The Denver Nuggets are entering the 2025–26 NBA season with a sense of excitement that feels unlike anything the franchise has experienced in recent years. For over a decade, Nikola Jokić has carried the Nuggets with his unique playstyle, incredible basketball IQ, and two MVP trophies to his name. Yet for all of his greatness, critics have often argued that Denver never fully maximized its roster around him.

This year feels different. The Nuggets have finally given Jokić a gift he has never had before: true lineup versatility, a set of weapons that makes the team harder to predict, tougher to guard, and more dangerous than at any point in the Jokić era. With the additions of Jonas Valančiūnas and the emergence of young talent like DaRon Holmes II, head coach David Adelman now has a rotation filled with options that simply didn’t exist before.

Why This Season Feels Special

For years, the Nuggets have relied on Jokić to be the heart and soul of their system, often surrounding him with shooters and versatile forwards. It worked well enough to deliver a championship in 2023, but the roster often felt thin and predictable. Opponents knew Denver would play through Jokić and Jamal Murray, and when those two weren’t at their best, the team struggled to find secondary solutions.

Now, the landscape has shifted. Adelman has openly talked about experimenting with Jokić and Valančiūnas lineups, something fans never thought they would hear. On paper, the pairing looks unconventional, even risky. Two big men sharing the court could create defensive mismatches. But offensively, it could be a nightmare for opponents. Both Jokić and Valančiūnas can stretch the floor, pass effectively, and control the glass.

Kevin O’Connor of The Kevin O’Connor Show compared this potential duo to the Alperen Şengün–Steven Adams experiment the Houston Rockets tried last season. That combination saved Houston when it needed size and rebounding, even though it lacked a dominant scorer. Now imagine that same idea but built around the most skilled passing center in history: Nikola Jokić.

The Gift of Versatility

What the Nuggets have given Jokić this season is not just another big man or an extra shooter. They’ve given him the gift of flexibility. For the first time in his career, Denver can adjust its style depending on the matchup. Want more size? Play Jokić with Valančiūnas. Need more defense? Insert DaRon Holmes II, who brings mobility and perimeter defense. Prefer a faster, switchable lineup? Slide Aaron Gordon to the five and let the wings run.

That kind of versatility has never been a reality for Denver. In past years, the team often looked locked into one system: Jokić surrounded by shooters. It was effective, but once opponents found ways to slow it down, the Nuggets lacked counters. Now, Adelman has multiple chess pieces to move across the board.

What This Means for Nikola Jokić

For Nikola Jokić, this season represents more than just another chance at an MVP-level campaign. It represents relief. For too long, he has carried the weight of being Denver’s everything—the playmaker, the scorer, the rebounder, the late-game closer. With Valančiūnas providing size inside and new rotations offering balance, Jokić can conserve energy, pick his spots, and trust his teammates to take on more responsibility.

That trust matters. Jokić has always been a player who thrives when he can elevate others. Giving him a roster that matches his creativity is a way of unlocking the very best version of him. Instead of being forced to do it all, he can now orchestrate while others step into roles they are better suited for.

David Adelman’s Vision for the Team

It’s also a defining season for David Adelman, who steps into his first full year as Denver’s head coach. At media day, Adelman made it clear that he is not afraid to experiment. He mentioned the possibility of Jokić–Valančiūnas lineups, not as a gimmick, but as a legitimate strategy the coaching staff has seriously considered.

That willingness to try new things is crucial. The NBA is a league that constantly evolves, and teams that refuse to innovate are often left behind. By embracing experimentation, Adelman is signaling that the Nuggets are not content to simply repeat what has worked before—they want to push the boundaries of what this roster can do.

Front Office Moves That Changed Everything

Much of this newfound excitement stems from the work of Denver’s front office. The duo of Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace took charge and reshaped the roster this offseason. Their moves directly addressed the criticisms of the past two years—that Denver wasn’t doing enough to build a championship-caliber team around Jokić.

Now, that narrative has flipped. The Nuggets look deeper, stronger, and more unpredictable than ever before. In a Western Conference loaded with superstars and stacked teams, that could make all the difference.

Challenges Still Ahead

Of course, nothing in the NBA is guaranteed. The idea of running two-big lineups with Jokić and Valančiūnas may sound exciting, but there are obvious questions about how it will hold up on defense. Quicker teams might try to run them off the floor. Opposing guards could look to exploit mismatches. And there’s always the risk that adding new elements disrupts the chemistry that made Denver successful in the first place.

But that’s the beauty of what the Nuggets have created this season: options. Even if one experiment fails, the Nuggets have another path to take. They are no longer boxed in by a single style of play.

Why This Could Be the Best Shot Since 2023

It has been two years since the Nuggets’ 2023 championship run. Since then, the league has shifted dramatically. Teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Phoenix Suns have emerged as legitimate contenders. Denver could have been left behind—but instead, they’ve reloaded.

With Jokić entering his 11th season, the clock is quietly ticking. No player can stay at the peak of his powers forever. The Nuggets know this, and that urgency has shaped their roster-building decisions. By surrounding Jokić with the tools he has always needed, they are giving him—and themselves—the best chance at another title run.

The Endless Possibilities

The 2025–26 Nuggets embody something fans haven’t seen before: unpredictability. For Jokić, it’s a new challenge, but also a blessing. He has the freedom to lead without carrying every burden, to adapt without being limited, and to explore the game in ways that only a player of his caliber can.

For Denver, it’s an opportunity to strike while the iron is hot, to capitalize on having the best passing big man in NBA history, and to rewrite the narrative that the team isn’t doing enough for its star.

As Adelman said, some experiments won’t work. But the ones that do could change the entire trajectory of the season. For Jokić, the gift of versatility might just be the missing piece he has been waiting for all along.

The Nuggets have given Nikola Jokić a gift he has never had before, and it’s one that could reshape the franchise’s destiny. The gift isn’t just about Jonas Valančiūnas, DaRon Holmes II, or Aaron Gordon at the five. It’s about options. It’s about freedom. It’s about finally unleashing Jokić in a system that matches his genius.

As the 2025–26 season tips off, one thing is clear: this version of the Denver Nuggets is the most dangerous yet. For Jokić, for Adelman, and for fans across Denver, the possibilities are endless—and that’s what makes this season so exciting.