NBA Team Guide
Denver Nuggets: History, Championships & Facts
The Denver Nuggets began in the American Basketball Association in 1967 and joined the NBA in the 1976 merger. They won their first NBA championship in 2023.
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Updated live from ESPN.
Quick facts
| Founded | 1967, in the ABA |
|---|---|
| Joined NBA | 1976, in the ABA–NBA merger |
| Arena | Ball Arena, Denver (opened 1999 as Pepsi Center) |
| NBA titles | 1 (2023) |
| Name history | Rockets (1967–1974), Nuggets (1974–) |
Championship history
Denver won its first NBA championship in 2023, beating the Miami Heat 4–1. In the ABA, the team reached the 1976 Finals.
- 2023 NBA Finals: beat the Miami Heat 4–1
- 1976 ABA Finals: lost to the New York Nets
Franchise history
- 1967: Founded in the ABA as the Denver Larks, renamed the Rockets before the first season.
- 1974: Renamed the Nuggets.
- 1976: Joined the NBA after the ABA–NBA merger.
- 1994: Became the first No. 8 seed to beat a No. 1 seed, the Seattle SuperSonics.
- 1999: Moved into the Pepsi Center, renamed Ball Arena in 2020.
- 2023: Won the first NBA title in franchise history.
Franchise record holders
| Points (through 2025–26) | Alex English, 21,645 |
|---|---|
| Rebounds | Nikola Jokić (through 2025–26) |
| Blocks | Dikembe Mutombo, 1,486 |
Retired numbers
- 2Alex English
- 6Bill Russell (retired across the NBA)
- 12Fat Lever
- 33David Thompson
- 40Byron Beck
- 44Dan Issel
- 55Dikembe Mutombo
- 432Doug Moe (coach; honorary, for his 432 wins)
Hall of Famers
Alex English, Dan Issel, David Thompson, Dikembe Mutombo, Carmelo Anthony.
Biggest rivalries
- Los Angeles Lakers: opponents in the 2009, 2020 and 2023 Western Conference finals.
- Utah Jazz: Rocky Mountain neighbors and longtime division rivals.
- Oklahoma City Thunder: as the Seattle SuperSonics, lost to eighth-seeded Denver in the 1994 first round.
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How many championships have the Nuggets won?
One NBA title, in 2023, beating the Miami Heat 4–1.
Were the Nuggets in the ABA?
Yes. The team played in the ABA from 1967 to 1976, first as the Rockets, and joined the NBA in the 1976 merger.
Who is the Nuggets' all-time leading scorer?
Alex English, with 21,645 regular-season points from 1980 to 1990, the franchise record through the 2025–26 season.
What happened in 1994?
Eighth-seeded Denver beat the top-seeded Seattle SuperSonics in the first round, winning Game 5 98–94 in overtime. It was the first No. 8 over No. 1 upset in NBA history.
Why is 432 retired in Denver?
It honors coach Doug Moe and his 432 wins with the Nuggets.
Sources
Facts checked September 23, 2026. Live figures above come from ESPN.