Denver Nuggets
Colorado franchise whose 2023 championship — led by Nikola Jokić, a three-time MVP — was the most deserved title in recent NBA history and announced the international era of basketball.
Pantheon Standing
| List Name | Rank | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| Greatest NBA Franchises of All Time | #1 | 96.0 |
The Age Divide
Voters under 30 and over 35 rank Denver Nuggets significantly differently across lists.
The Athletic Record
The Case For Denver Nuggets
“The longevity argument alone puts them in a category of one. While others burned bright and faded, this figure consistently reinvented and dominated across decades, eras, and cultural shifts that would have destroyed lesser talents.”
“Technically unmatched. The craft here is evident in every performance, every work — the kind of effortless execution that only comes from thousands of hours of mastery made invisible. They make the impossible look inevitable.”
“Commercial success should never be held against artistic legacy. The ability to dominate charts while maintaining critical respect is a skill unto itself — one that this figure has mastered better than any peer in the conversation.”
Rank History
Ranking history will be available once voting opens for Denver Nuggets.
Often Compared To
Minnesota Timberwolves
#2NBA / Northwest Division — Minneapolis, Minnesota · 1989–present
Minnesota franchise whose Kevin Garnett era in the early 2000s produced the franchise's only conference finals run — and whose Anthony Edwards era is generating the most excitement since.
Oklahoma City Thunder
#3NBA / Northwest Division — Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · 2008–present
Oklahoma franchise that inherited Seattle's Sonics and produced the most exciting young core in the league — Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden before trades scattered them all.