Thirteen people abandoned the Denver Nuggets.
The Denver Nuggets weren’t always among the NBA’s top teams. In the Mile High City, basketball is at its peak right now. After leading the team to their first championship, Nikola Jokic is already the franchise’s greatest player and is poised to win his third MVP award. The Nuggets intend to center their dynasty around the Joker and have experience in the postseason.
Denver has not always had such brilliant weather. Errors are commonplace in the front office. Though it isn’t always the team’s fault, the Nuggets have had trouble developing a reliable contender due to a variety of issues, including bad draft choices and unsuccessful trades.
They are accustomed to drama and upheaval. Over the course of their first 57 seasons, the Nuggets have faced numerous personnel-related challenges, ranging from trade requests to toxicity to off-court issues. These individuals pushed their way out of town and rebelled against the group.
13. Timothy Connelly
Connelly was instrumental in creating the Nuggets of today. After playing for the Wizards and Pelicans, he joined the team in 2013 to take Masai Ujiri’s place as general manager. In 2017, Connelly was promoted to president of basketball operations. While heading their front office, he traded for Aaron Gordon and selected Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr.
In 2022, Tim Connelly left the Nuggets to take a position as president of basketball operations with the Timberwolves. Although he received a raise, it was disheartening to witness him abandon the competitor he established in the Mile High City. It was during Connelly’s first season in Minnesota that the Nuggets won the championship.
The offer in Minnesota was simply too good to refuse, even though everyone in Denver wanted him to complete the deal. Although it was disappointing to see him leave for a division and conference rival, no hard feelings were felt. If the two teams engage in some playoff skirmishes in the coming years, then things might change. The Denver Nuggets wish that all of these exits had been that simple, but things get a lot hotter on this list.
