Nuggets Have Just Five Players Left From Finals Roster

A Roster in Transition

The Denver Nuggets have traveled a long way from the team that won the 2023 NBA championship. After several offseasons of departures, only five players from that title-winning roster remain: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Zeke Nnaji, as reported by Sports Illustrated. Three of those were starters, while the others came off the bench during the championship run.

The most recent exit came this offseason when Peyton Watson was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a sign-and-trade deal, according to multiple reports. Sports Illustrated noted that Watson's departure came after a long wait through free agency, and the move was part of a five-team deal, as reported by Yardbarker. The trade ended Watson's tenure in Denver, where he had been seen as a potential cornerstone.

Bruce Brown, who had a second stint with the Nuggets, also appears unlikely to return, as he remains a free agent and does not seem slated to sign another contract with the team, according to Sports Illustrated.

The Nuggets' title-winning pieces have been leaving one by one. Last offseason, Michael Porter Jr. was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Cameron Johnson. That move, as Sports Illustrated described, was a significant step in the breakup of the 2023 roster.

New Faces, New Expectations

In response to these departures, the Nuggets have made a series of moves to reshape the roster. According to Sports Illustrated, the team added veteran DeMar DeRozan, a six-time All-Star and the NBA's 16th all-time scoring leader. They also brought in Marvin Bagley, Alpha Diallo, and rookie Trevon Brazile, while re-signing Spencer Jones and Tyus Jones.

With these changes, the projected starting lineup is Murray-Braun-Johnson-Gordon-Jokic, a group that posted a net rating of +13.5 and an 18-5 record last season when healthy, per Sports Illustrated. The second unit is expected to be Jones-Strawther-DeRozan-Jones-Bagley.

Sports Illustrated offered a cautious analysis of the new-look team, noting that while the additions improve the bench, there are still weaknesses. The pairing of Jones and Strawther in the backcourt raises questions about reliability and consistency, and the team will need those players to step up.

Jokic and Murray remain the central figures, and both need the ball to be effective, as Sports Illustrated pointed out. Murray made his first All-NBA team, a sign of his continued growth alongside Jokic.

Jokic's Measured Response

Nikola Jokic, the three-time MVP, was asked about the Watson trade after a recent FIBA game. His response, as reported by Yardbarker, was candid but unfazed: "I'm happy for Peyton; he deserved it. We will miss his energy and skill. I don't think about the season yet, we have to play this, but it's gonna be okay."

Yardbarker interpreted that reaction as a "quiet warning," suggesting that Jokic's tone reflected dissatisfaction with the team's direction. The outlet was critical of the front office, using phrases like "fumbling the bag" and "wasting the Joker's best years" to describe the team's recent decisions. Yardbarker also noted that the Nuggets have not reached the Finals or the Western Conference Finals since winning the title in 2023, and that the Western Conference has grown more competitive with the emergence of teams like the Spurs and Thunder.

Porter's Reflection on His Arrival

As the roster continues to change, Michael Porter Jr., now with the Brooklyn Nets, offered a personal reflection on his early days with the Nuggets. According to Heavy, Porter said on the Bleacher Report's "From The Point" podcast that he barely knew the Nuggets were an NBA team when he entered the league in 2018.

"I barely knew the Denver Nuggets were an NBA team," Porter said. "So I get drafted there and they're telling me, like, they got this big dude who's really good. But you know how it is in college, we were paying more attention to college."

Porter, who was drafted by the Nuggets in 2018, admitted he initially underestimated Jokic, hoping that Mason Plumlee would outplay him in training camp. He described Jokic as "wobbling around like not really caring," but he soon realized Jokic's greatness during the season, with performances that included games of twenty rebounds, fifteen assists, and thirty points.

Porter missed his first season due to back surgery and made his NBA debut on October 31, 2019. He went on to become a key part of the championship team and averaged 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game in the 2025-2026 season, as reported by Heavy.

Jokic, who won MVP awards in 2021, 2022, and 2024, remains the anchor of the Nuggets. As the team moves forward with a mix of familiar faces and new additions, the question of how far this retooled roster can go remains open.