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DENVER (AP)— Jamal Murray was situated at the back of the room, allowing him to absorb the message delivered directly by the new head coach of the Denver Nuggets, David Adelman. Similarly, Julian Strawther positioned himself in the front row to hear the address.
For those players who weren’t present at Adelman’s introductory press conference on Wednesday, here’s a brief summary: Adelman is emphasizing the importance of enhanced fitness and an openness to fresh concepts as training camp approaches.
He highlighted the increasing competitiveness of the Western Conference, making it clear that it is crucial for the Nuggets to adapt, especially considering their lineup is anchored by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. Adelman also expressed a desire for his players to contribute their voices, mirroring what occurred after he took over the role following the dismissal of coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth with only three games remaining in the regular season.
“New ideas are valuable,” Adelman remarked. “I need to provide them with something motivating that they can look forward to upon their return.”
Adelman transitioned from interim coach to permanent head coach after leading the Nuggets on a playoff journey that culminated in a Game 7 matchup against Oklahoma City in the second round, despite relying on a thin bench and a starting five affected by injuries.
Now begins the task of imprinting his unique vision on the Nuggets’ direction. He has absorbed extensive knowledge from various NBA coaching legends, including his father Rick Adelman, Sam Mitchell, Frank Vogel, the late Flip Saunders, and of course, Malone himself.
“I feel well-prepared,” Adelman said regarding his readiness. “Being around such figures and observing their approaches to coaching is akin to having an insider’s advantage.”
Fitness, he asserted, will be crucial for a strong start to the season and for maintaining health during the playoffs.
“Teams that begin well generally have a better shot at staying healthy for significant games at the end of the year,” Adelman explained, while he continues to finalize his coaching staff. “Thus, the expectation is for everyone to return in significantly improved physical shape.”
One of the main focuses for the Nuggets this offseason is enhancing their depth. They struggled with stamina during the series against the Thunder after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in a tough seven-game first-round battle.
“Can they maintain their championship aspirations in their current state? From what (Jokic) indicated post-playoffs, it’s clear the answer is no,” shared Josh Kroenke, vice chairman of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. “We must critically assess how to elevate our potential moving forward, whether that’s through internal growth or external acquisitions.
“Looking at the remaining teams … with a bit of support and maybe some fortunate breaks, we could be in that mix. But we aren’t there yet, and we are very aware of the steps we need to take to improve.”
Kroenke surprised the league last month by parting ways with Malone, the franchise’s winningest coach, along with Booth following their success in winning the team’s first NBA title in 2023. This move was intended to inject new energy into the squad as they head into the postseason.
The next step for Kroenke is to appoint a new general manager. For the time being, Ben Tenzer will fill this role on an interim basis.
Kroenke noted that he plans to involve Adelman in the GM selection process eventually.
“The feedback from Adelman will be quite limited,” Kroenke indicated, “as my priority will be to ensure synergy between the coach and the GM.”
Adelman added about the general manager’s role: “This business revolves around cohesion. It’s all about progressing and achieving victory—that’s what matters, not establishing friendships.”
The Nuggets currently do not hold a selection in the upcoming NBA draft, which could complicate efforts to add depth without disrupting their core consisting of Jokic, Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., and Christian Braun.
This is where the potential of Denver’s younger players is crucial, as they look for development from the likes of Strawther, Peyton Watson, Jalen Pickett, and DaRon Holmes II, a first-round draft choice last year who suffered an Achilles injury during the NBA Summer League.
“We are eager to improve,” Strawther declared. “It all serves as motivation.”
Regarding their style of play, Adelman plans to incorporate refinements while maintaining a strong focus on defense.
“We need to return to being an execution-oriented team,” Adelman stated. “If that means sacrificing some pace stats or what the analytics suggest, I am fine with that if it translates to a victory in May rather than just a regular season win in December.
“To achieve significant success, you often need to play at a slower pace. Efficiency and precision are key. Those are the aspects we will discuss throughout the summer and into training camp.”
