The Nuggets’ championship core has been chipped away piece by piece, and by the time this offseason settles, only five players from the 2022-23 title team may still be standing in Denver.
That group is Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Zeke Nnaji. Three of them were starters in the championship season, while Braun and Nnaji came off the bench.
The top of the roster still looks familiar, and it still carries the same weight it did when Denver raised the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Jokic remains in the MVP conversation every year.
Murray just earned his first All-NBA nod. Gordon, when healthy, is still one of the key pieces holding everything together.
But the rest of that title team has steadily disappeared. Michael Porter Jr. was moved to the Brooklyn Nets last offseason, which left only three starters from the 2023 Finals roster still in Denver.
This summer brought more turnover. Peyton Watson was just sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a sign-and-trade, and Bruce Brown - back for a second stint with the Nuggets - is still in free agency as September approaches, with no new deal in sight.
Even the five who remain haven’t been completely insulated from the rumor mill. Murray and Gordon were both mentioned as possible trade candidates after Denver’s first-round playoff exit.
Braun, now attached to a $125 million contract, has also been viewed as a potential move if the Nuggets can find the right deal. Nnaji has been part of the chatter too.
Jokic has not been immune either. He’s been tossed into trade speculation more than once this offseason, especially since an extension this summer now looks unlikely and he may instead head toward unrestricted free agency in 2027.
There’s also a chance the number shrinks again before opening night. Nnaji could still be moved in a cost-saving decision before the season begins.
So if Denver is going to make another serious postseason push, it will have to do it with a very different supporting cast than the one that won it all in 2023. The Nuggets have assembled a new mix of players to try to get back there, but the question remains whether it’s enough to match that championship group.
Time will tell. And if Denver reaches that level again, it will say plenty about the five survivors from the original run who are still around to chase it.
In Other News...
Nikola Jokic Got Dragged Into A WNBA Debate And Fans Pounced
Lexie Brown found herself in the middle of a Nuggets-adjacent basketball argument after sitting down with Michael Porter Jr. on his Curious Mike YouTube channel and pushing back on his criticism of the WNBA. Browns broader point was simple enough: elite basketball is not defined by constant dunks or pure vertical explosiveness, and players can dominate with strength, balance, coordination and high-level decision-making just as much as with lift.
Nikola Jokic became the lightning rod for that point, and fans wasted little time reacting to the way Brown framed him in the conversation. Some disagreed with her take on his fundamentals, turning a discussion about skill and athleticism into another round of debate over what real basketball excellence looks like. [Read more 🡒]
Peyton Watsons Nuggets Playoff Absence Looks More Complicated Now
Peyton Watsons playoff absence for the Nuggets was already explained by a right hamstring strain, but the backstory around that decision has gotten a lot more layered. Watsons agent, Rich Paul, discussed the situation on a podcast and framed the choice as one that balanced short-term availability with the bigger picture of Watsons future, a reminder that postseason injuries can carry consequences well beyond one spring.
Watson eventually landed a major new contract, signing a four-year deal with the Cavaliers, and the financial context around his next step makes Denvers side of the story even more interesting. The Nuggets had been in the mix with an offer of their own, but the gap between what was available and what Watson ultimately secured helps explain why his playoff no-show now feels like more than just a hamstring issue. [Read more 🡒]
Jamal Murrays Mindset Says Everything About What The Nuggets Still Need
Jamal Murrays new four-year maximum extension with the Nuggets, worth $208 million, would be enough to change the daily habits of almost anyone. But Murray has made it clear he still wants his life, and his approach to the game, to be defined by something other than the paycheck. Even after locking in that kind of money, he has kept his attention on winning and on the kind of career he wants to build in Denver.
That mindset matters because it speaks to the tone the Nuggets still need around their core. Murray has emphasized that money is not his focus, choosing instead to stay grounded and think about the example he sets at home, especially for his younger brother. It is a small detail with a bigger point attached: for Denver, the challenge is making sure the standards in the room stay tied to basketball, not comfort. [Read more 🡒]