Everyone thought the Denver Nuggets were destined for a dynasty after that 2023 ring. Then 2024 happened. It wasn't exactly a collapse, but the Denver Nuggets roster 2024 felt different, maybe a bit thinner than the year before. If you look at the raw names, most of the "Big Five" stayed put, yet the vibe shifted.
Honestly, the 2023-2024 season was a masterclass in trying to balance a massive payroll with the need for fresh blood. You had Nikola Jokić playing like an alien—again—winning his third MVP in four years. But the supporting cast? That’s where things got tricky.
The Starters: A Locked-In Core
Basically, the starting five remained the best lineup in basketball by the numbers. When Jokić, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were on the floor together, they were a buzzsaw.
- Nikola Jokić: 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists. Just stupid numbers.
- Jamal Murray: Averaged 21.2 points but struggled to stay on the court, appearing in only 59 games.
- Michael Porter Jr.: He actually played 81 games. For a guy with his back history, that's massive. He also broke the franchise record for most threes in a single season with 193.
- Aaron Gordon: The ultimate glue guy, putting up 13.9 points and 6.5 rebounds while guarding basically everyone.
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: The veteran stabilizer. 10.1 points and elite perimeter defense.
But here is the thing: they were exhausted. Because the Denver Nuggets roster 2024 lost key veterans like Bruce Brown and Jeff Green in the 2023 offseason, the starters had to carry a heavier load. You've probably seen the stats—whenever Jokić sat, the team's net rating plummeted like a rock. In the 2023-24 regular season, Denver was a -11.1 when Jokić wasn't on the floor. That is a "lottery team" level of bad.
🔗 Read more: Penn State Football Schedule: Why the 2026 Slate Changes Everything
The Bench Experiment
General Manager Calvin Booth made a bet. He bet that the kids—Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, and Julian Strawther—could replace the veteran production.
It sort of worked. Sorta.
Christian Braun became the de facto sixth man. He’s got that "dawg" in him, as the kids say. He played all 82 games and averaged about 7.3 points. Then you had Peyton Watson, who turned into a legitimate shot-blocking menace on the wing. But the offense? It was shaky.
Julian Strawther showed flashes of being a flamethrower from deep, but injuries and rookie inconsistency kept him out of the playoff rotation mostly. And then there was Reggie Jackson. He had to play way more minutes than anyone expected because of Murray's lingering calf and hamstring issues. Jackson had some "Big Government" moments, but he wasn't the consistent spark plug they needed when the playoffs got gritty.
Why the 2024 Roster Felt Different
The depth was the conversation. All year.
Usually, a defending champ adds a veteran on a minimum deal who hits big shots. Denver didn't really do that. They signed Justin Holiday, who was fine, but he wasn't a game-changer. They relied on Zeke Nnaji, who signed a big extension but eventually fell out of the rotation entirely.
When the Minnesota Timberwolves pushed them to seven games in the second round, the lack of a reliable backup big man was glaring. DeAndre Jordan is a great locker room guy, but he’s not the guy you want guarding Karl-Anthony Towns in a Game 7.
💡 You might also like: Jaguares de Córdoba Standings: Why This Season Feels Different
The Full 2023-2024 Roster Breakdown
If you're looking for the specific names that carried the flag during that 2024 run, here they are.
The Main Rotation
- Nikola Jokić (Center)
- Jamal Murray (Point Guard)
- Michael Porter Jr. (Small Forward)
- Aaron Gordon (Power Forward)
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Shooting Guard)
- Christian Braun (Guard/Forward)
- Peyton Watson (Forward)
- Reggie Jackson (Guard)
The Supporting Cast
- Justin Holiday: Provided some veteran wing depth.
- DeAndre Jordan: The veteran presence and emergency center.
- Zeke Nnaji: The high-energy big who struggled to find a role.
- Julian Strawther: The rookie shooter.
- Jalen Pickett & Hunter Tyson: Rookies who spent most of their time in the G-League or at the end of the bench.
- Vlatko Čančar: Missed the entire season with a torn ACL (this was a bigger loss than people realize).
Looking Ahead: The 2024-2025 Shift
Since we're looking at this from the perspective of 2026, we know how this ended. The Denver Nuggets roster 2024 was the "last dance" for that specific starting five. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope left for Orlando in the 2024 offseason. Michael Porter Jr. eventually moved on too.
✨ Don't miss: Alex Freeman Orlando City Explained: Why the Homegrown Star is the Real Deal
The team we see now, with Russell Westbrook and Jonas Valančiūnas in the mix, is a direct reaction to the failures of the 2024 depth. The front office realized they couldn't just "wait" for the young guys to grow up while Jokić was in his prime. They needed help.
Actionable Insights for Nuggets Fans
If you're following the roster changes or trying to understand the team's trajectory, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the "Non-Jokic" Minutes: This is the only stat that matters. If the bench can't stay even while the big man rests, the starters will be too tired to win in May and June.
- Health is Everything for Murray: The 2024 roster proved that a 70% Jamal Murray isn't enough to beat elite West teams.
- The Development Curve: Guys like Peyton Watson are the future. If he doesn't become a 35% three-point shooter, the spacing for Jokić gets way too tight.
The 2024 season wasn't a failure—they won 57 games and a playoff series—but it was a reality check. It showed that even with the best player in the world, you can't ignore the bench.
The Nuggets are currently focused on maximizing the remaining years of the Jokić era by being more aggressive in the trade market and free agency, a shift that started the moment they were eliminated in 2024. Keep an eye on the luxury tax apron, as that’s the real "opponent" for Denver’s front office moving forward.