Nuggets boost coaching staff with experienced addition

The Denver Nuggets have continued to signal that they’re all-in on trying to win an NBA Championship. That’s been on display not only with the team’s salary and luxury tax numbers, but in their most recent move, beefing up their coaching staff.

On Monday evening, the Nuggets hired former NBA head coach Dave Joerger as the lead assistant coach on David Adelman’s staff.

Joerger has been in the NBA for 20 years, starting out as an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2007. He was on the bench for six seasons before taking over as head coach of the Grizzlies in 2013. He coached Memphis to a 147-99 record over those three years before being let go.

He then quickly found a new gig as head coach of the Sacramento Kings in 2016. He coached there as well for three years, but only had a 98-148 record in his three seasons before being let go.

Since then, Dave Joerger has spent time as an assistant coach with Doc Rivers on the Philadelphia 76ers staff as well as the Milwaukee Bucks’ staff.

The Nuggets are coming off a year in which they had a strong regular season, going 54-28 despite numerous injuries, but fell in the first round against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With most of this team expected back, Denver believes that they have a chance to compete with the other top teams in the NBA.

But the Oklahoma City Thunder will be back healthier and ready to exact revenge on the Western Conference. The San Antonio Spurs are expected to be even better led by Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper. The defending NBA Champion New York Knicks are bringing most of their team back and believe they can repeat. And of course, the Philadelphia 76ers — now with a starting five of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid — have many considering them to be the new favorites to win the 2027 NBA Championship.