Best draft picks in Denver Nuggets history
The draft is a seminal moment for many incoming players. Putting aside competitive stakes, each young athlete's life is irreversibly altered by the fame and fortune that comes with being an NBA player. The exorbitant contract values ensures these players almost never have to worry about personal finances. Plus, these young guns get to play alongside some of their basketball idols for a living. With these high stakes, it's easy to see why the draft is so revered.
Likewise, the fortunes of a city and franchise can be completely transformed by a draft pick. LeBron James, for instance, brought Cleveland its first sports championship in 52 years and was also to the city's downtown economy. It almost goes without saying that Michael Jordan built the Chicago Bulls from the ground up into a championship team whose dynamic would reverberate through the decades.
With that in mind, 黑料社 compiled a list of the best draft picks in Denver Nuggets history using data from . Players were ranked according to a formula that approximates their career achievements, career value, and play quality. The formula encompasses Basketball-Reference.com's , career win shares, and value over replacement player, aka VORP. For players drafted before data is available for VORP, half of the player's win shares were used in its place to calculate their 黑料社 score.
Basketball Hall of Fame inductees were given a minimum of 60% for their Hall of Fame probability, indicating a worthy r茅sum茅 for their time but not up to par with some modern players. Scores were normalized to 100 based on the scoring leader. Keep reading to see where your favorite players fall on the list.
#34. Francisco Elson
- 黑料社 score: 1.0
- 41st overall pick in 1999
- Played three seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 3.7 PTS, 3.5 REB, 0.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 11.7 win shares, -2.7 box plus/minus, -1.3 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2007 NBA Champ
#33. Juan Hernang贸mez
- 黑料社 score: 1.1
- 15th overall pick in 2016
- Played four seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 5.0 PTS, 3.3 REB, 0.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 8.7 win shares, -1.9 box plus/minus, 0.1 VORP
#32. Blair Rasmussen
- 黑料社 score: 1.3
- 15th overall pick in 1985
- Played six seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 9.6 PTS, 5.7 REB, 0.9 AST
- Advanced statistics: 19.0 win shares, -3.2 box plus/minus, -3.4 VORP
#31. Linas Kleiza
- 黑料社 score: 1.5
- 27th overall pick in 2005
- Played four seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 8.7 PTS, 3.6 REB, 0.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 13.6 win shares, -2.3 box plus/minus, -0.7 VORP
#30. Danny Fortson
- 黑料社 score: 2.0
- 10th overall pick in 1997
- Played two seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 8.2 PTS, 7.2 REB, 0.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 22.3 win shares, -3.2 box plus/minus, -2.6 VORP
#29. Malik Beasley
- 黑料社 score: 2.2
- 19th overall pick in 2016
- Played four seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 10.8 PTS, 2.7 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 11.8 win shares, -1.1 box plus/minus, 2.0 VORP
#28. Ryan Bowen
- 黑料社 score: 2.3
- 55th overall pick in 1998
- Played five seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 2.6 PTS, 2.1 REB, 0.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 12.4 win shares, -0.8 box plus/minus, 2.0 VORP
#27. Kurt Nimphius
- 黑料社 score: 2.7
- 47th overall pick in 1980
- Career averages: 6.4 PTS, 4.4 REB, 1.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 17.5 win shares, -1.6 box plus/minus, 1.3 VORP
#26. Jeff McInnis
- 黑料社 score: 2.9
- 37th overall pick in 1996
- Played one season with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 9.4 PTS, 2.0 REB, 4.4 AST
- Advanced statistics: 23.1 win shares, -2.1 box plus/minus, -0.3 VORP
#25. Jarred Vanderbilt
- 黑料社 score: 2.9
- 41st overall pick in 2018
- Played two seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 6.2 PTS, 6.6 REB, 1.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 14.3 win shares, 0.4 box plus/minus, 3.0 VORP
#24. Otis Smith
- 黑料社 score: 3.0
- 41st overall pick in 1986
- Played two seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 10.5 PTS, 3.8 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 12.3 win shares, 0.2 box plus/minus, 4.2 VORP
#23. Michael Porter
- 黑料社 score: 3.2
- 14th overall pick in 2018
- Played four seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 15.2 PTS, 5.9 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 13.9 win shares, 1.4 box plus/minus, 4.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2023 NBA Champ
#22. Gary Harris
- 黑料社 score: 3.8
- 19th overall pick in 2014
- Played seven seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 11.5 PTS, 2.4 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 23.1 win shares, -1.3 box plus/minus, 2.5 VORP
#21. Monte Morris
- 黑料社 score: 4.7
- 51st overall pick in 2017
- Played five seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 10.5 PTS, 2.5 REB, 4.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 22.7 win shares, 0.4 box plus/minus, 5.3 VORP
#20. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf
- 黑料社 score: 4.8
- Third overall pick in 1990
- Played six seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 14.6 PTS, 1.9 REB, 3.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 25.2 win shares, -0.8 box plus/minus, 4.5 VORP
#19. Tony Battie
- 黑料社 score: 4.9
- Fifth overall pick in 1997
- Played one season with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 6.1 PTS, 5.1 REB, 0.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 36.4 win shares, -1.8 box plus/minus, 0.8 VORP
#18. Bryant Stith
- 黑料社 score: 5.5
- 13th overall pick in 1992
- Played eight seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 10.1 PTS, 3.4 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 29.5 win shares, -0.8 box plus/minus, 4.9 VORP
#17. Evan Fournier
- 黑料社 score: 5.5
- 20th overall pick in 2012
- Played two seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 14.0 PTS, 2.7 REB, 2.5 AST
- Advanced statistics: 30.6 win shares, -1.0 box plus/minus, 4.7 VORP
#16. Jusuf Nurki膰
- 黑料社 score: 5.7
- 16th overall pick in 2014
- Played three seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 12.3 PTS, 8.6 REB, 2.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 26.0 win shares, 0.4 box plus/minus, 6.8 VORP
#15. LaPhonso Ellis
- 黑料社 score: 5.8
- Fifth overall pick in 1992
- Played six seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 11.9 PTS, 6.5 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 32.8 win shares, -1.0 box plus/minus, 4.6 VORP
#14. Jamal Murray
- 黑料社 score: 6.0
- Seventh overall pick in 2016
- Played six seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 16.9 PTS, 3.7 REB, 4.2 AST
- Advanced statistics: 26.0 win shares, 0.5 box plus/minus, 7.8 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.0%
- Accolades
--- 2023 NBA Champ
#13. Terry Mills
- 黑料社 score: 6.3
- 16th overall pick in 1990
- Played one season with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 10.6 PTS, 5.4 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 33.3 win shares, -0.6 box plus/minus, 5.9 VORP
#12. Bobby Jackson
- 黑料社 score: 7.5
- 23rd overall pick in 1997
- Played one season with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 9.7 PTS, 3.1 REB, 2.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 31.4 win shares, 0.4 box plus/minus, 10.0 VORP
#11. Kenneth Faried
- 黑料社 score: 7.6
- 22nd overall pick in 2011
- Played seven seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 11.4 PTS, 8.1 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 38.8 win shares, 0.5 box plus/minus, 7.5 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 0.0%
#10. Rodney Rogers
- 黑料社 score: 8.3
- Ninth overall pick in 1993
- Played two seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 10.9 PTS, 4.5 REB, 2.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 38.8 win shares, -0.3 box plus/minus, 9.7 VORP
#9. Raef LaFrentz
- 黑料社 score: 8.4
- Third overall pick in 1998
- Played four seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 10.1 PTS, 6.1 REB, 1.1 AST
- Advanced statistics: 39.4 win shares, 0.7 box plus/minus, 9.8 VORP
#8. Ty Lawson
- 黑料社 score: 10.1
- 18th overall pick in 2009
- Played six seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 12.7 PTS, 2.7 REB, 6.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 42.1 win shares, 1.4 box plus/minus, 13.6 VORP
#7. Jalen Rose
- 黑料社 score: 10.3
- 13th overall pick in 1994
- Played two seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 14.3 PTS, 3.5 REB, 3.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 47.2 win shares, -0.2 box plus/minus, 12.3 VORP
#6. James Posey
- 黑料社 score: 11.3
- 18th overall pick in 1999
- Played four seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 8.6 PTS, 4.7 REB, 1.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 51.6 win shares, 0.3 box plus/minus, 13.7 VORP
- Accolades
--- 2x NBA Champ
#5. Antonio McDyess
- 黑料社 score: 13.5
- Second overall pick in 1995
- Played six seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 12.0 PTS, 7.5 REB, 1.3 AST
- Advanced statistics: 69.8 win shares, -0.1 box plus/minus, 13.2 VORP
- Accolades
--- 1998-99 All-NBA
--- 1x All Star
#4. Nen锚 Hil谩rio
- 黑料社 score: 15.9
- Seventh overall pick in 2002
- Played 10 seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 11.3 PTS, 6.0 REB, 1.8 AST
- Advanced statistics: 73.3 win shares, 1.0 box plus/minus, 18.8 VORP
#3. Dikembe Mutombo
- 黑料社 score: 42.8
- Fourth overall pick in 1991
- Played five seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 9.8 PTS, 10.3 REB, 1.0 AST
- Advanced statistics: 117.0 win shares, 1.7 box plus/minus, 33.9 VORP
- Accolades
--- 4x Def. POY
--- 2x TRB Champ
--- 3x All-NBA
--- Basketball Hall of Fame inductee
#2. Carmelo Anthony
- 黑料社 score: 43.0
- Third overall pick in 2003
- Played eight seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 22.5 PTS, 6.2 REB, 2.7 AST
- Advanced statistics: 108.5 win shares, 1.3 box plus/minus, 36.7 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 98.4%
- Accolades
--- 2012-13 Scoring Champ
--- 6x All-NBA
--- 10x All Star
#1. Nikola Joki膰
- 黑料社 score: 44.7
- 41st overall pick in 2014
- Played eight seasons with Denver Nuggets
- Career averages: 20.2 PTS, 10.5 REB, 6.6 AST
- Advanced statistics: 94.5 win shares, 9.4 box plus/minus, 52.8 VORP
- Hall of Fame probability: 86.4%
- Accolades
--- 2023 NBA Champ
--- 2x MVP
--- 2022-23 Finals MVP
--- 5x All-NBA
