HEADLINES

The Nuggets have five more years to maximize the Jokic era

Sep 26, 2024, 10:51 AM

There’s been a lot of talk this offseason about the Nuggets championship window. Just one year removed from the franchise winning their first-ever NBA title, the conversation has shifted to whether or not Denver was a one-hit wonder.

It’s been a topic of conversation locally, heating up after the Nuggets attempt to defend their title ended in disappointment with a Game 7 loss on their homecourt to the Timberwolves in the second round. And it’s even become a talking point on the national stage as another NBA season looms.

Nikola Jokic has won the league’s Most Valuable Player award in three of the last four seasons. During that stretch, the Nuggets did win a championship, hosting the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2023. But in the other three seasons, they’ve failed to advance beyond the second round.

Now, they’re dealing with key roles players departing. First, it was Bruce Brown and Jeff Green a year ago. This offseason, it was Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

That has many wondering if the Nuggets best chances to win a title are already in the rearview mirror. Their general manager certainly doesn’t think so.

“Nikola has a prime, 10-year contention window,” Calvin Booth said on Thursday, talking about the timespan Denver has to win with their best player playing at his highest level. “I think we’re about halfway through it.”

That means the clock is ticking. The window opened when the Nuggets advanced to the Western Conference Finals in the bubble. In a lot of ways, that feels like yesterday. It means they’re running out of opportunities to maximize having Jokic on the roster.

“We probably have about five more shots,” Booth added. “All those shots count.”

The Nuggets head coach certainly know that fact. And he’s anxious to get take advantage of the situation.

“They tasted what it was like to be on the mountaintop,” Michael Malone said about his team. “We were knocked off last year, so let’s get back up.”

If Denver can do that, the coach believes the Nuggets can achieve greatness. Malone doesn’t see failing to win back-to-back titles as a knock of his team’s legacy.

“Everybody wants to repeat, but (San Antonio) never did that,” the coach said, citing the Spurs never winning consecutive titles while winning five championships during a 15-year run of greatness. “They had a standard of excellence, year in and year out. You ask anybody in the NBA community and they’ll say, ‘San Antonio definitely had a dynasty.’ You want to be remembered as a team that achieved greatness.”

Malone is thinking big. Booth is more tempered in his expectations.

“If we hit one of them, it’s great,” the GM said about taking advantage of the five title shots remaining in the Jokic era. “It’s going to be incredibly hard to win another one.”

Were the Nuggets a one-hit wonder or a team for the ages? The next five years will answer that question.

Headlines

Lamar Jackson Broncos Sunday...

Will Petersen

Lamar Jackson makes big stride in playing Sunday against Broncos

After missing practices on Wednesday and Thursday due to knee and back issues, Lamar Jackson was back on the field on Friday

3 hours ago

Valeri Nichushkin Avalanche...

Will Petersen

The return of Valeri Nichushkin to the Avalanche is coming quickly

Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar provided the positive update, saying Valeri Nichushkin could practice with the team in a matter of days

23 hours ago

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angels Dodgers gestures as he circles the bases after hitting a three ...

Jake Shapiro

Rockies open as least likely team to win World Series in 2025

The Rockies are probably not going to win the World Series in 2025 and that's no surprise but they're shockingly far away from contention

1 day ago

Zach Wilson Broncos trade deadline watch...

Will Petersen

Broncos named “most interesting” team to watch at trade deadline

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler mentioned four names the Broncos could move at the NFL trade deadline, and one other wild card to watch

1 day ago

Lamar Jackson...

Jake Shapiro

Lamar Jackson misses another practice ahead of Broncos game

The Baltimore Ravens are set to play two football games in the week, and their two-time MVP quarterback isn't practicing

1 day ago

Bo Nix Sean Payton...

Andrew Mason

Bo Nix is NFL’s best offensive rookie in October

The October surge from Bo Nix made him the first Bronco named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month in 22 years.

1 day ago

The Nuggets have five more years to maximize the Jokic era