Over the years the Denver Nuggets have faced many ups and downs in their 46-year history within the NBA. Even though the Denver Nuggets have never captured the NBA title, the team has produced some outstanding players throughout its history.
When certain players are on the court, the Denver Nuggets odds skyrocket. The Denver Nuggets have produced some standout players that have helped the team to become a team to watch.
In this article, we have gathered the top 5 greatest NBA players of the Denver Nuggets.
1. Carmelo Anthony (2003 – 2011)
Denver had missed the playoffs for eight straight seasons before Anthony’s debut. Yet, since his debut, the Nuggets have qualified each year for the postseason. He provided the Nuggets with the resources they needed to keep fighting for the Northwest Division championship.
Anthony played every game from the start for Denver, averaging 36.4 minutes and 24.8 points per game. In 2009, Melo guided the Denver Nuggets into the Western Conference Finals. A feat that has only previously occurred twice in the history of the team.
Anthony needed only seven seasons to accumulate 13,970 points, which ranks third all-time in Nuggets history. Denver has not had a more diverse scorer thanks to his talent to shoot from outside, manufacture his shot, and finish in tight spaces.
2. Alex English (1980 – 1990)
Every Denver Nugget fan has heard of this player.
English succeeded with the Nuggets during his 10 years with the team. He averaged 21.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. He flourished into one of the best scorers of the 1980s because he was the ideal fit for Doug Moe’s fast-paced arrangement.
The 1983 scoring champion, 3-time All-NBA Second Team selection, and eight-time All-Star guided the Nuggets to nine consecutive postseason appearances. This led to a spot in the 1985 Western Conference Finals.
English was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1997 after being the only player to accumulate at least 2,000 points in eight straight seasons. With 25,613 points, he is 13th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
3. Lafayette Lever (1984 – 1990)
The most versatile point guard to don a Nuggets uniform is Lafayette “Fat” Lever.
Lever joined Denver for the 1984–85 campaign and the team reached the postseason each of the six years he spent there. During his stint, the 6’3” sensation averaged 17.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game.
Lever was equally adept defensively as he was offensively. He had 1,167 career steals for the Nuggets and was unafraid to compete against the best point guards of the 1980s.
He was a two-time All-Star and was selected to the All-NBA Second Team in 1987 and the All-Defensive Second Team in 1988. This was thanks to his abilities on both ends of the court.
You should keep up to date with the NBA news to see who the newest Denver Nuggets players are to see who may make it on this list one day.
4. David Thompson (1975 – 1982)
One of the game’s most explosive guards ever was David Thompson.
Thompson was a role model for Michael Jordan and possessed one of the strongest vertical leaps in the game. The Skywalker appeared to posterize everybody who stood in his way as he proceeded down the center of the lane.
Thompson became a three-time NBA All-Star, the MVP of the 1979 All-Star Game, and a two-time All-NBA First Team pick in the six seasons following Denver’s NBA transition.
Overall, he is one of just five players to ever score more than 70 points in a game. Therefore, he was introduced to the 1996 Hall of Fame.
5. Dan Issel (1975 – 1985)
The greatest center to ever sign up for the Nuggets was Dan Issel. Despite being only 6’9”, Issel was a huge force when it came to positioning himself in the middle of the court.
He made a career at the free-throw line and had excellent hands and finesse at the rim. In addition, he was known for using his quick footwork to get good chances at the basket. Due to this, the Nuggets’ second-highest career PER of 21.1 was achieved.
Issel participated in the 1976 and 1977 All-Star games. He had lots of success during his playing career. Then, Issel began working for the Nuggets as a broadcaster. Finally, from 1992 to 1994 and 1999 to 2001, he served as the Denver Nuggets’ head coach.
Final Thoughts
Even though the Denver Nuggets haven’t had the most straightforward ride within the NBA, they have still procured some very noteworthy players. Over the years, there have been many great players, which have donned the Nuggets uniform and helped the team reach particular milestones.
All the players we have mentioned above have helped this team to remain contenders in the playoffs. There are lots more players we could have mentioned today, but these are the main ones every Nugget fan needs to know.
We hope this article has been informative. You now know the top 5 greatest NBA players of the Denver Nuggets.
