Fantasy Basketball Exit Interview: Nuggets' early exit turned a contender into a pretender

The Nuggets suffered a stunning first-round exit as favorites, falling 4-2 to a Timberwolves squad missing Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards for multiple games. Denver was also without Aaron Gordon, but with Jokić and Murray healthy, most expected them to advance. That didn’t happen, raising questions about what went wrong for a team built to contend.

Now, the focus shifts to 2026 and how the Wolves, after this upset, will build from here. Here’s a recap of the Nuggets’ season and what it means for fantasy basketball.

Availability matters

The Nuggets earned the 3-seed in a brutal Western Conference despite their roster rarely being intact, which speaks to just how good Jokić and Murray are. Aaron Gordon played just 36 games, finishing with 16.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game while shooting nearly 50% from the field. When he's on the floor, Denver is a different team.

Peyton Watson was well on his way to a genuine breakout before a hamstring injury in February shut him down, pretty much wiping out the final stretch of the season entirely. Christian Braun managed to play in just 44 contests. Cam Johnson played in 54 games. Those are all critical starters who missed significant time this season, affecting the Nuggets and fantasy managers.

Jokić and Murray remain an elite duo

Jokić was the best fantasy player in the league again. He averaged a triple-double in consecutive seasons. And for all the “Jokić-plays-no-defense” people, the man racked up 2.2 stocks per game. There’s no reason not to pick him first overall next season — in any format. But I understand if you’re lured by Victor Wembanyama’s glass ceiling.

Murray had the best regular season of his career, finishing first-round value in 9-cat leagues and second-round value in High Score. Murray played 75 games and was Denver’s anchor, providing stability amid a constantly changing lineup. His ability to hold the offense together, especially during stretches with a depleted supporting cast, was invaluable. Now fully healthy, Murray’s mix of efficiency, usage and volume gives him the kind of versatility you want in a guard.

I’d target Murray in the mid-to-late second round next year. He and Jokić remain one of the league’s elite duos, and they were the only Nuggets to finish inside the top 100 in both 9-cat and High Score formats.