Last Updated on September 17, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

League Search Page > NBA > Denver Nuggets > Roster & Statistics

The 1981–82 Denver Nuggets relied on a balanced, high-powered offense led by Alex English, Dan Issel, and Kiki Vandeweghe, giving the team multiple dependable scoring threats across the frontcourt. English also emerged as a key facilitator, while T.R. Dunn contributed strong rebounding and defensive play. Denver’s statistics reflect an up-tempo, efficient offensive team with broad scoring depth, though their defensive production suggested they regularly played in high-scoring contests.

Roster

NO. PLAYER POS HT WT DOB COLLEGE
1 Kenny Higgs PG 6-0 180 January 31, 1955 LSU
2 Alex English SF 6-8 190 January 5, 1954 South Carolina
5 David Burns PG 6-2 180 July 3, 1958 Saint Louis
7 Billy McKinney PG 6-0 160 June 5, 1955 Northwestern
10 John Roche SG 6-3 170 September 26, 1949 South Carolina
22 Glen Gondrezick SF 6-6 218 August 30, 1955 UNLV
23 T.R. Dunn SG 6-4 192 February 1, 1955 Alabama
25 Dave Robisch C 6-10 235 December 22, 1949 Kansas
33 David Thompson SG 6-4 195 July 13, 1954 NC State
34 Cedrick Hordges PF 6-8 220 January 8, 1957 Auburn, South Carolina
43 James Ray PF 6-8 215 July 27, 1957 Jacksonville University
44 Dan Issel C 6-9 235 October 25, 1948 Kentucky
55 Kiki Vandeweghe PF 6-8 220 August 1, 1958 UCLA

Regular Season Per Game

Player Name Pos Age G GS MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOV FGA FG% 3PA 3P% FTA FT%
Alex English SF 28 82 82 36.8 25.4 6.8 5.3 1.1 1.5 3.2 18.9 .551 0.1 .000 5.4 .840
Kiki Vandeweghe PF 23 82 78 33.8 21.5 5.6 3.0 0.6 0.4 2.3 15.4 .560 0.2 .077 4.9 .857
T.R. Dunn SG 26 82 80 30.7 8.2 6.8 2.3 1.6 0.4 1.5 6.1 .512 0.0 .000 2.6 .712
Dan Issel C 33 81 81 30.5 22.9 7.5 2.2 0.8 0.7 2.1 15.3 .527 0.1 .667 8.1 .834
Billy McKinney PG 26 81 27 24.2 10.8 1.8 4.2 0.9 0.2 1.4 8.6 .528 0.2 .000 2.1 .806
Kenny Higgs PG 27 76 49 22.3 7.5 1.9 5.2 0.9 0.1 2.1 6.2 .432 0.3 .190 2.6 .817
Dave Robisch C 32 12 0 21.4 12.0 5.3 2.7 0.3 0.3 1.1 8.8 .453 0.0   4.6 .873
Glen Gondrezick SF 26 80 0 21.2 8.3 5.3 1.9 1.2 0.5 1.3 6.2 .505 0.0 .000 2.7 .737
David Thompson SG 27 61 5 20.4 14.9 2.4 1.9 0.6 0.5 2.3 10.6 .486 0.2 .286 5.6 .814
Cedrick Hordges PF 25 77 1 17.8 6.8 5.1 0.8 0.3 0.2 1.4 5.4 .493 0.2 .231 2.6 .583
John Roche SG 32 39 2 12.8 4.8 0.6 2.3 0.4 0.1 0.7 3.8 .453 1.3 .442 1.0 .737
David Burns PG 23 6 1 8.8 2.7 0.5 1.8 0.3 0.0 1.3 1.8 .455 0.0   1.5 .667
James Ray PF 24 40 4 6.6 3.1 1.6 0.7 0.3 0.4 0.9 2.9 .440 0.0 1.000 0.9 .583
Team Totals     82 82 241.8 126.5 43.8 27.7 8.1 4.5 17.9 93.4 .520 1.8 .268 36.3 .796

Playoff Per Game

Player Name Pos Age G GS MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOV FGA FG% 3PA 3P% FTA FT%
Alex English SF 28 3 3 39.3 19.3 7.7 5.7 1.0 1.0 1.3 18.3 .473 0.0   2.3 .857
Kiki Vandeweghe PF 23 3 3 36.3 22.7 6.0 3.0 0.7 1.3 2.0 14.3 .581 0.0   6.0 1.000
Dan Issel C 33 3 3 34.3 25.3 7.0 1.7 1.0 0.3 2.3 20.0 .533 0.0   4.0 1.000
Billy McKinney PG 26 3 3 30.3 14.0 2.0 3.3 1.0 0.0 1.7 9.0 .593 0.3 .000 4.0 .833
T.R. Dunn SG 26 3 3 27.0 6.3 6.0 3.3 2.7 0.3 1.7 4.3 .462 0.0   2.7 .875
David Thompson SG 27 3 3 22.0 11.7 3.3 2.0 0.3 0.0 2.7 11.0 .455 1.0 .333 2.3 .571
Kenny Higgs PG 27 3 3 18.0 7.7 1.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 1.7 7.0 .381 0.7 .000 4.0 .583
Glen Gondrezick SF 26 3 3 17.0 6.0 2.7 3.0 0.7 0.3 0.0 6.7 .400 0.3 .000 1.0 .667
Cedrick Hordges PF 25 3 3 15.0 6.3 4.3 0.7 0.3 0.0 1.3 6.3 .421 0.3 .000 1.3 .750
James Ray PF 24 1 1 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0   0.0   0.0  
Team Totals     3 3 240.0 119.3 40.0 24.7 8.7 3.7 14.7 97.0 .495 2.7 .125 27.7 .831

Regular Season Totals

Player Pos Age GP GS Min Pts Reb Ast Stl Blk TO FGA FG 3PA 3P FTA FT
Alex English SF 28 82 82 3015 2082 558 433 87 120 261 1553 855 8 0 443 372
Kiki Vandeweghe PF 23 82 78 2775 1760 461 247 52 29 189 1260 706 13 1 405 347
T.R. Dunn SG 26 82 80 2519 669 559 188 135 36 123 504 258 1 0 215 153
Dan Issel C 33 81 81 2472 1852 608 179 67 55 169 1236 651 6 4 655 546
Billy McKinney PG 26 81 27 1963 875 142 338 69 16 115 699 369 17 0 170 137
Glen Gondrezick SF 26 80 0 1699 660 423 152 92 36 100 495 250 3 0 217 160
Kenny Higgs PG 27 76 49 1696 569 144 395 72 6 156 468 202 21 4 197 161
Cedrick Hordges PF 25 77 1 1372 527 395 65 26 19 111 414 204 13 3 199 116
David Thompson SG 27 61 5 1246 906 148 117 34 29 142 644 313 14 4 339 276
John Roche SG 32 39 2 501 187 23 89 15 2 29 150 68 52 23 38 28
James Ray PF 24 40 4 262 124 65 26 10 16 37 116 51 1 1 36 21
Dave Robisch C 32 12 0 257 144 63 32 3 4 13 106 48 0 0 55 48
David Burns PG 23 6 1 53 16 3 11 2 0 8 11 5 0 0 9 6
Team Totals     82 82 19830 10371 3592 2272 664 368 1453 7656 3980 149 40 2978 2371

Playoff Totals

Player Pos Age GP GS Min Pts Reb Ast Stl Blk TO FGA FG 3PA 3P FTA FT
Alex English SF 28 3   118 58 23 17 3 3 4 55 26 0 0 7 6
Kiki Vandeweghe PF 23 3   109 68 18 9 2 4 6 43 25 0 0 18 18
Dan Issel C 33 3   103 76 21 5 3 1 7 60 32 0 0 12 12
Billy McKinney PG 26 3   91 42 6 10 3 0 5 27 16 1 0 12 10
T.R. Dunn SG 26 3   81 19 18 10 8 1 5 13 6 0 0 8 7
David Thompson SG 27 3   66 35 10 6 1 0 8 33 15 3 1 7 4
Kenny Higgs PG 27 3   54 23 3 6 3 0 5 21 8 2 0 12 7
Glen Gondrezick SF 26 3   51 18 8 9 2 1 0 20 8 1 0 3 2
Cedrick Hordges PF 25 3   45 19 13 2 1 0 4 19 8 1 0 4 3
James Ray PF 24 1   2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Team Totals     3   720 358 120 74 26 11 44 291 144 8 1 83 69

HeatingUp Impact Index: Team Impact Spotlight

Player Name Role Tier MPG Usage Tier PPG RPG APG STK (STL + BLK) Impact Index* Notes Awards
Alex English Primary Scoring & Facilitator 36.8 High 25.4 6.8 4.8 2.6 19.80 Team scoring leader who combined high-efficiency mid-range scoring with playmaking in Doug Moe’s fast-paced system; led NBA in points that season.  MVP-13, AS, NBA2
Kiki Vandeweghe Secondary Primary Scorer 33.8 High 21.5 5.6 3.0 1.0 15.55 Volume scorer and floor-spacer who complemented English with off-ball movement and catch-and-shoot scoring on a high-octane Nuggets offense.   
T.R. Dunn Defensive Specialist / Glue Guard 30.7 Low 8.2 6.8 2.3 2.0 9.65 Defensive anchor on the perimeter, strong rebounder for his position and a consistent source of steals — key to Denver’s transition defense.  DEF2
Dan Issel Veteran Inside Scorer / Post Option 30.5 Medium 22.9 7.5 2.2 1.5 17.05 Experienced post scorer who provided inside scoring, rebounding and veteran stability in half-court sets and playoff minutes.  MVP-17
Billy McKinney Starting Point Guard / Two-Way Lead Guard 24.2 Medium 10.8 1.8 4.2 1.1 8.95 Handled primary lead duties at times — a scoring-capable PG who also created for teammates and sustained team pace.   
Kenny Higgs Backup Point / Change-of-Pace Playmaker 22.3 Medium-Low 7.5 1.9 5.2 1.0 7.80 Secondary ball-handler bringing playmaking off the bench and tempo control in relief of starters.   
Dave Robisch Instant-Offense Backup Big 21.4 Low 12.0 5.3 2.7 0.6 10.30 Provided scoring punch and minutes at center/forward in a reserve role — efficient in limited action.   
Glen Gondrezick Rotation Wing / Depth Scorer 21.2 Low 8.3 5.3 1.9 1.7 8.60 Versatile reserve forward who contributed scoring, rebounding and streaky perimeter shooting off the bench.   
David Thompson Sixth-Man Scoring Bolt 20.4 Medium-Low 14.9 2.4 1.9 1.1 10.15 High-upside scorer used in bursts; when healthy delivered quick scoring and athletic drives, giving the team instant offense.  
Cedrick Hordges Backup PF / Energy Big 17.8 Low 6.8 5.1 0.8 0.5 6.60 Frontcourt depth who provided interior rebounding and physical minutes in spot rotations.   
John Roche Veteran Spot-Up Guard 12.8 Very Low 4.8 0.6 2.3 0.5 4.10 Experienced reserve used for perimeter shooting, spacing and veteran ball-handling in short stints.   
David Burns Deep Reserve / Emergency PG 8.8 Very Low 2.7 0.5 1.8 0.3 2.65 Very limited minutes; provided brief relief at the point when required.  
James Ray Frontcourt Depth / Minute-Earner 6.6 Very Low 3.1 1.6 0.7 0.7 3.05 Fringe rotation player used for frontcourt depth and energy in short bursts.   

*Impact Index = (PPG + RPG + APG + STK) ÷ 2