Denver Nuggets Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Nikola Jokic, Jalen Johnson Named Players Of The Week

November 17th, 2025 at 5:18pm CST by Rory Maher

Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has been named the Western Conference Player of the Week, while Hawks forward Jalen Johnson has won the award in the East, the NBA announced on Monday (via Twitter).

Jokic, who won the weekly honor in the West for the second straight time (19th overall), had another phenomenal week, even by his lofty standards. He led Denver to three road victories, averaging 39.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.7 steals on .737/.643/.889 shooting splits.

Jokic’s week was highlighted by a 55-point outburst against the Clippers in which he recorded 52 points, 11 rebounds and six assists through only three quarters, the first player to have such a stat line through three periods since the NBA began play-by-play tracking in 1997/98, per the Nuggets. He notched another three points and one rebound in two-plus minutes in the fourth, shooting 18-of-23 from the field, 5-of-6 from three, and 14-of-16 from the line in 34 minutes.

The Nuggets have won seven straight games and are currently 10-2, only trailing the 13-1 Thunder in the West. Jokic, a three-time MVP who finished as the runner-up in the two seasons he didn’t win the award over the past five years, is averaging career highs in several statistical categories in 2025/26.

Johnson had a spectacular stretch of games himself in winning his first Player of the Week award. The 23-year-old guided Atlanta to a perfect 4-0 record on the team’s Western Conference road trip, the first time the Hawks have gone undefeated on a West trip spanning at least four games since 1970/71. He averaged 24.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 9.3 assists and 2.5 steals on .603/.571/.783 shooting.

Johnson had a historic stat line on Thursday in Utah, recording career highs in points (31), rebounds (18), assists (14) and steals (seven), the first player to meet all of those statistical benchmarks in a game since steals became an official stat in ’73/74. The Hawks are now 9-5, tied for the No. 3 seed in the East.

According to the NBA (Twitter link), the other nominees in the West were Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, James Harden, Lauri Markkanen and Alperen Sengun. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Scottie Barnes, Jaylen Brown, Pistons two-way guard Daniss Jenkins, Karl-Anthony Towns and Franz Wagner were nominated in the East.

David Adelman Raises Concern About Back-To-Backs

November 15th, 2025 at 11:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

Coach David Adelman’s main concern about the Nuggets‘ early-season schedule has been two instances of traveling for back-to-back games that tipped off less than 24 hours apart, per Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. “Especially when you’re playing national TV games that are a lot longer (due to commercial breaks),” Adelman said. “That’s something I think we all have to talk about. If we’re talking about the betterment of the players, and you want to see the best product possible nightly, you have to give them time for their bodies to come back and be themselves.”

Nuggets’ Christian Braun Out At Least Six Weeks With Ankle Sprain

November 14th, 2025 at 5:15pm CST by Rory Maher

Nuggets wing Christian Braun has been diagnosed with a left ankle sprain and will miss at least six weeks, which is when he’ll be reexamined, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (via Twitter).

The Nuggets put out a press release confirming the news (Twitter link).

Braun sustained the injury late in the first quarter during Wednesday’s win at the Clippers. While attempting to pressure James Harden near mid-court, Braun appeared to have his right foot briefly stepped on and then took an awkward step backward with his left foot and immediately reacted in pain (Twitter video link via Law Murray of The Athletic).

Braun, who signed a five-year, $125MM rookie scale extension on the final day he was eligible to so (October 20), emerged as a full-time starter for Denver in 2024/25, posting career-best numbers in virtually every major statistic, including points (15.4), rebounds (5.2), assists (2.6), steals (1.1) and minutes per game (33.9) in 79 appearances. His shooting line of .580/.397/.827 was also excellent.

The 21st overall pick in the 2022 draft, Braun hadn’t been quite as productive through 10 healthy games this season, averaging 11.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.9 APG and 0.9 SPG on .484/.214/.778 shooting in 30.8 MPG. But he’s still an important part of the rotation, particularly on defense, where he’s frequently tasked with slowing down the opposing team’s best perimeter scorer.

The 24-year-old guard/forward had been quite durable to this point in his career, only missing nine total games over his first three seasons. He’ll more than double that total because of the left ankle sprain — the Nuggets play 19 times over the next six weeks, Murray notes.

Braun isn’t the only Nugget dealing with an injury, as starting forward Cameron Johnson will miss Saturday’s game in Minnesota with a right bicep strain, tweets Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette. Superstar center Nikola Jokic is questionable due to a left wrist sprain.

With Braun out, Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Julian Strawther are candidates for more playing time. Peyton Watson seems likely to start in place of Johnson, though that’s just speculation.

Northwest Notes: McDaniels, Bailey, Valanciunas, Blazers

November 14th, 2025 at 1:02pm CST by Luke Adams

Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels has been a perennial All-Defensive candidate in recent years, but didn’t command significant attention from opposing defenses. Entering this season, McDaniels had never averaged more than 12.2 points per game in a season or had a usage rate higher than 16.3%.

Early in his sixth NBA season, however, the 25-year-old is showing signs of developing into a legitimate two-way threat, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Through 11 games, McDaniels is averaging 18.4 points per game on a scorching hot .550/.538/.844 shooting line, with a 21.3% usage rate. While those shooting percentages probably aren’t sustainable, McDaniels has looked more comfortable handling the ball, getting to the rim, and creating shots for both himself and teammates, according to Krawczynski.

“We’re going to keep giving him the ball, putting the ball in his hands,” teammate Anthony Edwards said. “He can play with the ball in his hands; he’s just got to make the right play. If he makes the right play, we can be 10 times better, you know? Because he’s a great scorer. We just need him to be another facilitator for us.”

McDaniels’ talents as a perimeter defender have made him a valuable role player and quality starter despite a lack of offensive production, but if he continues to play like he has on the other end of the court, he could be on his way to establishing himself as a star in his role.

“He’s one of the best two-way players in the league,” Julius Randle said, per Krawczynski. “We’ve got to be consistent in that and keep feeding him confidence, trusting him.”

We have more from around the Northwest:

Ace Bailey‘s stats so far this season (8.7 PPG on .415/.324/.824 shooting) have been modest, but the Jazz rookie has scored double-digit points in four consecutive games and is earning praise for his team-first approach, says Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune. “He’s highly intentional. He, even at 19, fits in with us. He wants to do the right thing always,” veteran big man Kevin Love said. “Ten games in, once he gets to 20, he’s gonna make another step — once he gets to 40, and once he gets a full season.”
The offseason addition of veteran center Jonas Valanciunas has allowed the Nuggets to slightly reduce Nikola Jokic‘s workload (he’s averaging 33.9 MPG after playing 36.7 last season) and to be more competitive when the three-time MVP isn’t on the floor (the team has a -4.0 net rating when Jokic sits, compared to -9.3 last season). Mark Medina of Essentially Sports spoke to Valanciunas about his experience in Denver so far and to head coach David Adelman about what the 33-year-old has brought to the team. “Attitude-wise, culture-wise, statistically, everything has been positive,” Adelman said of Valanciunas. “He brings such a good energy every day with the team. I feel like there is a part of him that is just really enjoying being on a successful team. He can be an impact guy on that team and play really important games.”
A spokesperson for Paul Allen‘s estate denied a report claiming that the Allens would be retaining a 20% stake in the Trail Blazers once the sale of the team to Tom Dundon is complete, per Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report (Substack link). That spokesperson stated that the Blazers will be owned entirely by Dundon’s group once the sale closes, with the Allen estate no longer holding any shares.

Nuggets Notes: Watson, Johnson, Braun, Jokic, Jones, Brown, Strawther

November 13th, 2025 at 5:48pm CST by Rory Maher

After failing to come to terms on a rookie scale extension before the season began, Nuggets forward Peyton Watson will head to restricted free agency in the 2026 offseason, assuming he’s given a qualifying offer. He’ll have new representation when that time comes, having joined Klutch Sports Group, the agency announced (via Twitter).

As Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette tweets, Watson was previously represented by Excel Sports. The 23-year-old has averaged 6.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks in 21.1 minutes per contest through 11 games this season.

We have several more items on the Nuggets:

A pair of starters were forced to leave Wednesday’s win over the Clippers due to injuries, writes Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. Offseason addition Cameron Johnson exited in the first quarter with a right arm strain, while Christian Braun sustained a left ankle injury late in the first period and briefly tried to play through it before exiting in the second. Both players were ruled out at halftime. “Obviously, whatever happened wasn’t good enough for them to come back out and play the third quarter, so that’s concerning,” head coach David Adelman said after the team’s sixth consecutive win. “But I really don’t know, and I don’t think they do either. We have a full day here (in Los Angeles) tomorrow to kind of get all that stuff sorted out, which will be good for me, too. Because if they are out, or if they’re in, we have to figure out a way to make our rotation make sense. … So I’m hoping for the best.”
Entering Wednesday’s game, which was the second night of a back-to-back, the Nuggets were 0-4 (including the playoffs) when Nikola Jokic scored 50-plus points. After an incredibly efficient 55-point outing against the Clips — he shot 18-of-23 from the field, 5-of-6 on three-pointers, and 14-of-16 from the foul line in just 34 minutes — the three-time MVP was more focused on the result than his individual performance. “I think I scored, a couple of times, more than 50, and we lost every time. I think this is the first time I scored 50 that we won. So it’s a good feeling,” Jokic said, per Durando. The Serbian center has been on a remarkable tear during Denver’s six-game winning streak, notes Beth Harris of The Associated Press, averaging 35.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 11.0 assists and 1.8 steals on .739/.556/.857 shooting over that span (33.3 minutes).
Second-year forward Spencer Jones, who is on a two-way contract, has emerged as a defensive specialist for the Nuggets, according to Durando. Jones, who did an admirable job of slowing down James Harden on Wednesday, is fully aware that his playing time might be limited from game to game. “You just have to come in, guard one of the better players out there,” he said. “You don’t really know when you’re gonna come in, when you’re gonna go out, what games you’re gonna play. So it’s just always being ready.”
Bruce Brown‘s role with the Nuggets is different than it was when he helped the team win its first title in 2023, Durando writes for The Denver Post. The veteran guard operated on the ball more the last time around, and he acknowledges he’s still getting used to his new responsibilities. “Little different. I’m still getting adjusted to it,” Brown said of round two with Denver. “Obviously, when you come back to a situation where you were before, you think it’s gonna be exactly the same, but it’s not, obviously. But all I care about is winning. I’m trying to put another banner up. So I’m still getting adjusted to it. Sometimes you might see me come out of the game a little frustrated, just because I’m still getting used to it.”
Free agent additions Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. have squeezed out younger members of the rotation, such as third-year wing Julian Strawther, who is playing just 8.1 minutes per game after averaging 21.3 MPG in 2024/25. Jokic has been pleased with Strawther’s effort when he’s had a chance to play, as Durando relays. “He stays ready,” Jokic said. “He’s aggressive when he comes in the game, and that’s a good thing. He’s trying on defense. And I think that’s the mindset that he should have.”

Cade Cunningham, Nikola Jokic Named Players Of Week

November 10th, 2025 at 2:53pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Pistons guard Cade Cunningham has been named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, while Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has been chosen as the Western Conference Player of the Week, according to the NBA (Twitter links).

Cunningham led Detroit to four consecutive wins during the week of November 3-9 while averaging 31.0 points and 9.8 assists per game on 54.7% shooting. This marks the second time in his career that Cunningham has received a Player of the Week award.

Jokic also led his team to a 4-0 week, with home victories over Sacramento, Miami, Golden State, and Indiana. The three-time MVP averaged a triple-double, with 31.3 points, 13.3 assists, and 11.3 rebounds per contest. His biggest game of the week came last Wednesday against the Heat, when he racked up 33 points, 16 assists, 15 rebounds, and three steals.

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks), Jalen Duren (Pistons), Kon Knueppel (Hornets), Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers), Norman Powell (Heat) and Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks) were the other Eastern Conference nominees.

Devin Booker (Suns), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), Trey Murphy III (Pelicans), Julius Randle (Timberwolves) and Alperen Sengun (Rockets) were also nominated in the West.

Nuggets Notes: Jokic, Johnson, Hardaway Jr., Brown

November 8th, 2025 at 11:00am CST by Dana Gauruder

Nikola Jokic is averaging 24.4 points per game, down from his career-high of 29.6, and he’s attempting 15.1 shots per game, compared to the 19.5 he averaged last season. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, according to Nuggets head coach David Adelman, who would prefer to see the points more evenly distributed.

“If we can get through games without having to post him up 25 times, I think that’s beneficial for us and his body,” Adelman said. per Bennett Durando of the Denver Post. “But if the game demands it, he will. And I think he’ll score like he needs to. But staying in the split game and the elbow game, it can get redundant, but I think it keeps everybody involved. And he keeps everybody involved anyway, because he’ll get doubled in the post or whatever it is. But (we’re) trying to play that team game as much as we can.”

We have more on the Nuggets:

Denver is taking a ‘What, me worry?’ stance on Cameron Johnson‘s slow start. Acquired from the Nets during the offseason, Johnson is averaging just 7.5 points per game on 36.2 percent shooting. “He’s getting good looks. We’re looking for him and stuff. I think it’s all part of the game,” Jamal Murray told Durando. “Everybody knows Cam can shoot. If you go look at his career, he can shoot the ball. So he didn’t just lose his arm.” Murray’s coach expressed similar thoughts. “Cam’s going to have a night soon and somebody else may not play a lot, and we’ll talk about their production. But who really cares if we’re winning?” Adelman said.
Tim Hardaway Jr., who started regularly for the Pistons last season, has become a key reserve for the Nuggets. He’s scored in double digits during five of eight games this season. “He’s such a weapon, and he can get his shot off so easily and quickly,” Adelman told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. “It’s a big deal. You know, a lot of teams have the athleticism these days. But a guy that releases the ball that quickly and gets it off, it’s a big deal. And not to mention, he just really knows how to play. Tim fits right in.”
Bruce Brown played a major role in their championship run in 2023. The hard-nosed guard is looking to make the same kind of defensive impact in the playoffs this season, according to Durando. “Later in the season (referees will) let things go just because they know you’re a physical defender,” he said. “(The Thunder’s) Lu Dort has a reputation as being a physical defender, so they don’t really call much on him. So (I’m) just trying to do that.”

Nuggets, Jonas Valanciunas Adjust 2026/27 Contract Terms

November 6th, 2025 at 6:05pm CST by Rory Maher

The Nuggets and Jonas Valanciunas have agreed to restructure the final year of the veteran center’s contract, reports Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).

As Fischer details, Valanciunas’ deal runs through 2026/27, but his entire $10MM salary would have been non-guaranteed if he was waived by June 29 — the two sides have agreed to push back that trigger date to July 8.

According to Fischer, the amended terms of Valanciunas’ contract now call for the Lithuanian big man to earn a partially guaranteed $2MM (as opposed to zero) if he’s waived before July 8, which is why he agreed to the arrangement.

The restructured deal gives the Nuggets more time to decide what to do with Valanciunas, who could be an appealing trade option for teams looking to trim salary next summer, Fischer writes. The 33-year-old will also be extension-eligible in the offseason if his deal is guaranteed, Fischer adds.

It’s worth noting that Valanciunas reportedly wanted to sign with Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos over the summer, but the Nuggets wouldn’t agree to a buyout because they had just traded for him and viewed him as an ideal backup to Nikola Jokic. So the fact that Valanciunas could potentially hit free agency much later than other players — after the July moratorium — may not matter much to him if he intends to finish his career overseas anyways.

In seven games with Denver this season, Valanciunas has averaged 8.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per contest.

Northwest Notes: Dudley, Jazz, Ainge, Thunder

November 5th, 2025 at 4:53pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Jared Dudley had a lengthy NBA career. As an assistant coach with the Nuggets, Dudley now finds himself in charge of Denver’s defensive schemes. His main mission is a simple one.

“Coming up with a defense that protects (Nikola Jokic),” he told Bennett Durando of the Denver Post.

Dudley is doing so by having Denver’s guards and wings take on more responsibilities at that end of the floor, so that Jokic can conserve his energy for the offensive side.

“I can’t teach (him) anything offensively. You’re already this. You’ve got that,” Dudley said. “But defensively, I can teach you. I’ve played with different centers. I’ve played with Boban (Marjanovic), who’s bigger than you and slower than you. … I only want him to think about going back to the rim, Point A to Point B. I don’t want him having him to go guard these guards on the wings, in rotations.”

We have more on the Northwest Division:

How are the Jazz‘s young players faring thus far? Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune takes a closer look, breaking down the team’s last three draft classes and evaluating each of those players’ performances.
Austin Ainge is the Jazz‘s new president of basketball operations and Larsen spoke with the Celtics’ top executive, Brad Stevens, about the son of longtime Celtics and Utah executive Danny Ainge. Stevens is confident that Austin will step out of his father’s shadow and build a winner in Utah. “He’s always been a guy that I think has a good sense for putting a team together and what wins, both in the regular season and then certainly in the playoffs,” Stevens said.
The undefeated Thunder will be playing without several rotation players in Portland tonight. Alex Caruso (rest), Luguentz Dort (right upper trapezius strain) and Chet Holmgren (lower back sprain) are all listed as out, Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman tweets.

Westbrook: Nuggets ‘Told Me Not To’ Pick Up Player Option

November 4th, 2025 at 7:53am CST by Luke Adams

Returning to Denver on Monday for the first time since departing the team as a free agent over the summer, Kings point guard Russell Westbrook had a big night, racking up 26 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists in a 130-124 loss. Asked after the game about his time with the Nuggets, Westbrook said he thought it was “great” but that “other people” didn’t necessarily feel the same way (Twitter video link via DNVR Sports).

“The truth is that they didn’t want me back,” Westbrook said. “It ain’t up to me. God always has a plan. Be patient. Not up to me. They don’t want me, that’s OK. Somebody else do.”

Westbrook, who signed a two-year, minimum-salary contract with Denver during the 2024 offseason, played a significant role for the club, averaging 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 27.9 minutes per game across 75 appearances (36 starts) during the regular season. He also contributed 11.7 PPG, 2.6 APG, and 3.7 RPG in 13 playoff contests (24.1 MPG).

The former MVP was lauded by coaches and teammates in Denver for his energy, competitiveness, and leadership, but he didn’t score efficiently (.449/.323/.661 shooting) and his high-energy style results in some out-of-control plays and a high turnover rate, making him a somewhat polarizing player.

Although Westbrook held a $3.47MM player option for the 2025/26 season on his Nuggets deal, he opted to turn it down in favor of unrestricted free agency. He was on the market for nearly the entire offseason before signing a new veteran’s minimum deal with Sacramento last month. Asked about that option decision, the 36-year-old suggested Denver didn’t want him to exercise it.

“They told me not to,” he said. “I don’t go anywhere I’m not wanted. I don’t need to.”

As Bennett Durando of The Denver Post observes, the Nuggets underwent some significant organizational changes in the spring, hiring a new head coach and installing a new head of basketball operations. While those changes may have contributed to Westbrook’s exit – veteran center DeAndre Jordan also indicated last week that the team didn’t want to bring him back, Durando notes – new head coach David Adelman had nothing but kind words for the veteran guard prior to Monday’s game.

“He’s the most consistent energy guy I’ve ever been around,” Adelman said, per Durando. “… Huge part of why we won the first round last year against the Clippers. Huge part of some of the defensive things we could do against OKC (in the second round). So it’s really cool to see Russ get picked up by (Sacramento), and just to see the longevity and what he’s done in this unbelievable, magical career he’s had. So he should be in the NBA. It’s good to see him out there competing. Watching him on film reminded me of a lot of things — just the relentlessness of what he is.”