Adelman reveals how diverse personalities and complementary skills have made the Nuggets' star trio who they are.
Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman recently spoke about what makes his team's star trio so special, and it has as much to do with their personalities as their on-court performance.
"You have a guy from Serbia, a guy from Canada, and a guy from the west coast... and they're all completely different, and really cool people," Adelman said about Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon.
Big Three Powering Strong Start
The chemistry Adelman mentioned is showing up in a big way on the court this season. The Nuggets are off to a 10-2 start, sitting fourth in the Western Conference.
Jokić is putting together what might be his best season yet, averaging 28.8 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 10.9 assists per game while leading the NBA in both rebounds and assists.
The three-time MVP recently dropped 55 points against the LA Clippers, tying the NBA's season-high scoring performance.
Murray, the talented guard from Kitchener, Ontario, is contributing 22.0 points and 5.7 assists per game while helping to run Denver's offense alongside Jokić.
Gordon's Role in the Mix
Gordon, who grew up in San Jose, California, has been a steady presence as the third piece of Denver's core. The forward is averaging 19.9 points and 5.9 rebounds this season, providing the scoring punch and defensive versatility that complements the other two stars perfectly.
What makes this trio work isn't just their different backgrounds, but how their games fit together. Jokić's passing creates easy looks for both Murray and Gordon, while Murray's ability to create his own shot takes pressure off the big man.
Gordon's athleticism and finishing around the rim make him the perfect outlet for Jokić's incredible vision.
Adelman's First Year Success
The strong start to the 2025-26 season marks a successful beginning to David Adelman's first full year as Denver's head coach.
After the team fired Michael Malone following a playoff run that ended in the second round against Oklahoma City, Adelman was hired in May 2025 to take over full-time.
His ability to keep Denver's stars happy and playing well together has been on full display through the first 12 games of the season.
As the Nuggets continue their campaign with a 10-2 record, the combination of three stars from different corners of the world keeps proving that chemistry matters just as much as talent in the NBA.