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Michael Porter Jr. reveals why the Nuggets failed to defend their title, linking it to two people
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

The Denver Nuggets entered the last three seasons as championship favorites but captured only one title in 2023.

The Denver Nuggets failed to defend their championship and suffered another playoff exit last season.

Both recent failures followed identical patterns: seven-game losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2024 and the Oklahoma City Thunder last season.

Former Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. recently explained the reasons behind these disappointments.

Championship hangover and the departure of KCP weakened Denver’s chances

Porter identified several factors that undermined Denver’s repeat chances. The championship celebration shortened their offseason preparation while reducing their hunger for another title.

“To repeat and do that again is definitely harder than the first time, because your offseason is shorter. You’re celebrating the championship, you’re probably not taking as good a care of your body. I felt like we were focused, but we weren’t as motivated as the year we won it,” Porter explained.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s departure after 2023-24 also created significant offensive and defensive holes in Denver’s lineup. The veteran’s absence proved costly during crucial playoff moments.

“And then, KCP wasn’t on the team anymore. I felt like that played a big part, and then we lost to Minnesota in game seven,” he said.

Former Nuggets executive Tim Connelly built Minnesota specifically to counter Denver

Porter highlighted Tim Connelly’s strategic impact on Denver’s Minnesota loss. The former Nuggets President of Basketball Operations joined Minnesota in 2022 and constructed a roster designed to challenge his former team.

“The thing about Minnesota, though, was their GM used to be our GM. So he kind of started trying to build that team to beat us, because we beat them the year prior,” Porter said.

“So, he kind of tried to surround Anthony Edwards, and KAT, they got Rudy Gobert. They tried to create a lineup that could give us some problems and they ended up beating us in seven games.”

Despite the disappointments, Porter doesn’t consider the seasons complete failures.

He believes Denver maintained championship-caliber talent, as they will also for the next season, but lacked fortune in crucial Game 7 situations.

“So, we had a championship caliber team the past two seasons. We just came up a little bit short in game seven, like it didn’t happen. We did get a ring and that’s life. I don’t judge those seasons as complete failures in my book because it is tough to win a championship.”

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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