The Denver Nuggets are proving that depth isn't just a luxury in the NBA - it's a necessity. And right now, it's keeping their season on track.
Let’s rewind to last year, when Nikola Jokić, after a tough Game 7 loss to the Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals, made a pointed observation: teams that go deep in the playoffs usually have deep benches. It wasn’t some groundbreaking revelation, but coming from the two-time MVP, it felt like a message - and the Nuggets' front office heard it loud and clear.
Enter the new leadership duo of Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace. They wasted no time reshaping the roster over the offseason.
Michael Porter Jr.'s contract? Moved.
In came Tim Hardaway Jr. via free agency and Jonas Valančiūnas through a savvy trade. Just like that, Denver had the kind of bench Jokić was talking about - and it’s already paying dividends.
Because this season? It's been a grind.
At one point, Denver was down four starters. Jamal Murray was the lone man left standing from the core.
Christian Braun went down with a sprained ankle. Aaron Gordon strained his hamstring.
Cam Johnson suffered a bone bruise and hyperextended his right knee. Then Jokić himself hyperextended his left knee.
And just when it couldn’t get worse, Valančiūnas strained his calf the game after Jokić went out.
And yet, here we are. The Nuggets are sitting at 29-15, third in the Western Conference. That’s not just surviving - that’s thriving under pressure.
A big reason? Jamal Murray.
The veteran guard has elevated his game to another level, averaging a career-best 26 points and 7.4 assists per game while shooting a blistering 48.9% from the field and 44.9% from deep. He’s been nothing short of spectacular, and if this doesn’t finally earn him an All-Star nod, what will?
But this isn’t just the Jamal Murray show. Denver’s supporting cast has stepped up in a big way.
Peyton Watson, acquired on draft night back in 2022, is making a name for himself - and fast. He’s playing like a guy who knows he’s about to get paid.
Denver didn’t lock him up with an extension before the season, and now that decision is looking expensive. Keeping him around will be a top priority this summer, and deservedly so.
As for the offseason additions, Hardaway Jr. is delivering exactly what Denver needed - a reliable scoring punch off the bench. He’s averaging 13.9 points while shooting a career-high 40.1% from three. That kind of spacing and shot-making is invaluable, especially when the lineup’s been in flux.
Bruce Brown’s numbers - 7.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game - might not jump off the page, but he’s had his moments too. That game-winner against the Sixers a couple of weeks ago?
Huge. It was one of the Nuggets’ most impressive wins of the season, and Brown was the closer.
The truth is, last year’s roster probably wouldn’t have survived this storm of injuries. But this year’s squad? They’re built for it.
That’s a credit to Tenzer and Wallace, who didn’t just patch holes - they reinforced the foundation. The Nuggets now have the kind of rotation that can weather injuries, keep pace in a loaded Western Conference, and still have gas left in the tank for a deep postseason run.
Jokić called for a deeper bench. The front office delivered. And now, with reinforcements on the way back and a team that’s already battle-tested, the Nuggets are looking more dangerous than ever.