Last Updated on September 13, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
League Search Page > NBA > Denver Nuggets > Roster & Statistics
The 1996–97 Denver Nuggets were led by Antonio McDyess, whose scoring, rebounding, and shot blocking established him as the team’s central frontcourt presence. Dale Ellis provided reliable perimeter scoring and outside shooting, while Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and Mark Jackson handled much of the playmaking. Denver featured capable offensive contributors across the roster but relied heavily on its leading veterans, with rebounding and interior defense centered around McDyess.
Roster
| NO | PLAYER NAME | POS | HT | WT | DATE OF BIRTH | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Dale Ellis | SF | 6-7 | 205 | August 6, 1960 | Tennessee |
| 5 | Anthony Goldwire | PG | 6-1 | 182 | September 6, 1971 | Houston |
| 5 | Jeff McInnis | PG | 6-4 | 190 | October 22, 1974 | UNC |
| 6 | Brooks Thompson | PG | 6-4 | 193 | July 19, 1970 | Texas A&M, Oklahoma State |
| 8 | Šarūnas Marčiulionis | SG | 6-5 | 200 | June 13, 1964 | |
| 13 | Mark Jackson | PG | 6-3 | 192 | April 1, 1965 | St. John’s |
| 13 | Jimmy King | SG | 6-5 | 210 | August 9, 1973 | Michigan |
| 14 | Elmer Bennett | PG | 6-0 | 170 | February 13, 1970 | Notre Dame |
| 14 | Melvin Booker | PG | 6-2 | 185 | August 20, 1972 | Missouri |
| 14 | Eric Murdock | PG | 6-1 | 190 | June 14, 1968 | Providence |
| 17 | Vincent Askew | SG | 6-6 | 210 | February 28, 1966 | Memphis |
| 20 | LaPhonso Ellis | PF | 6-8 | 240 | May 5, 1970 | Notre Dame |
| 21 | Tom Hammonds | PF | 6-9 | 215 | March 27, 1967 | Georgia Tech |
| 22 | Ricky Pierce | SG | 6-4 | 205 | August 19, 1959 | Walla Walla Community College, Rice University |
| 23 | Bryant Stith | SG | 6-5 | 208 | December 10, 1970 | Virginia |
| 24 | Antonio McDyess | PF | 6-9 | 220 | September 7, 1974 | Alabama |
| 25 | George Zídek | C | 7-0 | 250 | August 2, 1973 | UCLA |
| 30 | Kenny Smith | PG | 6-3 | 170 | March 8, 1965 | UNC |
| 35 | Darvin Ham | SF | 6-7 | 220 | July 23, 1973 | Texas Tech |
| 41 | LaSalle Thompson | C | 6-10 | 245 | June 23, 1961 | Texas |
| 50 | Ervin Johnson | C | 6-11 | 245 | December 21, 1967 | New Orleans |
| 53 | Jerome Allen | SG | 6-4 | 184 | January 28, 1973 | Penn |
| 55 | Aaron Williams | C | 6-9 | 220 | October 2, 1971 | Xavier |
Regular Season Per Game
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dale Ellis | SF | 36 | 82 | 51 | 35.9 | 16.6 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 14.0 | 5.8 | .414 | 6.4 | 2.3 | .364 | 3.2 | 2.6 | .817 |
| Antonio McDyess | PF | 22 | 74 | 73 | 34.7 | 18.3 | 7.3 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 15.6 | 7.2 | .463 | 0.5 | 0.1 | .171 | 5.2 | 3.7 | .708 |
| LaPhonso Ellis | PF | 26 | 55 | 49 | 36.4 | 21.9 | 7.0 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 18.4 | 8.1 | .439 | 4.7 | 1.7 | .367 | 5.1 | 4.0 | .773 |
| Bryant Stith | SG | 26 | 52 | 52 | 34.4 | 14.9 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 11.6 | 4.8 | .416 | 3.5 | 1.3 | .385 | 4.5 | 3.9 | .863 |
| Ervin Johnson | C | 29 | 82 | 82 | 31.7 | 7.1 | 11.1 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 5.7 | 3.0 | .520 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 1.9 | 1.2 | .615 |
| Mark Jackson | PG | 31 | 52 | 52 | 38.5 | 10.4 | 5.2 | 12.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 3.3 | 8.7 | 3.7 | .425 | 2.3 | 0.9 | .397 | 2.6 | 2.1 | .801 |
| Tom Hammonds | PF | 29 | 81 | 8 | 21.7 | 6.2 | 5.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 4.9 | 2.4 | .480 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 2.1 | 1.5 | .721 |
| Brooks Thompson | PG | 26 | 65 | 6 | 16.1 | 6.8 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 6.2 | 2.5 | .400 | 3.8 | 1.5 | .398 | 0.6 | 0.4 | .632 |
| Ricky Pierce | SG | 37 | 33 | 10 | 18.2 | 10.2 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 7.9 | 3.6 | .462 | 1.2 | 0.4 | .308 | 2.8 | 2.5 | .902 |
| Kenny Smith | PG | 31 | 33 | 3 | 19.8 | 7.9 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.9 | 6.2 | 2.6 | .422 | 3.6 | 1.5 | .425 | 1.2 | 1.1 | .854 |
| Anthony Goldwire | PG | 25 | 27 | 21 | 22.7 | 7.3 | 1.7 | 4.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 6.5 | 2.6 | .392 | 2.6 | 1.0 | .394 | 1.4 | 1.1 | .816 |
| Šarūnas Marčiulionis | SG | 32 | 17 | 0 | 15.0 | 6.8 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 2.4 | 5.9 | 2.2 | .376 | 1.8 | 0.6 | .367 | 2.1 | 1.7 | .806 |
| Darvin Ham | SF | 23 | 35 | 3 | 8.9 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 0.9 | .525 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.5 | .485 | |
| Jeff McInnis | PG | 22 | 13 | 0 | 9.0 | 5.0 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 1.8 | .469 | 2.0 | 0.9 | .462 | 0.8 | 0.5 | .700 |
| Jerome Allen | SG | 24 | 25 | 0 | 10.0 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 0.8 | .284 | 1.4 | 0.3 | .206 | 1.0 | 0.6 | .600 |
| George Zídek | C | 23 | 16 | 0 | 5.5 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 1.0 | .485 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 1.3 | .800 | |
| Eric Murdock | PG | 28 | 12 | 0 | 9.5 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 1.3 | .455 | 0.8 | 0.3 | .400 | 1.0 | 0.9 | .917 |
| Elmer Bennett | PG | 26 | 5 | 0 | 11.8 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.8 | .308 | 1.2 | 0.4 | .333 | 0.8 | 0.4 | .500 |
| LaSalle Thompson | C | 35 | 17 | 0 | 6.2 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | .188 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | .500 | |
| Aaron Williams | C | 25 | 1 | 0 | 10.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 3.0 | .600 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Jimmy King | SG | 23 | 2 | 0 | 11.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 1.0 | .333 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .500 | |
| Vincent Askew | SG | 30 | 1 | 0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | .667 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.000 | |
| Melvin Booker | PG | 24 | 5 | 0 | 4.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | .500 | 0.4 | 0.2 | .500 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Team Totals | 82 | 82 | 243.0 | 97.8 | 42.0 | 23.0 | 6.1 | 5.9 | 16.6 | 81.5 | 35.8 | .439 | 20.9 | 7.8 | .372 | 24.3 | 18.5 | .761 |
Regular Season Per 36 Mins
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MP | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dale Ellis | SF | 36 | 82 | 51 | 2940 | 16.7 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.8 | 14.1 | 5.8 | .414 | 6.5 | 2.4 | .364 | 3.2 | 2.6 | .817 |
| Antonio McDyess | PF | 22 | 74 | 73 | 2565 | 19.0 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 16.2 | 7.5 | .463 | 0.5 | 0.1 | .171 | 5.4 | 3.8 | .708 |
| LaPhonso Ellis | PF | 26 | 55 | 49 | 2002 | 21.6 | 6.9 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 18.2 | 8.0 | .439 | 4.7 | 1.7 | .367 | 5.1 | 3.9 | .773 |
| Bryant Stith | SG | 26 | 52 | 52 | 1788 | 15.6 | 4.4 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 12.1 | 5.1 | .416 | 3.7 | 1.4 | .385 | 4.7 | 4.1 | .863 |
| Ervin Johnson | C | 29 | 82 | 82 | 2599 | 8.1 | 12.6 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 6.5 | 3.4 | .520 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 2.2 | 1.3 | .615 |
| Mark Jackson | PG | 31 | 52 | 52 | 2001 | 9.7 | 4.9 | 11.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 3.1 | 8.1 | 3.5 | .425 | 2.2 | 0.9 | .397 | 2.4 | 2.0 | .801 |
| Tom Hammonds | PF | 29 | 81 | 8 | 1758 | 10.4 | 8.2 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 8.2 | 3.9 | .480 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 3.5 | 2.5 | .721 |
| Brooks Thompson | PG | 26 | 65 | 6 | 1047 | 15.3 | 3.3 | 6.2 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 3.0 | 13.9 | 5.6 | .400 | 8.4 | 3.3 | .398 | 1.3 | 0.8 | .632 |
| Ricky Pierce | SG | 37 | 33 | 10 | 600 | 20.1 | 3.2 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 15.6 | 7.2 | .462 | 2.3 | 0.7 | .308 | 5.5 | 5.0 | .902 |
| Kenny Smith | PG | 31 | 33 | 3 | 654 | 14.3 | 2.0 | 5.6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 3.4 | 11.3 | 4.8 | .422 | 6.6 | 2.8 | .425 | 2.3 | 1.9 | .854 |
| Anthony Goldwire | PG | 25 | 27 | 21 | 612 | 11.6 | 2.7 | 7.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 10.4 | 4.1 | .392 | 4.2 | 1.6 | .394 | 2.2 | 1.8 | .816 |
| Šarūnas Marčiulionis | SG | 32 | 17 | 0 | 255 | 16.4 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 5.6 | 14.3 | 5.4 | .376 | 4.2 | 1.6 | .367 | 5.1 | 4.1 | .806 |
| Darvin Ham | SF | 23 | 35 | 3 | 313 | 9.2 | 6.4 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 7.0 | 3.7 | .525 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.8 | 1.8 | .485 | |
| Jeff McInnis | PG | 22 | 13 | 0 | 117 | 20.0 | 1.8 | 5.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 4.0 | 15.1 | 7.1 | .469 | 8.0 | 3.7 | .462 | 3.1 | 2.2 | .700 |
| Jerome Allen | SG | 24 | 25 | 0 | 251 | 9.2 | 4.7 | 6.2 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 10.6 | 3.0 | .284 | 4.9 | 1.0 | .206 | 3.6 | 2.2 | .600 |
| George Zídek | C | 23 | 16 | 0 | 88 | 21.3 | 9.4 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 13.5 | 6.5 | .485 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10.2 | 8.2 | .800 | |
| Eric Murdock | PG | 28 | 12 | 0 | 114 | 14.2 | 3.5 | 7.6 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 3.5 | 10.4 | 4.7 | .455 | 3.2 | 1.3 | .400 | 3.8 | 3.5 | .917 |
| Elmer Bennett | PG | 26 | 5 | 0 | 59 | 7.3 | 1.8 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 6.1 | 7.9 | 2.4 | .308 | 3.7 | 1.2 | .333 | 2.4 | 1.2 | .500 |
| LaSalle Thompson | C | 35 | 17 | 0 | 105 | 2.4 | 8.9 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 5.5 | 1.0 | .188 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | .500 | |
| Jimmy King | SG | 23 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 9.8 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 4.9 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 9.8 | 3.3 | .333 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.5 | 3.3 | .500 | |
| Aaron Williams | C | 25 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 21.6 | 18.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10.8 | 14.4 | 18.0 | 10.8 | .600 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Vincent Askew | SG | 30 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 24.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 16.0 | 12.0 | 8.0 | .667 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 1.000 | |
| Melvin Booker | PG | 24 | 5 | 0 | 21 | 8.6 | 1.7 | 5.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12.0 | 6.9 | 3.4 | .500 | 3.4 | 1.7 | .500 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Regular Season Totals
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MP | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dale Ellis | SF | 36 | 82 | 51 | 2940 | 1361 | 293 | 165 | 60 | 7 | 146 | 1151 | 477 | .414 | 528 | 192 | .364 | 263 | 215 | .817 |
| Antonio McDyess | PF | 22 | 74 | 73 | 2565 | 1352 | 537 | 106 | 62 | 126 | 199 | 1157 | 536 | .463 | 35 | 6 | .171 | 387 | 274 | .708 |
| LaPhonso Ellis | PF | 26 | 55 | 49 | 2002 | 1203 | 386 | 131 | 44 | 41 | 117 | 1014 | 445 | .439 | 259 | 95 | .367 | 282 | 218 | .773 |
| Bryant Stith | SG | 26 | 52 | 52 | 1788 | 774 | 217 | 133 | 60 | 20 | 101 | 603 | 251 | .416 | 182 | 70 | .385 | 234 | 202 | .863 |
| Ervin Johnson | C | 29 | 82 | 82 | 2599 | 582 | 913 | 71 | 65 | 227 | 118 | 467 | 243 | .520 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 156 | 96 | .615 |
| Mark Jackson | PG | 31 | 52 | 52 | 2001 | 541 | 271 | 641 | 51 | 9 | 172 | 452 | 192 | .425 | 121 | 48 | .397 | 136 | 109 | .801 |
| Tom Hammonds | PF | 29 | 81 | 8 | 1758 | 506 | 401 | 64 | 16 | 24 | 88 | 398 | 191 | .480 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 172 | 124 | .721 |
| Brooks Thompson | PG | 26 | 65 | 6 | 1047 | 445 | 96 | 179 | 55 | 2 | 86 | 405 | 162 | .400 | 244 | 97 | .398 | 38 | 24 | .632 |
| Ricky Pierce | SG | 37 | 33 | 10 | 600 | 335 | 53 | 31 | 14 | 5 | 38 | 260 | 120 | .462 | 39 | 12 | .308 | 92 | 83 | .902 |
| Kenny Smith | PG | 31 | 33 | 3 | 654 | 260 | 37 | 102 | 18 | 0 | 62 | 206 | 87 | .422 | 120 | 51 | .425 | 41 | 35 | .854 |
| Anthony Goldwire | PG | 25 | 27 | 21 | 612 | 197 | 46 | 125 | 14 | 1 | 35 | 176 | 69 | .392 | 71 | 28 | .394 | 38 | 31 | .816 |
| Šarūnas Marčiulionis | SG | 32 | 17 | 0 | 255 | 116 | 30 | 25 | 12 | 1 | 40 | 101 | 38 | .376 | 30 | 11 | .367 | 36 | 29 | .806 |
| Darvin Ham | SF | 23 | 35 | 3 | 313 | 80 | 56 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 21 | 61 | 32 | .525 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 16 | .485 | |
| Jeff McInnis | PG | 22 | 13 | 0 | 117 | 65 | 6 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 49 | 23 | .469 | 26 | 12 | .462 | 10 | 7 | .700 |
| Jerome Allen | SG | 24 | 25 | 0 | 251 | 64 | 33 | 43 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 74 | 21 | .284 | 34 | 7 | .206 | 25 | 15 | .600 |
| George Zídek | C | 23 | 16 | 0 | 88 | 52 | 23 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 33 | 16 | .485 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 20 | .800 | |
| Eric Murdock | PG | 28 | 12 | 0 | 114 | 45 | 11 | 24 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 33 | 15 | .455 | 10 | 4 | .400 | 12 | 11 | .917 |
| Elmer Bennett | PG | 26 | 5 | 0 | 59 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 4 | .308 | 6 | 2 | .333 | 4 | 2 | .500 |
| LaSalle Thompson | C | 35 | 17 | 0 | 105 | 7 | 26 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 3 | .188 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | .500 | |
| Jimmy King | SG | 23 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | .333 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | .500 | |
| Aaron Williams | C | 25 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | .600 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Vincent Askew | SG | 30 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1.000 | |
| Melvin Booker | PG | 24 | 5 | 0 | 21 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 2 | .500 | 2 | 1 | .500 | 0 | 0 | |
| Team Totals | 82 | 82 | 19930 | 8020 | 3446 | 1889 | 503 | 487 | 1297 | 6687 | 2934 | .439 | 1711 | 636 | .372 | 1992 | 1516 | .761 |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaPhonso Ellis | Primary Scoring Forward (1.1) | 36.4 | High (1.2) | 21.9 | 7.0 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 86.59 | Ellis was Denver’s main scoring forward, attacking the rim with the explosive style that had defined his game before his knee problems. His 1996-97 season was his best scoring year with the Nuggets, and the combination of heavy minutes and 18.4 field-goal attempts shows how much of the offense ran through him. He also posted 39 points against San Antonio in March, a game where Denver’s core scorers carried the attack. (NBA) | — |
| Antonio McDyess | Emerging Frontcourt Scoring Anchor (1.1) | 34.7 | High (1.2) | 18.3 | 7.3 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 77.88 | McDyess was becoming Denver’s other major interior scoring threat, with his athleticism allowing him to score over the top and finish around the basket. His development was obvious in the season’s big performances, including 33 points against San Antonio in March, when he shot 14-for-20. The Nuggets were increasingly building their future around his young frontcourt presence. | — |
| Mark Jackson | Franchise Floor General (1.1) | 38.5 | High (1.2) | 10.4 | 5.2 | 12.3 | 1.2 | 76.82 | Jackson was the team’s offensive organizer, operating with the ball in his hands almost constantly and controlling tempo through half-court distribution. His 12.3 assists per game in Denver reflected an unusually large playmaking burden, and he finished the season as the NBA assists leader at 11.4 per game after his trade to Indiana. Denver ultimately moved him at the February deadline, ending a short but highly influential stint. (NBA) | NBA Assists Leader (1997) |
| Dale Ellis | Veteran Three-Point Scoring Wing (1.05) | 35.9 | High (1.1) | 16.6 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 53.13 | Ellis supplied the veteran shooting Denver badly needed, functioning as a high-volume perimeter threat rather than a creator who regularly attacked off the dribble. He made 192 three-pointers during the season, still possessing the range that had made him one of the league’s premier shooters earlier in his career. His spacing was particularly useful beside the attacking LaPhonso Ellis and McDyess. | — |
| Bryant Stith | Starting Two-Way Shooting Guard (1.05) | 34.4 | High (1.1) | 14.9 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 53.82 | Stith was one of Denver’s steadier two-way perimeter pieces, combining secondary scoring with active defense and enough rebounding to survive long stretches on the floor. His 52 starts and 34.4 minutes reflected real responsibility, although a foot injury restricted him to roughly two-thirds of the schedule. In a January meeting with Indiana, he produced 10 points, four rebounds and two assists in a competitive matchup. | — |
| Ervin Johnson | Rim-Protecting Centerpiece (1.05) | 31.7 | High (1.1) | 7.1 | 11.1 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 52.44 | Johnson was the defensive backbone of the frontcourt, protecting the rim while taking responsibility for the defensive glass. His 2.8 blocks per game ranked among the league’s better interior figures, and his value was especially clear in Denver’s March win over San Antonio, when he collected 15 rebounds and six blocks. He was not asked to create offense; the job was to clean up possessions and make the paint difficult to enter. | — |
| Anthony Goldwire | Midseason Lead Guard Replacement (1.05) | 22.7 | Medium (1.1) | 7.3 | 1.7 | 4.6 | 0.5 | 32.57 | Goldwire became Denver’s principal reserve-to-starter point guard after the February reshuffling, stepping into a larger organizational role when Mark Jackson was traded. He was more of a distributor than a volume scorer, and his 4.6 assists in only 22.7 minutes show how heavily his minutes were tilted toward initiating offense. The trade that brought him from Charlotte also paired him with center George Zídek. | — |
| Tom Hammonds | Veteran Frontcourt Stabilizer (1.0) | 21.7 | Medium (1.1) | 6.2 | 5.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 27.50 | Hammonds provided dependable frontcourt minutes without demanding touches, giving Denver a physical option alongside its more offensively ambitious young bigs. His role was particularly useful as a change of pace from the scoring-oriented Ellis and McDyess. In the March win over San Antonio, he supplied a quiet 12-minute stretch that included three rebounds and a steal. | — |
| Ricky Pierce | Veteran Instant-Offense Wing (1.0) | 18.2 | Medium (1.1) | 10.2 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 26.60 | Pierce was a classic veteran scoring specialist by this point, capable of generating points without needing a large offensive structure built around him. Denver used him in a reduced role before sending him to Charlotte at the trade deadline, where his role expanded into the starting lineup. The February trade reflected Denver’s decision to move an aging scorer while reshaping the roster around younger players. | — |
| Kenny Smith | Veteran Three-Point Organizer (1.0) | 19.8 | Medium (1.1) | 7.9 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 0.5 | 25.20 | Smith joined Denver late in the season as an experienced shooting point guard, bringing the spacing and ball movement associated with his long NBA career. He played only 33 games, but his 42.5 percent three-point shooting gave the Nuggets another perimeter release valve during a season of constant roster changes. His late-season role was more about organization and shooting than heavy creation. | NBA Champion (1994); NBA Champion (1995) |
| Brooks Thompson | Reserve Three-and-D Guard (1.0) | 16.1 | Medium (1.1) | 6.8 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 23.80 | Thompson supplied second-unit ball handling while also providing genuine three-point volume, attempting 3.8 threes per game in limited minutes. His 14-point, nine-assist performance against San Antonio showed the upside of that reserve role: when the Nuggets needed another creator, he could push beyond simple spot-up duties. | — |
| Šarūnas Marčiulionis | Veteran Slashing Guard Reserve (1.0) | 15.0 | Medium (1.1) | 6.8 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 21.80 | Marčiulionis was a highly experienced but physically limited reserve, bringing the aggressive, contact-seeking style that had made him such a difficult matchup earlier in his career. His Denver stint lasted only 17 games, and the limited minutes suggest the Nuggets were using him selectively rather than asking him to recreate his peak Golden State workload. Independent season-specific coverage of his short Denver run is limited. (RealGM Basketball) | — |
| Aaron Williams | Emergency Interior Scorer (1.0) | 10.0 | Low (1.0) | 6.0 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 28.00 | Williams had only a one-game sample in Denver, making his role difficult to characterize beyond emergency frontcourt use. The brief appearance nevertheless produced an active interior line, with his scoring and three blocks coming in a short stint. Independent reporting on this isolated Denver appearance is limited, so it is best treated as a situational role rather than evidence of a regular rotation position. | — |
| Eric Murdock | Deep-Rotation Playmaking Guard (1.0) | 9.5 | Low (1.0) | 3.8 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 15.40 | Murdock provided experienced guard depth during a season when Denver repeatedly changed its backcourt combinations. His role was largely confined to short stretches, with the veteran guard expected to organize possessions rather than carry a scoring load. Contemporary individual coverage is limited, so the available evidence points to a situational playmaking assignment. (Land of Basketball) | — |
| Jeff McInnis | Developing Reserve Point Guard (1.0) | 9.0 | Low (1.0) | 5.0 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 14.40 | McInnis was still a developmental guard, appearing in only 13 games while Denver searched for stability behind its veteran ball handlers. His efficiency from three-point range was encouraging in a tiny sample, but his minutes remained tightly controlled. Independent season-specific reporting is limited, making it difficult to identify a larger assignment beyond developmental backcourt depth. (Land of Basketball) | — |
| Jimmy King | Short-Minute Wing Reserve (1.0) | 11.0 | Low (1.0) | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 13.00 | King received only two appearances, so there was no sustained rotation role to evaluate. His brief minutes were used as perimeter depth during a season in which Denver’s roster was repeatedly altered, particularly around the February trade deadline. Independent coverage of his two-game Denver stint is limited. (Basketball Reference) | — |
| Eric Murdock | Deep-Rotation Playmaking Guard (1.0) | 9.5 | Low (1.0) | 3.8 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 15.40 | Murdock supplied veteran guard insurance during Denver’s unsettled backcourt rotation, but his opportunities were brief. The Nuggets used several experienced ball handlers around Mark Jackson and later Anthony Goldwire and Kenny Smith, leaving Murdock in a situational role rather than a regular rotation assignment. Independent season-specific reporting is limited. | — |
| Jerome Allen | Defensive Guard Reserve (1.0) | 10.0 | Low (1.0) | 2.6 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 12.00 | Allen was a deep reserve guard whose main opportunity came after the February roster changes. His limited scoring role meant his minutes were more about providing another ball-handler and defensive body than creating offense. Contemporary independent reporting on his Denver stint is scarce, so the role is best classified as situational backcourt depth. | — |
| Vincent Askew | Emergency Defensive Guard (1.0) | 9.0 | Low (1.0) | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12.00 | Askew appeared only once for Denver after arriving in the February trade that sent Mark Jackson to Indiana. With no sustained rotation sample, his Denver role was essentially emergency guard depth rather than a defined offensive assignment. Contemporary reporting on his short stint is extremely limited. | — |
| George Zídek | Developmental Seven-Foot Reserve (1.0) | 5.5 | Low (1.0) | 3.3 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 10.20 | Zídek arrived from Charlotte in the Ricky Pierce trade and remained a very deep center option. His six-foot-ten-plus size gave Denver another body behind Johnson, but his minutes were sparse and his role never developed into a regular rotation assignment. Independent coverage of his Denver season is limited. (Reddit) | — |
| Elmer Bennett | Ten-Day Contract Point Guard (1.0) | 11.8 | Low (1.0) | 2.4 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 9.60 | Bennett’s Denver role was strictly temporary, with the Nuggets using him as short-term point-guard depth during the season’s roster churn. He received only five appearances, making any broader assessment of his offensive responsibilities unreliable. Independent coverage of his brief Denver stint is limited. | — |
| Darvin Ham | Energy Wing Reserve (1.0) | 8.9 | Low (1.0) | 2.3 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 9.40 | Ham’s minutes were built around athletic energy rather than half-court scoring, giving Denver a physical wing who could attack the glass and defend multiple spots. He was traded to Indiana in February as part of the Mark Jackson deal, ending a short Denver stint before he had established a larger role. | — |
| Melvin Booker | Deep-Rotation Guard Prospect (1.0) | 4.2 | Low (1.0) | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 3.60 | Booker was essentially a deep developmental guard, appearing in only five games before being waived in December. His opportunities came behind a crowded group of veteran and younger point guards, leaving little room for a meaningful offensive assignment. Independent contemporary coverage of his Denver stint is limited. | — |
| LaSalle Thompson | Veteran Interior Insurance (1.0) | 6.2 | Low (1.0) | 0.4 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 5.00 | Thompson was a veteran center used primarily as insurance behind Denver’s younger frontcourt pieces. He was traded to Indiana with Mark Jackson in February, part of a broader roster reset that removed several established veterans from the Nuggets’ rotation. Independent reporting on his brief 1996-97 Denver role is limited. | — |
| Team Totals | — | 243.0 | — | 97.8 | 42.0 | 23.0 | 12.0 | 690.75 | — | — |