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Denver’s Playoff Flop Didn’t Cost David Adelman. The Roster, Though, Could Be Wide Open
Kroenke said the Nuggets expect more after a 54-win season and praised Adelman’s handling of injuries and lineup changes.
On Friday, Denver Nuggets president Josh Kroenke publicly affirmed his support for head coach David Adelman, confirming he will return for a second season despite the team's first-round exit from the NBA Playoffs.
Injury instability plagued the Nuggets throughout the season, with players missing 245 combined games, leaving the team without Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson during critical playoff matchups against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
During the longest absence of MVP Nikola Jokic's 11-year career, the squad went 10-6, a performance Kroenke credited to Adelman's "creative looks" and management of lineups.
With the starting lineup's salary topping $184 million, Kroenke faces difficult roster decisions, considering both "running it back" or trading assets while protecting superstar Jokic.
Kroenke believes the core group could reach 60 to 65 wins if healthy, crediting his front office lieutenants for "pressing a lot of the right buttons last summer.