Championship teams do not go quietly into the night. Although there has been notable slippage in Denver since the Nuggets won the NBA Finals in 2023, Championship DNA is hard to get rid of. The Nuggets were up by 12 in OKC against the Thunder in Game 5 looking to go up 3-2 in that series. Maybe Nuggets teams from the past couple years finish that game and series off. Those Nuggets could not, leading to an offseason that saw major changes.

DENVER, CO – JULY 22: Cam Johnson #23 of the Denver Nuggets poses for a photograph on July 22, 2025 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images

When you have the best player on the planet, there’s pressure to get it all right to maximize your window. The Nuggets clearly have that in Nikola Jokic. For the most part, the Jokic and Jamal Murray two-man game still remains elite. However, a lack of shooting and the continuous issue of finding a reliable center to back up Joker remained fatal flaws and have knocked Denver out of two consecutive series’. Did they do enough to fix it, and even if they did, is it enough to overcome a loaded Western Conference?

Denver Nuggets: Over/Under 53.5 wins (-110/-110)

Additions: Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., Jonas Valanciunas

Losses: Michael Porter Jr. (Brooklyn)

In swinging Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn for Cam Johnson, the Nuggets unlocked some extra flexibility for them to add Brown, THJ and Valanciunas (after some consternation). There is no doubt that Denver has upgraded their shooting around Jokic, and at a reasonable cost.

Frankly, I don’t think the Nuggets are getting enough respect heading into the season. There wouldn’t be another team that I would choose to give the Thunder a run for their money, as they already did that last year and are now better. The health of Murray and do it all guy Aaron Gordon is definitely a concern, but this is the team I would pick right now to win the NBA Finals.

Prediction: Over 53.5 wins

Odds provided by the Fanduel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Wager Responsibly!