The Denver Nuggets stand at 19-6. That has a lot of fans excited about the 2025-2026 season. The team entered this season with high hopes after a strong playoff showing last year. Led by star center Nikola Jokic and a talented supporting cast, the Nuggets looked to build on their previous success. Preseason expectations were optimistic, with many analysts predicting a top-four seed in the competitive Western Conference.
Currently, the Nuggets are the 2nd-best team in the Western Conference, only behind the most recent NBA champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
So here’s a quick overview of the season so far.
The Nuggets have never been more successful than in the past few years, with them becoming NBA champs in 2023, beating the Miami Heat 4-1, almost a clean sweep. That was also the franchise’s first time ever making it to the finals. In the team’s history, the team has struggled to even make it to the playoffs, and when they do, they only ever make it past the first round. From 2004-20013 they lost in the first round every time except for 2009, where they lost in the conference finals.
(Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
Back to the present. A lot of the team’s current success can be attributed to the star of the franchise, Nikola Jokic, who will no doubt go down as one of the best centers of all time. This 2025-26 season, he is averaging 29.8 points, 10.8 assists, and 12.4 rebounds. These are great stats, and he is obviously the leader of this Nuggets team. But fans will have to see if the team can keep up this momentum throughout the rest of the season.
Many fans are also pleased with their performance so far. “Do you think that we have a chance of making the playoffs? I do. I believe that we play with great teamwork, and they can all hit shots and knock down shots,” said Michael Beulah (’28).
He is very pleased with how the team is doing and the direction they are going. Is Jokic is gonna win the MVP? “No, but I think he has a good shot at winning finals MVP if they make it to the finals because Jokic is their main guy on the team.”
Senior Soren Singer, a lifelong fan of the Denver Nuggets, says he likes the Nuggets, “because they’re a hometown team and they’re pretty good. They are one of the best players in the game, which is Nikola Jokic.”
He has been a fan his whole life, “Grew up around the game and watching them and stuff, going to games. I’ve been to like 10 games, max, probably more like five, though. I would say I enjoy watching them play in the playoffs. I remember one game I wasn’t there, but it was at Christmas, and it was the OT game against the Spurs, and dude came down and dunked on the dude. Now it’s pretty fun to win the game.”
The Denver Nuggets, a popular hometown team in Denver, first got their name from Colorado’s 19th-century gold rush history, honoring the gold and silver “nuggets”. According to Nuggets.com, many miners wanted them to change their name to the Denver Rockets to avoid confusion with the NBA’s Houston Rockets, as the ABA-NBA merger was underway. The team was originally founded as the Denver Larks in 1967, but changed their name to the Rockets before the first season began due to a swift ownership change. The Rockets then changed their name to the Nuggets on August 7, 1974, as a precautionary measure to ensure their franchise’s transition from the ABA to the NBA. The Nuggets played for the final ABA Championship title in 1976, losing to the New York Nets. They won their first NBA title in 2023, being the last of the four ABA teams.
Experts say the Denver Nuggets have established themselves as a formidable team with impressive statistics. Their offensive efficiency is highlighted by a high scoring average and effective field goal percentage, making them a threat to opponents. Defensively, they maintain a strong rebounding rate and defensive rating, limiting opponents’ scoring opportunities. These balanced statistics reflect the Nuggets’ capability to perform well on both ends of the court, contributing to their competitive edge in the league.
A lot of Nuggets fans are hometown supporters, which is a common thing here at Englewood High School.
Business teacher A.J. Fletcher, a fan of the Denver Nuggets, says some of his favorite things about the team are their performance on the court, “winning against the Miami Heat,” saying it was an awesome game.
He has liked the Nuggets since he first moved to Colorado about eight years ago. “I kind of went to a game, and I saw the young team that they had, and I was excited that they could potentially be good in the future. So after going to that first game, I kind of became a fan right away.”
Fletcher says one of his favorite memories of going to a Nuggets game has to be in 2023, “when the Nuggets went to the NBA Finals. I went to game one of the NBA Finals, which turned out to be electric. One of my favorites is Nicole Jokic, but I would say second to that would be Aaron Gordon. To me, he’s kind of like the glue guy. He kind of has, like, I don’t know, I feel like he is the player that kind of holds the team together, his leadership, and he’s just so versatile. So, yeah, I really like Aaron Gordon.”
The regular season was a mix of highs and lows for the Nuggets. Jokic continued his dominant play, putting up MVP-caliber numbers and leading the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists. However, injuries to key players like Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. tested the team’s depth and resilience. Despite these challenges, the Nuggets showcased their grit and determination, securing a playoff berth with a hard-fought record.
In the playoffs, the Nuggets faced tough opponents but displayed their potential for greatness. While they didn’t reach the NBA Finals, their performance provided valuable experience for the team’s young core.
“I think the Nuggets have had a pretty good season this year due to all the wins they’ve had so far,” Malai Uriona (‘28) said. Looking ahead, the Nuggets are poised to remain a contender in the Western Conference, with a focus on developing their young talent and adding pieces to complement Jokic’s exceptional skills. The team’s future looks bright as they continue to strive for championship contention.
