Apr 1, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić (15) before the game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images
Apr 1, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić (15) before the game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The sentiment amongst Denver Nuggets fans is pretty bleak. Many are not happy with the direction the Nuggets have taken this offseason, and it seems the prevailing attitude is "championship or bust." They may be right about the fact that the Nuggets' championship hopes have taken a sharp hit, and The Athletic's new power rankings for the 2026-27 season certainly back up their view. Hint: The Nuggets are not in the top two tiers, and they're not even in the top 10!
For the first time in as long as I can remember, probably before even 2020-21, when Nikola Jokic began his streak of dominance in the MVP voting, the Nuggets are truly on the outside looking in. At least by this account.
The Athletic's Law Murray (subscription required) put the reigning NBA Champion New York Knicks at the top of the rankings, followed by the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. And then you have the Nuggets at 11th. I'd have to disagree with that one. You can't count out a Joker-led team. Even if the Nuggets have had a terrible offseason.
The Nuggets will still be a playoff team. Jokic just needs a chance
However, despite this 11th-place ranking, the sky isn't falling in the Mile City just yet. ESPN gave the Nuggets a 3rd-place ranking in the West, and that's probably more realistic. Sure, they're projected to be about 10 games behind both the Thunder and the Spurs, but both of those teams have injury question marks all the same as the Nuggets. They're just deeper squads.
And as long as the Nuggets are healthy this year entering the playoffs, they have the biggest X-factor in basketball in Jokic. If anyone can extract the most out of their teammates, it's the Joker. He needs help, of course, but you can't count him out in a seven-game series.
If the Nuggets get a more favorable matchup in the first round this year, and if the Nuggets run into a depleted Spurs or Thunder in the second round, there's definitely a chance to advance to the Western Conference Finals, and all bets are off at that point.
There should be some optimism despite the roster carnage
Look, I'm trying to be as optimistic as possible. The pessimistic view is a terrible season of injuries that drives Jokic to consider leaving Denver in free agency by declining his team option next summer (he won't). But the Nuggets did a decent job of navigating the second-apron contract limitations. They could only sign players to the minimum possible contract, severely limiting their prospects.
But Alpha Diallo is a defensive specialist and the current Defensive Player of the Year in the EuroLeague. DeMar DeRozan is a potential future Hall of Famer and a legitimate scoring and play-making option off the bench. Marvin Bagley III has the potential to be a great backup for Jokic and Aaron Gordon.
So yes, the "championship or bust" hopes are bleak and warranted. But the Nuggets just need a chance, and as long as they've still got the best basketball player in the world, Jokic, they've got a chance.
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