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 reportedly worth hundreds of millions 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, Stacker compiled a list of the best draft picks in Denver Nuggets history using data from Basketball-Reference.com. Players were ranked according to a formula that approximates their career achievements, career value, and play quality. The formula encompasses Basketball-Reference.com's Hall of Fame probability, 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 Stacker score.
Basketball Hall of Fame inductees were given a minimum of 60% for their Hall of Fame probability, indicating a worthy résumé 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
- Stacker 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 Hernangómez
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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 Nurkić
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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. Nenê Hilário
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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
- Stacker 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 Jokić
- Stacker 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
