Setting Expectations for David Adelman’s Second Season as Nuggets HC

Last season, Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman led the team to the 3rd seed in the Western Conference and cruised his way to the postseason. Unfortunately for them, injuries piled up, and they lost in the first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

After a disappointing playoff defeat, the Nuggets were projected to be a team to have an active offseason and move some parts around their roster, but they’ve kept a similar look to last season. 

The most notable loss the Nuggets suffered this offseason was guard Peyton Watson, whom they traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. They essentially replaced him with veteran forward DeMar DeRozan, whom Denver hopes will be a reliable scorer off the bench. 

In year two for Adelman, the expectation should be for the Nuggets to emerge as a championship contender again. This is a team with one of the highest payrolls in the NBA, and with the veteran presence they have and how healthy they are, they have a chance to find themselves where they were three years ago. 

The driving force behind the Nuggets' chances of being contenders is center Nikola Jokic. For several seasons, Jokic has been in MVP conversations, and with a player like him, it makes it much easier to have a successful season. 

After the season ended, Jokic told the media that the current Nuggets team was not good enough to compete for a championship. After a relatively quiet offseason, choosing to keep essentially the same starting lineup was an interesting choice. 

The good news for Adelman is that he has some continuity after year one. With that continuity, the expectations rise, and Denver should be able to make a deeper playoff run next season. 

Adelman will also have to find ways for players like Cameron Johnson and Christian Braun to be set up in positions to succeed. Both players are coming off tough seasons, but they provide upside for this roster.  

Johnson is a capable shooter and defender on the perimeter, and Braun has the ability to give the Nuggets a boost in energy with his hustle plays and shooting ability. 

Combining those two players having better seasons with a healthy Aaron Gordon in 2026, the Nuggets could be back in that championship-contender status. 

This team will have a chance to succeed with better health, continuity, and improved seasons from players who underperformed, so expectations should be set high for David Adelman and the Denver Nuggets.