The Denver Nuggets have made it to the NBA Finals for the first time.
Here are 10 interesting facts about the Denver Nuggets:
- Founded in 1967 as the Denver Larks, the team changed its name to the Denver Rockets and later to the Denver Nuggets in 1974 when they joined the NBA.
- The Denver Nuggets have had several notable players throughout their history, including Alex English, Dan Issel, Dikembe Mutombo, Allen Iverson, and Carmelo Anthony.
- In the 1981-1982 season, the Nuggets set an NBA record by averaging 126.5 points per game, a record that still stands today.
- During the 1993-1994 season, the Nuggets became the first eighth-seeded team in NBA history to defeat a first-seeded team in a best-of-five playoff series when they beat the Seattle SuperSonics.
- The Denver Nuggets had a player named Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (formerly Chris Jackson) who was known for his exceptional shooting skills. He converted 90.8% of his free throw attempts during the 1993-1994 season, which is the highest single-season free throw percentage in NBA history.
- In 2013, the Nuggets set a franchise record by winning 57 games in the regular season, earning the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
- The Nuggets have had a strong home court advantage at the Pepsi Center (now known as Ball Arena) in Denver. They had a 10-season streak from 2013 to 2022 where they had a winning record at home.
- Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets’ center, won the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the 2020-2021 season, becoming the first Denver Nugget to receive this prestigious honor.
- The Nuggets made it to the NBA Western Conference Finals in the 2008-2009 season but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.
- The Denver Nuggets are known for their high-scoring and fast-paced style of play. They have had numerous seasons where they ranked among the top teams in scoring and offensive efficiency in the NBA.