Denver Nuggets Starting Lineup: In-Depth Starting 5 Analysis ( 2025)

Whether you are just a Denver Nuggets fan or are an avid sports bettor at a Colorado Sportsbook, the starting five for the Nuggets will deliver. Here, we take a closer look at the starting lineup and examine the strengths and weaknesses. With fan-favorite Jokic returning, Denver enthusiasts are hoping to cheer the team onto the Finals for a Championship win. Do the Nuggets starting 5 have what it takes?

Denver Nuggets Next Game Starting Lineup

After the summer break, managers and team coaches had to choose the starting five for the 2024-25 season. With talented players on the roster, the choice was to go with a Play It Safe lineup. This includes seasoned and young players and has proven to be a good combination in the past. The starters have had success in past seasons and with the added Braun to the list, the Nuggets are strong contenders to add to the win column and head to the Finals.

Nuggets Starting 5

The Denver starting lineup is one of the strongest it has been in years. With a powerful offensive team, you will find some great Denver Nuggets odds at leading betting sites. With Jokic seeking his 4^th MVP award and Jamal Murray shooting well, the Nuggets have been putting up some great numbers. While there will be some substitutions to the starting five, you can expect the players discussed here to have the most playing time. We look forward to the Nuggets taking on rival teams as they compete in the Western Conference.

Jamal Murray – Point Guard

Jamal Murray comes from Canada and attended the University of Kentucky. In his first season, he played 73 of 82 games and averaged 9.9 points, landing him a spot on the NBA’s All-Rookie Second-Team. With a career average of 6.5 assists and 21.2 points, Murray has been a key player and is one of the Nuggets starting 5.

Christian Braun – Shooting Guard

Braun took over as the starting shooting guard after the Nuggets sent Russell Westbrook to the bench. Braun puts up solid numbers and has performed well against rival teams.

Michael Porter Jr. – Small Forward

The Nuggets chose Michael Porter Jr. in the 2018 draft as the 14^th pick. Coming from Missouri, Porter has a great college career but was slow to put up numbers with the Nuggets. In the 2020 season, Porter showed improvement, boosting his average to 19.0 points and a 44.5% three-point average. He is now one of the top small forwards in the league and is one of the Denver Nuggets starters.

Aaron Gordon – Power Forward

Aaron Gordon is the power forward in the Denver Nuggets lineup. Denver got Gordon from the Magic after he played 7 seasons with Orlando. Gordon shoots over 50% from the field, though struggles with free throws, averaging just 60.8%.

Nikola Jokic – Center

Standing 7 feet tall, Jokic is the powerhouse of the Nuggets starting 5. Jokic is a huge asset to the team and excels in passing, shooting and 3-point success. A 5-time All-Star, Jokic has led the Nuggets to many wins and has been the league MVP multiple times. He is also the highest paying Nuggets starter, earning over $50,000 a year. Many sportsbook promos can be redeemed for bonus bets on Jokic props.

Denver Nuggets 6^th man

Russell Westbrook was signed as the sixth man to the Nuggets roster. He has been a starter in many games due to injuries to Gordon and Murray. Westbrook has improved team performance and has greatly boosted the Denver Nuggets starting lineup. While standing in for Gordon, the Nuggets starting five have scored 130.6 points in 100 minutes, which is an increase of 8 points compared to when Gordon is starting.

Strengths of the Nuggets Starting 5

With some changes being made from the end of the 2024 season, the starting lineup for the Nuggets is packed with talent. Christian Braun moved from the team’s sixth man to a starter. He has mastered his role and is a key starter for the team. It goes without saying that Jokic will remain the starting center. The MVP delivers offensively and defensively and is one of the top players in the NBA. Murray and Porter have been key to the offense and with Jokic, they complete a high-scoring trio on the court.

Choosing to add Westbrook to the roster has been a bold, yet successful decision. He has already stepped in as a starter when Murray was injured and perfectly complimented Jokic on the court. Westbrook has also been able to draw fouls on more than 15% of his shots, increasing the free-throw rate rank. The problem Denver faces is holes in the defense and starters have struggled to consistently sink three-pointers.

Challenges Facing Nuggets Starting Lineup

The Nuggets may have a string starting lineup, but there are many weaknesses. Despite the consistent performances by Jokic, the team struggles to make three-pointers. This is one thing where drastic improvement is needed if the team plans to head into the post-season. Key players like Porter and Murray have not been hitting from beyond the arc. When Westbrook stands in as a Nuggets starting 5, he also comes up short on the threes.

Aside from some issues on offense, the team is having a hard time finding their groove defensively. The team allows opponents to score high points, indicating a breakdown in defensive communication and rotations. Perimeter defense has been especially concerning as teams have been scoring an average of 13.4 three-pointers in each game. These are also key stats to keep in mind if you bet on NBA Colorado games.

The Nuggets starting lineup has also struggled with some injuries. When key players are out, the team has not performed well. Aaron Gordon has missed more than half the season with a calf injury and Nikola Jokic recently suffered an ankle injury, placing him on the day-to-day injured list. Unfortunately, the bench situation is not favorable for the Nuggets and players stepping in to fill spots have not been able to keep pace with the remaining Nuggets starters.

Denver Nuggets Front Office Overview

Nuggets Head Coach – Michael Malone

Mike Malone is in his 10^th year with the Nuggets and has been one of the franchise’s best head coaches. Malone led the team to its first NBA championship in the 2022-2023 season and is looking for another appearance in the Finals this year. Working on the development of the Nuggets starting 5 at the ball arena has been the main focus for Malone, which has proven to be successful. The Nuggets had their best season record last year under Malone’s coaching.

Lead Assistant Coach – David Adelman

Malone’s right-hand man, Adelman has helped strengthen the team through his leadership experience. He has worked with the Orlando Magic and Timberwolves in the past. During his time with the Nuggets, Adelman has stepped into the head coach role when Malone was out due to health reasons. He entered the NBA in 2011 as a player development coach and this experience has been useful while working with the younger players in the Denver lineup.

Nuggets Assistant Coach – Ryan Saunders

Ryan Saunders has had a successful career in the NBA and was the assistant coach of the Timberwolves and the Wizards. He went on to become the head coach for the Minnesota team, making him the youngest head coach within the Minnesota franchise. He joined the Nuggets in 2022 and continues to use his 15 years of NBA experience to develop player skills.

Nuggets General Manager – Calvin Booth

Calvin Booth is the General Manager of the team and had played in the NBA for 10 seasons. In 2017, he became the assistant GM for the Nuggets and in 2020, was named the GM. He has an amazing eye for talent and added Braun to the Nuggets lineup. His choices as GM have added a steady offense, proven by the Nuggets’ first Championship win in 2023.

Outlook for the Denver Nuggets Starting 5

After losing in the play-offs to end the 2024 season, the Nuggets had to strongly consider the starting lineup for the next season. With Jokic being the focal point, the Nuggets have gone with a younger group as starters. Murray is a solid player when he is healthy, and Gordon is an energetic athlete who has much-needed defensive skills. Throw in Porter and Braun and the Nuggets have a team that could easily win the Finals. However, with possible injuries and a bench that is not as strong as we would like, Denver will still face some battles throughout the season. Can Russ Westbrook fill the role the Nuggets need as the sixth man? His aggressive mindset and scoring stats give us hope that the Nuggets will remain strong even with injuries and key players sitting out.

Conclusion

The Nuggets starting 5 is considered one of the best in the league. However, concerns are with the bench. If starters are not able to remain healthy or suffer injuries, Malone must turn to the bench. Luckily, Westbrook has been able to step up and has developed a great partnership with Murray, combining Murray’s coring abilities with Westbrook’s intensity. Coaches and fans are happy with the starting five performance so far, and believe this team has the magic needed to go straight to the Finals.

FAQ of Denver Nuggets Starting 5