After a regular season that saw them finish third in the Western Conference, but a disappointing playoff series that saw them lose in six games to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round, the Denver Nuggets are bringing back their same starting five in the 2026-27 season.

The bench will look much different as Peyton Watson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valanciunas are all gone. DeMar DeRozan, Alpha Diallo, and Marvin Bagley II have been added in their place.

Expectations are once again high for the Nuggets as they still have Nikola Jokic, still considered by many to be the best player in the league, running the show.

It’s a big season for Denver, and who are their first most important players this year?

The answer is always Nikola Jokic.

He’s coming off a disappointing playoff series where he didn’t play up to the “Best in the World” standards. He wasn’t the most disappointing player in the series, but when you’re the best player on the team, you’re expected to lift the team when they are down, and Jokic wasn’t his usual self.

Though he’s said he wants to remain in Denver, he’s in the final year of his deal, as he can decline his player option and become a free agent in the offseason. With the contract decision looming and the lack of moves in the offseason, the team will go as Jokic goes.

There might not be more pressure on anyone in Denver than Christian Braun this season.

He signed a massive five-year, $125 million deal two years ago after playing 77 games as a starter and averaging 15.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists on 58% shooting and 39% from three.

The thought was that he would continue to improve as one of the core pieces on the team. He was disappointing last season, averaging 12 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists on 51% shooting and 30% from three.

Now, his contract kicks in, and he has to prove that he’s worth that money. There is extra attention on him as Denver failed to sign restricted free agent Peyton Watson, who had a breakout season last year, in part because of Braun’s big contract and wanting to avoid the second apron.

The goal for him is to just stay healthy, especially when it matters the most.

When he’s in the lineup, Denver is a better team on both ends of the floor. He’s been injured in the playoffs the last two seasons, and it’s a big reason why they haven’t been able to make it back to the Conference Finals. If he’s healthy, Denver remains one of the best teams in the West.

Murray is coming off an All-Star season, putting up career numbers across the board. People forget just how good he was in the regular season because his playoffs were a big disappointment as the Timberwolves held him in check.

Murray will need to bounce back from that playoff performance and regain his regular season form, this time maintaining it when it matters the most.

Denver is going to desperately need his scoring off the bench with the departures of Hardaway Jr. and Watson.

They signed DeRozan to fill that void, and despite entering his 18th season in the league, he’s still a bucket getter who puts pressure on opposing defenses. If he has his consistent scoring touch, Denver will win plenty of games in the regular season. If the falloff is dramatic, their bench could be underwhelming and barely tread water.