What are the best Denver Nuggets playoffs seasons? For decades, the Denver Nuggets and the playoffs didn’t do well with one another. Sure, they regularly secured a playoff spot. They even reached the Conference Finals three times. But that elusive championship season always seemed out of reach.
Until 2023, that is. Let’s take a look at the history of the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs to see just how far they have come. You can check here what are the current Denver Nuggets odds tonight for the upcoming NBA games.
Early Years: Struggles and Milestones
The Nuggets were actually quite good from the time they entered the NBA. Nuggets playoff appearances were a regular occurrence; they only missed the playoffs twice in their first 14 seasons as an NBA franchise.
Despite all the wins, that never translated into playoff success for Denver. They reached the Conference Finals twice within their first 10 seasons, an incredible feat. But not one season resulted in a championship as teams like the Lakers and Celtics dominated.
Denver Nuggets Playoffs Record
|
Season |
Win % |
Playoff Position |
| 2023-2024 | 0.683 | Conference Semifinals |
| 2022-2023 | 0.646 | NBA Champions |
| 2021-2022 | 0.585 | Opening Round |
| 2020-2021 | 0.63 | Conference Semifinals |
| 2019-2020 | 0.63 | Conference Finals |
| 2018-2019 | 0.659 | Conference Semifinals |
| 2017-2018 | 0.561 | Did Not Qualify |
| 2016-2017 | 0.488 | Did Not Qualify |
| 2015-2016 | 0.5 | Did Not Qualify |
| 2014-2015 | 0.366 | Did Not Qualify |
| 2013-2014 | 0.439 | Did Not Qualify |
| 2012-2013 | 0.695 | Opening Round |
| 2011-2012 | 0.576 | Opening Round |
| 2010-2011 | 0.61 | Opening Round |
| 2009-2010 | 0.646 | Opening Round |
| 2008-2009 | 0.659 | Conference Finals |
| 2007-2008 | 0.61 | Opening Round |
| 2006-2007 | 0.549 | Opening Round |
| 2005-2006 | 0.537 | Opening Round |
| 2004-2005 | 0.598 | Opening Round |
| 2003-2004 | 0.524 | Opening Round |
| 2002-2003 | 0.207 | Did Not Qualify |
| 2001-2002 | 0.329 | Did Not Qualify |
| 2000-2001 | 0.488 | Did Not Qualify |
| 1999-2000 | 0.427 | Did Not Qualify |
| 1998-1999 | 0.28 | Did Not Qualify |
| 1997-1998 | 0.134 | Did Not Qualify |
| 1996-1997 | 0.256 | Did Not Qualify |
| 1995-1996 | 0.427 | Did Not Qualify |
| 1994-1995 | 0.5 | Opening Round |
| 1993-1994 | 0.683 | Conference Semifinals |
| 1992-1993 | 0.561 | Did Not Qualify |
| 1991-1992 | 0.439 | Did Not Qualify |
| 1990-1991 | 0.561 | Did Not Qualify |
| 1989-1990 | 0.512 | Opening Round |
| 1988-1989 | 0.463 | Opening Round |
| 1987-1988 | 0.61 | Conference Semifinals |
| 1986-1987 | 0.61 | Opening Round |
| 1985-1986 | 0.524 | Conference Semifinals |
| 1984-1985 | 0.61 | Conference Finals |
| 1983-1984 | 0.61 | Opening Round |
| 1982-1983 | 0.366 | Conference Semifinals |
| 1981-1982 | 0.524 | Opening Round |
| 1980-1981 | 0.61 | Did Not Qualify |
| 1979-1980 | 0.585 | Did Not Qualify |
| 1978-1979 | 0.61 | Opening Round |
| 1977-1978 | 0.549 | Conference Finals |
| 1976-1977 | 0.707 | Conference Semifinals |
Key Moments and Games
In the 1978 playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks presented a tough challenge. After going up 3-1 in the series, the Bucks charged back on the Nuggets to even the series. Denver would come away with the 116-110 win in Game 7 to make its first Western Conference Finals.
The 1985 playoffs (more later) showed that Denver was a force. Their game was fast, fun, and resulted in a ton of wins. After defeating the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz in the first two rounds, Denver ran into a buzzsaw in the Lakers. Though they had reached the Conference Finals again, they fell short for the second time in the round that had mattered most.
Statistics on NBA Playoffs & NBA Finals
In 48 seasons, the Denver Nuggets have reached the playoffs a whopping 30 times. In the last 10 years, they have nine playoff round wins but most of those have come in the last couple of seasons. They also won their first championship a year ago.
Making the playoffs that many times is impressive for any team. Last year was key, though. Making it to April and beyond is great, but having not won anything of real substance was hanging over the franchise. Getting the win changed the sports landscape in Denver and made the Nuggets a team to be reckoned with.
Rise to Prominence: The 1980s
Though the 1980s started off with the first two seasons in franchise history where Denver didn’t make the playoffs, it would soon become a decade of success. Denver sports was in a rut as a whole, especially with the Denver Broncos failing to get the big win.
Though the Nuggets didn’t win an NBA Championship, they did find years of strong success. They won 50 or more games twice and won five playoff rounds during that span. It was an exciting time for Nuggets fans.
Impact Players
Don’t let the name fool you: Fat Lever was a force in the 1980s. Getting a triple double in the NBA is no easy feat but Denver was awed by Lever’s ability to rack up points, assists, rebounds, and steals. He’s left his mark on the franchise.
Another memorable name from the 1980s is Alex English. “The Blade” is the franchise leader in points and ranks in the top five in assists, rebounds, win shares, steals, and Value Over Replacement Player. English became a Denver legend and earned his spot among the city’s greats.
The Dikembe Mutombo Era: Defensive Dominance
Though Denver had limited success on the court in the 1990s, it is hard to ignore one player: Dikembe Mutombo. The 4th overall pick in 1991, there are few players to have dominated as thoroughly as “Deke” did on the defensive end.
Mutombo became a feared name in sports and helped the Nuggets to a ton of wins. Though his defensive dominance wasn’t enough in the playoffs to translate, he earns a spot on virtually any all-time list for the Denver Nuggets.
Legacy with the Nuggets
He led the league in blocks from 1994-1996, made three All-Star Games, won Defensive Player of the Year, and was a member of the All-Defensive Second Team. He only played five seasons with Denver but definitely lived up to the expectations.
The only regret is that Denver faithful could have been rewarded with an NBA Championship season during his time. The team won a lot of games but making it to the most important series of the year would have been the greatest accomplishment.
The Carmelo Anthony Era: Offensive Firepower
By the time ‘Melo arrived in Denver, April for the Nuggets meant hitting the golf course. Just one year after he arrived, Anthony took the Nuggets to the first round of the playoffs for the first time in eight years. It was a major achievement at the time.
There may have been no more electric player in Nuggets history than Anthony. His game was predicated on isolation offense, capable of hitting a shot from anywhere on the floor. With the ball in his hands, he became one of the most exciting players in sports.
Successes
During his time in Denver, Anthony averaged almost 25 points per night. He made four All-Star teams in eight years, and had some memorable stretches as well. Though he hadn’t won much by the time he was traded in 2011, Anthony left his mark on Denver sports.
Weaknesses and Downfalls
Unfortunately for the Carmelo Anthony Denver Nuggets, things were a little one-dimensional. Despite their offensive success, the Nuggets never had a complete team that could compete with the top teams in the conference.
Because of that, the Nuggets won just two series in his time in Denver. Both came in the 2009 playoffs, the last playoff games won by Melo and the Nuggets before his departure to the New York Knicks during the 2010-11 season.
The Nikola Jokic Era: First Ring and Conference Dominance
Though the Denver Nuggets had successful seasons, things started to change after Nikola Jokic was drafted to the team. Though the Nuggets playoff runs had reached the Conference Finals a few times, they never won and never felt like a threat to win. But all of that changed.
The First Ring
The Nuggets made a deep run in the playoffs in 2020, making it through the first round in a tough Western Conference. They would eventually meet the Lakers in the conference finals, but Lebron James and company turned out to be a tough matchup.
That failure would ultimately lead them to the Lakers again in 2023. This time, Jokic and the Nuggets dominated their opponent. They won easily, reaching the NBA Finals for the first time. These Denver Nuggets were about more than just securing a playoff spot. Indeed, they rocked Ball Arena like never before and managed to win not only the West, but the NBA Championship for the first time. Even better, it felt like the road ahead would be rife with successful seasons, Nuggets playoff appearances, and dominance in the Western Conference.
Strengths and Weaknesses in 2024
Name a regular season series and Denver won it. Against top teams like the Timberwolves, Warriors, Thunder, Kings, Lakers, Suns, and Bucks, the Nuggets dominated. At home, there were few better. Come April, Denver had secured a playoff spot and tied for the best record in the Western Conference with the Thunder.
The first round was dominant, but the Timberwolves have exposed them in the second round. Despite dominating the NBA, Denver has been at the mercy of Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves.
Games are tougher and this isn’t the regular season. This is as tough an opponent as there is and this matchup could prove to be the downfall of the Nuggets. Nonetheless, the Nuggets have managed to tie the semifinals and their odds to win NBA finals are again skyrocketing.
Building for the Future: How the Nuggets Can Improve Their Roster
How do you criticize a team that won its first NBA Championship a year ago and breezed through the first round against the Lakers? The NBA Playoffs are tough even if Denver made the first round look easy. The Timberwolves now stand in the way as the second round opponent.
That said, the Denver Nuggets struggle with interior defense. The first two games of the second round have shown that the Wolves can dominate in the paint and create trouble. Against a lesser opponent like the Lakers, Suns, Warriors, Kings, Clippers, etc., they can get away with it. Against the Wolves and Ant Edwards, it is a tough matchup.
Final Thoughts
The sky is the limit for the Nuggets going forward. Ball Arena is rocking every night in Denver for regular season games. The Nuggets have become a staple in the NBA playoffs and are looking to make the NBA finals in back-to-back seasons. The Minnesota Timberwolves present the toughest challenge to that quest as of now.
