A busy summer for the Denver Nuggets reignited hopes that the 2023 NBA Champions could find their footing near the top of the Western Conference once again. So far, that has come to pass for the most part, as the Mile High City sits at the third spot in the conference standings.
Even with all of their success, they stand a ways away from the Oklahoma City Thunder at the top. As a result, new head coach David Adelman was willing to be honest about his team’s chances and their start to the 2025-26 season.
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David Adelman Offers a Straightforward Rationale for the Nuggets
Nikola Jokić is continuing his perennial case for being the league MVP, while the pieces around him have seen marked improvement, particularly with the starts that Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon have had.
But even with their success, the 17-6 Nuggets, tied with the Los Angeles Lakers in record, feel way behind the Thunder, who sit at 23-1. But for Adelman, the focus is on his group only, rather than on other squads.
Speaking to beat writer Bennett Durando, he explained, “I think we don’t freak out as much as maybe the outside noise does. I know losing at home is never good. But winning on the road this many times is also very good.”
They are in a peculiar place right now, where they’ve lost their last four home games while also being in the midst of a 10-game winning streak on the road. As a result, Adelman is willing to find a middle ground with the way they are placed in the standings.
After Denver parted ways with Michael Malone at the end of the regular season last year in one of the most shocking moves in recent NBA history, they handed the keys to Adelman as the interim head coach.
In a short stint, he was able to prove his worth, as he helped them get to a Game 7 against Oklahoma City, despite the roster getting ravaged by injuries and being severely undermanned against a 12-deep Thunder lineup.
During that run, he proved his stability and leadership in spades, prompting the franchise to declare him as the new head coach. That steadiness has carried over into the 2025-26 season as well.
While the record and seeding are where they’re at, Adelman is keenly aware of the way things are shaping up in the West. “There’s only one OKC right now. Then there’s us, Lakers, Houston, San Antonio & you keep going.”