Kicking off our Denver Stiffs #NuggetsGreats bracket is The Joker Region. The top seeded Nikola Jokic is the namesake for this group. Joining him are several Nuggets legends, including “The Skywalker” David Thompson, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, and many more.
This content is no longer available.
Nikola Jokic (1) vs Michael Adams (8)
Jokic’s standing in franchise history needs little explanation, but his individual dominance combined with an ability to elevate the team around him made him the top seed in the entire bracket. He is one of just six players to average 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, doing so during 2018-19 and 2019-20. His 40 triple-doubles rank second in franchise history behind Fat Lever.
Facing him is Michael Adams, the 5-10 point guard who spent four seasons in Denver during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. His best season in 1990-91 saw him average 26.5 points and 10.5 assists per game, scoring a single game career high of 54 points and accumulating a single game career high of 19 assists in separate games. Adams was a dominant player, and he bridged the gap between signature Nuggets eras in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
Vote here:
This content is no longer available.
Paul Millsap (5) vs LaPhonso Ellis (4)
Paul Millsap has spent the last three seasons with the Nuggets, helping elevate the team to new heights next to Nikola Jokic. His defensive abilities are uncanny, and his 1-on-1 scoring has saved the Nuggets on several occasions. Millsap is the glue that holds the Nuggets together while players like Jokic and Jamal Murray share scoring burden, but he is very important.
LaPhonso Ellis spent six seasons in a Nuggets uniform, contributing to Denver’s signature upset victory over the 1st seed Seattle Supersonics in the 1993-94 season. He was a dominant scorer, rebounder, and athlete before injuries derailed his career, and he would without a doubt be one of the most renowned Nuggets in franchise history had those injuries not occurred. Still, he was absolutely dominant in his time with the team.
Vote here:
This content is no longer available.
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (3) vs Andre Miller (6)
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was the Stephen Curry of the 1990’s. His shooting ability and jittery style was extremely unique for his era, and when he was open, he made teams pay. He led the NBA in free throw percentage on two separate occasions, and his six seasons with the Nuggets were excellent.
Andre Miller spent parts of seven seasons with the Nuggets on two separate occasions. He was the starting point guard during the mid 2000’s, being the elite facilitator Carmelo Anthony needed to flourish. In his second stint, he served as the backup point guard for the post-Melo Nuggets teams, providing a steadying hand for a young and inexperienced playoff roster.
Vote here:
This content is no longer available.
David Thompson (2) vs Wilson Chandler (7)
The Skywalker, David Thompson, was one of the most athletic guards in NBA history and an inspiration for Michael Jordan. Thompson spent seven seasons with the Nuggets, one during their time in the ABA, and dominated as a scorer and slasher to the basket. He once scored 73 points in one game and was possibly the best player in the NBA during the 1977-78 season.
Wilson Chandler spent seven seasons with the Nuggets, arriving as one of the pieces the New York Knicks parted with to acquire Carmelo Anthony. Chandler contributed as both a starter and sixth man on several quality Nuggets teams, including the 2012-13 season in which he was tied for the third leading scorer on the team. Chandler was a Swiss army knife for the Nuggets and did everything asked of him.
Vote here:
This content is no longer available.
You have until 9pm tonight to vote!
