Denver Nuggets has a long history in NBA Playoffs. Although they have never won a championship, the Coloradoans have been here for most seasons since entering the league in 1976.
Next, the detail of the history of the organization in the Playoffs.
Denver Nuggets playoff run by the numbers
- Previous Entries: 28 (NBA only, not counting ABA)
- Last time: 2022
- Championships won: no one
- The best performance: Western Conference Finals in 1978, 1985, 2009 and 2020.
- Playoff Record: 82-132.
- Playoff streak record: 13-29.
Denver Nuggets individual playoff records
Most points in a game: Jamal Murray, 50
- Date: 23/8/2020 and 30/8/2020 vs. Jute
Most rebounds in one game: Nikola Jokic, 22
- Date: 15/9/2020 vs. Clippers
Most assists in one game: Fat Lever, 18
- Date: 30/4/1985 vs. Jute
Most steals in a game: TR Dunn and Bobby Jones, 7
- Date: 20/4/1986 vs. Portland? and 24/4/1977 vs. Portland.
Most Blocks in a Game: Dikembe Mutombo, 8
- Date: 5/12/1994 vs. Utah (the last of his three times).
Most field goals in a game: Nikola Jokic, 19
- Date: 25/4/2019 vs. Saint Anthony.
Most 3-pointers in a game: Jamal Murray, 9
- Date: 23/8/2020 and 30/8/2020 vs. Jute
Most free throws in a game: Carmelo Anthony, 14
- Date: 19/4/2010 vs. Jute
Individual earnings
Most games played: Alex English, 59
- Next: TR Dunn (58), Bill Hanzlik (54).
Most points: Alex English, 1,540
- Next: Nikola Jokic (1,269), Carmelo Anthony (1,104)
Most rebounds: Nikola Jokic, 551
- Next: Dan Issel (393), Alex English (329).
Most assists: Nikola Jokic, 306
- Next: Alex English (280), Fat Lever (257).
Most steals: TR Dunn, 83
- Next: Fat Lever (78), Carmelo Anthony (59).
Most blocks: Dikembe Mutombo, 76
- Next: Marcus Camby (65), Wayne Cooper (52).
Most 3-pointers: Jamal Murray, 90
- Next: Nikola Jokic (89), JR Smith (65).
team record
Most points in one game: 141
- Date: 18/4/1985 vs. Saint Anthony
Most 3-pointers in a game: 22
- Date: 17/8/2020, vs. Jute
Most rebounds in a game: 66
- Date: 3/5/2019 vs. Portland
Most assists in one game: 41
- Date: 14/5/1985 vs. LA Lakers
Most steals in a game: 15 (three times)
- Date: 3/5/2009 vs. Dallas (last of three times).
Most blocks in one game: 16
- Date: 17/5/1994 vs. Jute
The story in three moments
Twice at the door
After going through ABA, Denver joined the NBA for the 1976-1977 season and a year later made it to the Western Conference finals.. This team led by David Thompson and Dan Issel would lose 4-2 to the Seattle SuperSonics. Seven years later, Alex English, Calvin Natt and Fat Lever would shine to lead the team to this stage again, but they were again left wanting: a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Carmelo Anthony’s Karma
Anthony came to the NBA in 2003 and established himself as one of the best scorers in the NBA.. His arrival even ended an eight-season playoff drought. From his initial run to his transfer to New York, Melo has always led the Nuggets to the postseason, but in 6 of his 7 appearances there he would lose in the first round. 2009 was the exception, defeating the New Orleans Hornets (4-1) and Dallas Mavericks (4-1) to reach the Western Conference Finals. Those Lakers of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol were too much (4-2) and would end up with the title that year.
Having potential but not realizing it would end the franchise by sending the forward to the Knicks, ending a marriage that promised so much more.
The era of Nikola Jokic
George Karl kept his Nuggets competitive after the Anthony trade to New York, but little changed. The next three playoff appearances ended quickly in the First Round: 4-1 vs. Oklahoma City (2011), 4-2 vs. Lakers (2012) and 4-2 vs. Golden State (2013). It was the culmination of a project that, over 10 straight postseason seasons, amassed 9 first-down shutouts, four of which were against Denver teams that had added more than 50 wins in the regular season. The eternal promise that always came to nothing.
It took five seasons to get to 2018-2019 where Denver was reborn and promised again, Hand in hand with Michael Malone on the bench and with a special star who came to change the history of the event: Nikola Jokic. After reaching the Western Semifinals in 2019, 2020 saw them go on a magical path alongside Jamal Murray, showing their quality and personality to go 1-3 in a row: in the First Round against Utah and in the Semifinals against the LA Clippers.. The Lakers, later champions, were too many in the next phase, but Colorado had already shown that their name was established in the elite of the Conference.
The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA or its organizations.
