The Denver Nuggets profile as a strong contender for success this season as they pursue another NBA championship to add on to their 2023 victory.

Denver has fought to a 13-4 record so far this season, good for third in the Western Conference behind only the Los Angeles Lakers and the league-best Oklahoma City Thunder. The Nuggets are the best offensive team in the NBA with 123.8 points per game while shooting at the second-highest field goal percentage in the league at 50.6% per game.

The combination of Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray has proven to be tremendous once again for the Nuggets, and a strong supporting cast of players like Peyton Watson and Tim Hardaway Jr., who have been coming off the bench for Denver, have filled out other key pieces in the Denver offensive makeup. 

The Nuggets are primed to make a deep run into the playoffs, if not go all the way. But, if they want to surpass their Western Conference rivals, the Lakers and the Thunder, ESPN's Tim McMahon believes that one more piece of the Nuggets' starting five needs to rise to the occasion.

What the Nuggets Need from Cameron Johnson

Trading for shooting guard Cameron Johnson from the Brooklyn Nets last July was the Nuggets' way of making a splash in the offseason and bulking out their roster. An 18.8 points per game shooter, Johnson was an impact player for the Nets and seemed to be in the same position for the Nuggets.

However, after a slow start to the season hampered by a bicep strain that kept him sidelined for a game, Johnson wasn't immediately shaping out to be the game-changer that Denver was looking for. 

Despite meager production from Johnson at a crucial shooting guard position, the Nuggets have still managed to thrive offensively. 

"Denver ranks second in the league in offensive efficiency (121.9 points per 100 possessions) and third in net rating (plus-9.7) even though Johnson is averaging only 9.4 points per game while shooting 33.3% from 3-point range, which is almost 10% points lower than his career norm," McMahon wrote (via ESPN).

Johnson Stepping Up

Johnson has upped his performance since returning from injury, and the forward out of Pennsylvania has been lighting up the court with an average of 14.5 points per game in the last two games.

Should Johnson keep up the pace he's established since his return from injury, he would profile as an elite shooting option for Murray to pass to, opening up the Nuggets' potential responses to opposing defenses.

"The Nuggets especially need Johnson to perform up to his standard with Christian Braun out at least six weeks because of an ankle sprain," McMahon wrote.