The Denver Nuggets 2009-10 were led by Carmelo Anthony, whose scoring made him the focal point of the offense, while Chauncey Billups complemented him with perimeter scoring and primary playmaking. Nene anchored the frontcourt with efficient interior scoring, rebounding, and defensive presence, and J.R. Smith added instant offense from the perimeter. Denver combined balanced scoring, efficient shooting, and strong ball movement, with solid defensive contributions supporting its overall effectiveness.
Melo was the team’s focal point, dominating scoring with a versatile offensive game from mid-range and beyond the arc. He also contributed solid rebounds for a small forward while acting as a secondary facilitator.
MVP-6, AS, NBA2
Chauncey Billups
Starter/Star [1.1]
34.1
High [1.2]
19.5
3.1
5.6
1.2
83.5
Billups ran the offense with veteran poise, delivering clutch shooting and distributing efficiently. His leadership and experience anchored both tempo and execution.
MVP-12, AS
Nenê
Starter/Star [1.1]
33.6
High [1.2]
13.8
7.6
2.5
2.4
65.8
Nenê provided a steady interior presence, scoring efficiently around the rim, grabbing boards, and protecting the paint; his defensive IQ helped anchor rotations.
J.R. Smith
Key Contributor [1.05]
27.8
High [1.2]
15.4
3.1
2.4
1.6
61.2
Smith offered instant scoring off the bench, particularly from deep, and added unpredictable offensive bursts while spacing the floor.
6MOY-5
Kenyon Martin
Starter/Star [1.1]
34.2
High [1.2]
11.5
9.4
1.9
2.3
60.8
Martin contributed tough interior defense and rebounding, controlling the paint and setting screens; he provided veteran leadership and physicality.
DPOY-17
Arron Afflalo
Starter/Star [1.1]
27.1
High [1.2]
8.8
3.1
1.7
1.0
37.0
Afflalo’s two-way contributions included perimeter defense and timely scoring; he complemented the team’s stars with efficient spacing and hustle plays.
DPOY-17
Chris Andersen
Bench [1.0]
22.3
Medium [1.1]
5.9
6.4
0.4
2.5
29.4
Andersen injected energy off the bench with shot-blocking, rebounds, and hustle plays, often shifting momentum defensively while providing limited scoring.
Ty Lawson
Key Contributor [1.05]
20.3
Medium [1.1]
8.3
1.9
3.1
0.7
27.4
Lawson orchestrated the offense efficiently, pushing tempo in limited minutes, distributing well, and scoring when needed.
Anthony Carter
Bench [1.0]
15.9
Low [1.0]
3.3
1.6
3.0
0.9
18.0
Carter’s role was limited but provided veteran stability and passing off the bench; contributed defensively in spot minutes.
Johan Petro
Bench [1.0]
12.1
Low [1.0]
3.4
3.6
0.4
0.7
15.7
Petro gave brief rim protection and rebounding; minimal offensive role but reliable in low-pressure minutes.
Joey Graham
Bench [1.0]
12.0
Low [1.0]
4.2
2.0
0.3
0.5
14.9
Graham provided occasional scoring and defense as a rotational wing; energy and spacing were his main contributions.
Malik Allen
Bench [1.0]
8.9
Low [1.0]
2.1
1.6
0.3
0.3
8.0
Allen offered spot minutes at power forward with modest scoring and rebounding; served as a role player for depth.
Renaldo Balkman
Bench [1.0]
7.0
Low [1.0]
1.1
1.8
0.5
0.2
6.7
Balkman contributed short bursts of energy and defense; limited offensive usage but active on rebounds.
Team Totals
241.2
106.5
41.4
21.0
13.9
606.0
Team heavily relied on Carmelo and Billups for scoring and playmaking, with Nenê and Martin anchoring inside. Bench units provided bursts of energy, defensive coverage, and floor spacing to support starters.
Melo dominated the postseason with his scoring and versatility, taking over key possessions and stretching defenses with consistent mid-range and post threats. His usage was extremely high, and he maintained efficiency despite heavy defensive focus.
AS
Chauncey Billups
Starter/Star [1.1]
34.5
High [1.2]
20.3
2.3
6.3
1.5
61.3
Chauncey ran the offense expertly, mixing clutch shooting with playmaking. His veteran presence stabilized the backcourt, and he stepped up in high-pressure moments to create opportunities.
Kenyon Martin
Starter/Star [1.1]
34.2
High [1.2]
10.0
8.3
1.3
2.7
43.8
Martin was a defensive anchor, protecting the paint and crashing the boards. Offensively, he contributed efficiently on pick-and-rolls and putbacks, showing smart positioning.
Nenê
Starter/Star [1.1]
33.8
High [1.2]
11.4
5.8
2.2
1.4
35.9
Nenê offered rim protection and floor spacing, using his size to alter shots and provide efficient scoring inside. His high field goal percentage reflected selective and effective shot choices.
J.R. Smith
Key Contributor [1.05]
26.5
Medium [1.1]
11.2
3.8
1.7
1.0
33.3
J.R. provided streaky scoring off the bench, mostly from the perimeter. His quick release and spacing helped open lanes for teammates, though usage was lower than starters.
Arron Afflalo
Starter/Star [1.1]
20.0
Medium [1.1]
9.2
2.0
1.2
0.5
25.2
Afflalo contributed solid defense and spot-up shooting. His impact was more subtle offensively, but he reliably stretched defenses and created clean looks for others.
Ty Lawson
Key Contributor [1.05]
19.7
Medium [1.1]
7.8
1.3
2.7
0.7
21.0
Lawson ran the second unit efficiently, pushing pace and finding cutters. His limited scoring was offset by playmaking, controlling tempo and spacing effectively.
Chris Andersen
Bench [1.0]
19.3
Medium [1.1]
4.5
4.5
0.2
1.2
19.0
Andersen came off the bench to energize the defense with hustle plays and rim protection. His offensive contributions were minimal, but his impact was felt on rebounds and shot deterrence.
Johan Petro
Bench [1.0]
7.5
Low [1.0]
2.2
1.8
0.2
0.5
8.7
Petro provided brief relief minutes in the paint, focusing on clean shot attempts and modest rebounding, contributing situationally rather than consistently.
Joey Graham
Bench [1.0]
7.3
Low [1.0]
6.0
2.5
0.0
0.8
18.5
Graham offered occasional scoring in limited minutes, hitting select mid-range shots and providing small bursts of energy on both ends.
Anthony Carter
Bench [1.0]
7.0
Low [1.0]
0.0
0.0
3.0
0.0
6.0
Carter’s brief stint focused on facilitating second-unit offense, adding playmaking in short bursts rather than scoring or rebounding.
Malik Allen
Bench [1.0]
2.8
Low [1.0]
0.0
0.8
0.0
0.0
1.6
Allen provided situational minutes as a role player, contributing sparingly on defense and boards in limited time.
Team Totals
240.0
109.3
39.7
19.2
13.7
Collective effort featured dominant scoring from Melo, veteran leadership from Billups, and defensive presence from Martin and Nenê, with bench units providing sporadic energy and support.
