NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Denver Nuggets did their job. Most teams begin their NBA season with dreams of winning a championship that year. But for the Nuggets, that became a reality for the 2022-23 season. Now, many are wondering if they’re set to become the next dynasty.
Not so fast on the dynasty talk. Yes, they will be returning their core players, especially if Bruce Brown opts in. Other than him, the team will be returning their championship-winning core. But does that set them up for a dynasty run? No, and here’s why.
As good as the Denver Nuggets were this season, other teams are improving as well. This is what the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Milwaukee Bucks ran into during the playoffs. As good as those lineups were, there were teams such as the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Sacraments Kings, Oklahoma City Thunder, and more ready to take their place atop their respective conferences.
For the Nuggets, it’s a question of if they can keep the up-and-coming teams off their heels and yet, we still can’t forget about teams like the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Memphis Grizzlies.
Can The Denver Nuggets Repeat
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray have proven to be one of the best tandems in the NBA this season but they must look over their shoulder due to the rising talent in the Western Conference. Can they run it back? Yes, but it will not be as easy as many think it will be.
Championships are won on the court, but the winning process begins in the offseason. The Denver Nuggets still have flaws despite their title. With a shortened bench, they will need between production from their second unit. If they can’t retain Brown, they will need to find another option.
As good as the Warriors were during their dynasty run, they knew the right pieces to add as key reserves and starters left during free agency. This is what the Denver Nuggets’ front office and coach Michael Malone must deal with now. Players will want to come but are the good ones willing to take a pay cut in order to contend for a ring? And good players will want to leave for larger contracts.
Winning has its advantages but it also has its drawbacks. Building a dynasty is hard and keeping one is even harder these days, especially with the way free agency is set up.
The core is still young and capable of at least another 3-4 years of high play. Jokic has 2 MVPs under his belt and Murray is easily regarded as one of the top 5 guards in the league. Aaron Gordon has shed the moniker of “just a dunker” and Michael Porter Junior will be entering his 5th season in the league. The core is set. But so are other teams.
Winning a championship will bring out all the craziness. Dynasty talk will accompany any team that wins a title. Many pegged the Bucks as the next dynasty, but they haven’t made it back to the Finals since winning in 2021. The same with the Lakers when they won in 2020. With LeBron James and Anthony Davis, they were figured to run the table. It comes with the territory.
Can the Denver Nuggets buck the trend and repeat? Yes, but they will need a lot of things to go their way. Health is one but so is the decline of some of the other teams in the Western and Eastern Conference.
