The Athletic NBA Daily – "Are the Nuggets the NBA title favorites?"

Date: September 15, 2025
Hosts: Dave DuFour (The Athletic) with guest Adam Mares (DNVR, All NBA Podcast)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the Denver Nuggets: how last season’s drama set the stage for a new era, key offseason changes—including the headline swap of Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson—and their championship outlook under new leadership. With preseason on the horizon, Dave and Adam dissect whether the Nuggets, after a tumultuous year and bold roster moves, are the team to beat in the NBA.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nuggets Recap & Offseason Turmoil (01:40–03:29)

• The Nuggets pushed eventual champs Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games last year, despite off-court chaos: “That was an amazing series of basketball … it could have easily had landed on the Nuggets winning and then going on to … face the Pacers in the finals.” (Dave DuFour, 02:36)
• The franchise was rocked by a late-season firing of their head coach and GM, leading to organizational instability.

2. The Cam Johnson Trade & New-Look Starting Five (03:29–06:09)

• Primary storyline: Cam Johnson replaces Michael Porter Jr. Johnson’s arrival couldn’t be more different from Porter Jr.’s tenure, addressing defensive lapses and basketball IQ limitations.
• Adam Mares on fit:
  “With Cam Johnson, he does read the court. He thrives on reading the court well and understanding how this works. So now you have Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson—three guys who I think are now elite at reading what their role is as the defensive coverage has changed, and that allows you flexibility.” (04:41)
• Johnson’s screening ability unlocks Denver’s playbook: “Now I look at Denver and say their entire playbook just got multiplied by five because you can run … those same plays they’ve always run with any player in any position.” (Adam Mares, 05:46)

3. Bench Reinforcements, Depth, & Bruce Brown’s Return (06:09–09:26)

• After years of thin depth, the Nuggets bring in seasoned contributors: Tim Hardaway Jr. (shooting), Jonas Valanciunas (backup big), and Bruce Brown (versatility and championship DNA).
  • “Tim Hardaway Jr … that’s a solid shooter, you should expect him to make shots and be in the right spots every single time. Valanciunas … that’s a backup big, he spells Jokic. Bruce Brown … that's a versatile guy who’s won a championship with them.” (Adam Mares, 06:53)
• Some skepticism remains: playoff viability of bench pieces, Brown’s recent form, and the need for one young player to step up (Peyton Watson, Jaylen Pickett, Julian Strawther named).
• Dave sees Valanciunas as their best-ever Jokic backup, allowing the offense to hum even with Jokic’s rest (Dave DuFour, 08:20).

4. The Coaching Shift: David Adelman’s Challenge (09:26–10:00)

• Michael Malone’s unexpected exit means “a very inexperienced group all around,” with Adelman and his new staff facing immediate high expectations. - “There’s a lot of guys that have stepped up, moved up a chair for the first time ever.” (Adam Mares, 09:36)

5. Jokic’s Ceiling and Emerging Leadership (14:31–16:09)

• Jokic has reached a historic level of statistical dominance, but can he ascend as a leader—especially after coaching changes?
  • “His absence opened up a vacuum for Nikola Jokic … to sort of step into that [leadership] role more than he ever had… he was coaching in timeouts, he was getting on teammates, he was being more vocal.” (Adam Mares, 15:24)
  • Notably, Jokic called out Jamal Murray’s conditioning, hinting at higher accountability.

6. Jamal Murray’s Conditioning: X-Factor or Limit? (16:16–19:58)

• Discussion around Murray’s chronic slow starts (“terrible in October, November, December” – Adam Mares, 17:16), his centrality to Denver’s title ceiling, and whether this is a make-or-break year for the point guard.
  • “The bill finally came due on all of these things … I think this was finally the time when he had to be confronted with, yeah, you’re not getting away with this anymore.” (Adam Mares, 16:49)
• If Murray continues this pattern, Nuggets’ management may be forced to consider future options.

7. Starting Five Ranking & Roster Flexibility (19:58–21:16)

• Both see the new starting five as “S tier,” comparable with the league’s very best.
• Most tradeable assets mentioned: Zeke Nnaji, Hunter Tyson (on expiring deals), with Peyton Watson described as an “upside/risk” swing piece due for a decision by Denver.

8. Young Player Development Dilemma (21:52–23:51)

• Inexperience on the bench remains, but the franchise needs at least one rotation-caliber leap from their young players to round out title aspirations.
• Adelman’s tenure might not mean full youth movement due to high-pressure expectations: “You go four and six in your first ten games … it’s panic, it’s, ‘Oh my God, what’s happening.’” (Adam Mares, 23:20)

9. Season & Title Predictions (24:03–26:20)

• Adam Mares is confidently backing Denver for the ring:
  • “I’m Taking the Nuggets to win it this year … if you give him [Jokic] the right playmaking and spacing around him, he can do anything.” (Adam Mares, 24:03)
• He predicts Denver as a consistent, top-two or three Western Conference squad—more balanced and deeper than in any previous Jokic era.
• Dave DuFour seconds the high ceiling: “[I] have Denver and Oklahoma City on a tier by themselves … just the Cam Johnson upgrade to me was enough that I think they, if they had this team, they possibly, probably beat Oklahoma City.” (Dave DuFour, 25:00)
• Team culture and chemistry—completely absent last year—has reportedly improved, with group offseason workouts stressing renewed togetherness.

10. Final Thoughts on Chemistry and Outcomes (26:20–27:03)

• The hosts agree that chemistry and buy-in, especially with Jokic’s unique game, set Denver apart.
• Tim Hardaway Jr. is seen as a potentially transformative bench addition due to the space Jokic will generate for him.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cam Johnson’s impact:
  “Their entire playbook just got multiplied by five … that’s what makes you so dynamic and difficult to cover.” (Adam Mares, 05:46)
• On Jokic’s leadership leap:
  “His absence opened up a vacuum for Nikola Jokic … to sort of step into that role more than he ever had.” (Adam Mares, 15:24)
• On Jamal Murray’s pattern:
  “The bill finally came due on all of these things … you’re not getting away with this anymore.” (Adam Mares, 16:49)
• On Denver’s title chances:
  “If you give him the right playmaking and spacing around him, he can do anything. And I think the team did that this year. So I think the Nuggets are going to be phenomenal. I think they’re going to win the title.” (Adam Mares, 24:15)
• On the importance of chemistry:
  “Chemistry is the one piece of team building that gets overlooked by NBA teams. I mean, you just think like we collect enough talent, it will all work out.” (Dave DuFour, 26:20)

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------|-------------| | Nuggets offseason recap & context | 01:40–03:29 | | Cam Johnson for Porter Jr. breakdown | 03:29–06:09 | | Bench and depth discussion | 06:09–09:26 | | Coaching change: David Adelman | 09:26–10:00 | | Jokic’s leadership & ceiling | 14:31–16:09 | | Jamal Murray as X-factor | 16:16–19:58 | | Trade candidates & roster flexibility | 19:58–21:16 | | Youth development dilemma | 21:52–23:51 | | Season & title predictions | 24:03–26:20 |

Conclusion

The pod frames the 2025–26 Nuggets as NBA title favorites due to shrewd roster upgrades, renewed organizational culture, and, crucially, the singular brilliance of Jokic and the growth of role players. The team’s fortunes hinge on whether Jamal Murray can shake off his traditional slow starts and if one of their young wings emerges to solidify playoff depth. According to Adam Mares—and with Dave DuFour in strong agreement—Denver’s rebuilt squad is poised for its best shot yet at a championship.