the Nuggets more length and athleticism than they had in previous reserve looks. If the combination comes together the way Denver hopes, it could finally give the coaching staff a second unit that can survive minutes and maybe even tilt them, which has been a lingering problem for a team trying to stay at the top of the West. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Add A Young Guard With Something To Prove
The Nuggets have added another name to their training camp mix, signing undrafted guard Boopie Miller to an Exhibit 10 deal ahead of the 2026-27 season. It is the kind of move Denver has made with an eye on finding a young backcourt piece who can keep developing, and Miller arrives with a long college resume after six seasons at the Division I level, most recently at SMU.
Miller also got a summer look in the 2026 NBA Summer League, giving the Nuggets a first-hand chance to see how he fits against pro-level competition. His path now runs through training camp and, likely, a fight for a spot with Denver's G League affiliate, where he will try to turn that opportunity into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Made One Offseason Bet That Could Make Or Break This Bench
Denver spent the offseason trying to reshape its second unit without losing sight of the bigger picture, making a series of moves aimed at adding experience and keeping the roster flexible. The Nuggets brought in DeMar DeRozan and Marvin Bagley III on veteran minimum deals, two additions that give the bench and frontcourt some needed depth after a summer of change, while also holding onto a few familiar pieces to preserve continuity.
Still, the most consequential decision may have been the one involving Peyton Watson, whose departure helped fund the next phase of the roster build. The front office clearly sees the bench as the place where this team can either gain real traction or get exposed, and the way those offseason bets were made suggests Denver is willing to live with some short-term uncertainty in hopes of getting a sturdier long-term setup. [Read more 🡒]