The 2026-27 NBA season is right here! Try our group previews, together with energy rankings, best- and worst-case situations, and fantasy recommendation.
Contents
2025-26 end
File: 54-28 (third within the West, misplaced 4-2 in first spherical to Timberwolves)
Offseason strikes
Draft: Trevon Brazile (No. 35), Bryce Hopkins (No. 49)
Signings: Marvin Bagley III (1 yr, $3.5 million), s (1 yr, $3.9 million), o (1 yr, $1.4 million), s (re-signed for two years, $12 million), DeMar DeRozan (1 yr, $3.9 million veteran minimal)
Key departures:. (signed with Warmth), Jonas Valančiūnas (signed with Zalgiris Kaunas)
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Preseason Energy Rankings: No. 8
What's thrilling: The Nuggets gained 54 video games with Nikola Jokić showing in 65 video games, Cam Johnson in 54 video games, Christian Braun in 44 video games, and Aaron Gordon in 36 video games. What occurs if these 4 and Jamal Murray truly keep wholesome? Murray grew to become an All-Star for the primary time and Jokić was having one other MVP-caliber season earlier than he bought injured. There’s loads of doubt over the summer time the Nuggets had. However the thought of what this group might be when wholesome could be sufficient for me as a Nuggets fan to imagine we will show the entire league mistaken.
What's regarding: The choices behind Jokić are once more fairly lackluster. The Nuggets are actually comfy with Bagley, Brazile, DaRon Holmes, and Zeke Nnaji? Actually? Over the previous 5 common seasons mixed, the Nuggets had been 18.3 factors per 100 possessions worse with Jokić off the ground, per DataBallr. That quantity will most likely not be any higher this yr both. — Kevin O'Connor
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Fantasy watch
DeMar DeRozan is the sixth man, his first bench position since his rookie yr. I'm not excited by him for fantasy, and I'm not excited by Christian Braun or Cam Johnson both. It's Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray or nothing. Actually, probably the most attention-grabbing Denver query is whether or not anybody exterior the highest two cracks the highest 150 — perhaps Aaron Gordon? — Dan Titus
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2026-27 schedule
Opening week: 10/22 at Thunder, 10/24 vs. Pelicans
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Betting perspective
48.5 — win complete
+900 to win division
+2500 to win NBA Finals
Greatest case, worst case
BEST CASE: No. 1 seed
Regardless of the accidents they suffered, the Nuggets nonetheless managed to publish a top-three offensive ranking in NBA historical past, per Cleansing the Glass. The Jokić-Murray duo ensures an extremely excessive ground. If the Nuggets are literally strong within the non-Jokić minutes this yr and take a step ahead defensively, it's not onerous to map out a pathway to successful 60+ video games.
WORST CASE: Play-In Match
There are apparent damage issues to level to, most notably with Gordon as an essential, impactful glue piece on each ends of the ground. To the on-court product, if the bench underwhelms and the protection is once-again rudderless, they're going to battle to lock up a top-six seed. — Nekias Duncan
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