Nikola Jokic isn’t dancing around the Denver Nuggets’ biggest problem. If they want to get back into the championship picture, he says it starts with one thing: staying on the floor.
In a recent interview with Complex, the Finals MVP pointed straight at health as the key to Denver’s path forward.
"I mean, definitely we need to stay healthy," Jokic said. "That's going to be the number one key for us.
We failed on that part for a couple years. I think [the last] two or three years, it seems like we were not healthy when we need it the most.
I think staying healthy is probably the number one thing."
That message lands because the Nuggets have already lived through the downside. After winning the NBA Finals in 2023, they never made it back to the Western Conference Finals, falling out in the second round twice before their most recent first-round crash. Now, heading into the 2026-27 season, there’s still belief that this group can get back to contending - but only if the lineup finally holds together.
Last season was a brutal illustration of what Denver has been fighting against. After the first few weeks, it was hardly common to see the Nuggets at full strength.
From November 12 to March 6, their usual starting five was never on the floor together. By season’s end, that starting lineup had shared the court in just 23 games.
The injuries didn’t stop there once the playoffs arrived. Gordon missed three of Denver’s six first-round games, and Watson didn’t play at all in the postseason.
And yet, when the Nuggets were whole, they looked every bit like a contender. They went 18-5 when all five starters were available, a .783 clip that would have put them on pace to match the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 64-win mark for the best record in the NBA.
Even with all those setbacks, Denver still won 54 games and finished with the league’s top offense. The core remains in place, with Watson the only notable exception, and the front office believes in what this group can do. Jokic, Gordon and Jamal Murray remain the drivers, and the Nuggets have added a new supporting cast around them.
That’s why the health piece matters so much. If this roster can finally stay intact for a full season, Denver has the kind of talent that can put itself right back in the title mix.
In Other News...
Christian Braun Is Putting A Real Nuggets Rotation Decision On The Table
Christian Braun entered preseason with a real chance to solidify his standing in the Nuggets rotation, but the early returns have made things more complicated. Through Denvers exhibition slate, Braun has struggled to find a rhythm, putting up just 4.3 points while shooting well below his usual standard and having trouble on the defensive end. For a team that leans on continuity and clear roles, even a short preseason slump can matter when the minutes at the wing are already a point of discussion.
Julian Strawther has given the staff more to consider on the offensive side, while Alpha Diallo has made a case with his defense, creating a bit of pressure on a spot Braun had seemed positioned to keep. None of that changes what Braun has meant to the Nuggets, but it does mean his hold on his current role is no longer completely settled. If the regular season begins the way preseason has gone, Denver may have to decide whether to ride through the rough patch or start adjusting the rotation sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Bench Battle Just Created A Tough Rotation Decision
Michael Malone is using the preseason to sort out the Nuggets secondary rotation, and the goal is fairly clear: build a dependable 10-man group that lets the starters and the bench operate cleanly. Tyus Jones, Marvin Bagley III, DeMar DeRozan, and Spencer Jones have already carved out defined roles, which has sharpened the focus on the last remaining spot and made every minute in camp matter a little more.
Alpha Diallo and Julian Strawther are the two names still pushing for that opening, and both have made a case in different ways. Diallo has brought defensive versatility, while Strawther has answered with three-point shooting, leaving Denver with a familiar preseason dilemma: deciding whether the final bench chair should go to the player who changes the game with stops or the one who stretches the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets May Have Found A New Edge Teams Wont Enjoy Facing
The Nuggets have started preseason with a familiar kind of advantage, and it is one opponents tend to notice quickly. Denver has gotten to the line at a much higher rate in its recent games, including 46 free throws against the Bulls and 42 against the Jazz, a sign that the rosters size and physical approach are already showing up the way coach David Adelman likes.
Bryce Hopkins has been part of that early edge, bringing a bruising style that helps put defenders in foul trouble. The next step is making the most of those trips, especially with bench players still working to clean up their free throw shooting. If Denver can keep forcing whistles and turn those chances into points, it could add another layer to an offense that already makes life hard for opposing teams. [Read more 🡒]