The Denver Nuggets enter a pivotal season as Nikola Jokic has not signed a contract extension, opting to wait another year to further maximize his earnings. While Jokic has verbally committed to remaining in Denver long-term, another early exit and the temptation of teaming up with Luka Doncic or another superstar could be too much for the three-time MVP.

After winning a championship in 2023, the Nuggets have failed to get out of the second round, and this past year may have been their worst playoff performance yet as they lost in six games to the shorthanded Minnesota Timberwolves.

The team didn’t make sweeping changes in the offseason, bringing back the same starting lineup, but losing key bench contributors like Peyton Watson and Tim Hardaway Jr.

The pressure is on the following players to make an impact and get the Nuggets back to at least the Conference Finals.

Without a doubt, Braun faces the most pressure of any player on the Nuggets this season.

Braun averaged 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists on 58% shooting from the field and 39% shooting from three while holding his own defensively in the 2024-25 season. That offseason, the Nuggets rewarded him with a five-year, $125 million deal that begins this season.

His numbers dropped this past season where he averaged 12 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists on 51% shooting and 30% from three. Meanwhile, Peyton Watson ascended to the point where the team couldn’t pay him and stay under the second apron without trading Braun. In the end, Watson was traded as a restricted free agent.

Braun has to now prove he is worth the $25 million a season that he will command by returning to his 2024-25 form, if not even better.

With Watson and Hardaway Jr leaving, the bench depth took a big hit. The Oklahoma City Thunder tried to make a play for Jones, sending in an offer sheet to the restricted free agent. The Nuggets matched, viewing Jones as a versatile two-way player that was worth keeping.

Now, he’ll need to prove that they didn’t make a mistake in matching, which put them over the second apron.

Jones averaged 22 minutes per game last season, but that number should be increased this year. He might be the best defender on a team that was the worst defensive team to make the playoffs last season. He’s a strong three-point shooter, but he’ll need to be even better at creating his own shot on more opportunities this year.

Gordon doesn’t necessarily need to improve his game, he just needs to improve his health.

He’s perhaps the second most important player on the team beind Jokic as he connects everything offensively and defensively. Not being able to stay on the floor hurt the Nuggets in the playoffs the last two seasons.

If he’s healthy for 80% of the games and in the playoffs, the Nuggets will remain a contender.