Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets are the reigning NBA champions, representing the Mile High City in the Western Conference from Ball Arena in downtown Denver. Led by two-time MVP and 2023 Finals MVP Nikola Jokić, the Nuggets play a beautiful, unselfish style of basketball centered around their transcendent center's passing and basketball IQ. Denver's altitude provides a unique home-court advantage, with visiting teams often struggling to maintain their conditioning at 5,280 feet above sea level. The Nuggets' championship core remains intact with Jokić, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon forming one of the league's most talented starting lineups. The franchise has established itself as a perennial contender with the greatest player in franchise history still in his prime.

An ABA original that joined the NBA in the 1976 merger, the Nuggets long sought their first championship through decades of competitive but ultimately unsuccessful seasons. Alex English became the franchise's all-time leading scorer during the high-flying 1980s when Denver's up-tempo offense produced some of the highest-scoring games in NBA history. Dikembe Mutombo's finger wag and shot-blocking prowess defined the defensive identity of the 1990s teams, though a title remained elusive. Carmelo Anthony's seven seasons brought playoff success and individual brilliance but no championships before his trade to New York. Jokić's emergence from second-round pick to two-time MVP and his 2023 Finals performance—averaging a triple-double—finally brought Denver its long-awaited championship and established him among the greatest players ever.