| 1994–95 Denver Nuggets season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach |
| ||
| President | Bernie Bickerstaff | ||
| General manager | Bernie Bickerstaff | ||
| Arena | McNichols Sports Arena | ||
| Results | |||
| Record | 41–41 (.500) | ||
| Place | Division: 4th (Midwest) Conference: 8th (Western) | ||
| Playoff finish | First round (lost toSpurs 0–3) | ||
Stats atBasketball Reference | |||
| Local media | |||
| Television | |||
| Radio | KOA | ||
| |||
The1994–95 Denver Nuggets season was the 19th season for theDenver Nuggets in theNational Basketball Association, and their 28th season as a franchise.[1] The Nuggets had the thirteenth overall pick in the1994 NBA draft, and selected shooting guardJalen Rose from theUniversity of Michigan,[2][3][4] and signed free agentDale Ellis during the off-season.[5][6][7] Coming off their improbable playoff run, the Nuggets were bitten by the injury bug, losingLaPhonso Ellis for all but the final six games of the regular season due to a knee injury from an off-season pickup game.[8][9][10]
Without their star forward, second-year forwardRodney Rogers became the team's starting power forward, while the Nuggets also replaced scoring leaderMahmoud Abdul-Rauf as the team's starting point guard withRobert Pack, as the team won five of their first six games. However, head coachDan Issel resigned with the team holding an 18–16 record.[11][12] Under his assistantGene Littles, the Nuggets struggled losing 13 of their next 16 games as Littles was replaced with General ManagerBernie Bickerstaff.[13][14][15] The team was out of playoff position with a 20–26 record at the All-Star break.[16]
Pack would come down with a knee injury in February, as Abdul-Rauf returned to the lineup; Pack would return during the final month of the season in April, but would then re-injure his knee after only playing just 42 games, starting in 32 of them, averaging 12.1 points, 6.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game.[17][18] Under Bickerstaff, the Nuggets would recover making a late push winning 20 of their final 32 games.
On the final day of the regular season on April 23, 1995, the Nuggets faced off against theSacramento Kings, as both teams were fighting for the eighth seed in theWestern Conference; the Nuggets would defeat the Kings, 102–89 at theMcNichols Sports Arena to qualify for theNBA playoffs, finishing in fourth place in theMidwest Division with a 41–41 record.[19][20][21]
Dikembe Mutombo was named theNBA Defensive Player of the Year,[22][23][24] averaging 11.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game, and was named to theNBA All-Defensive Second Team. In addition, Abdul-Rauf led the team in scoring averaging 16.0 points per game, whileReggie Williams provided the team with 13.4 points and 1.5 steals per game, and Rogers contributed 12.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, and finished tied in ninth place inMost Improved Player voting.[25][26] Meanwhile, Dale Ellis played a sixth man role, averaging 11.3 points per game and leading the Nuggets with 106 three-point field goals off the bench, whileBryant Stith contributed 11.2 points per game, Rose provided with 8.2 points and 4.8 assists per game, and was named to theNBA All-Rookie Second Team, andBrian Williams averaged 7.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game off the bench.[27]
During theNBA All-Star weekend at theAmerica West Arena inPhoenix, Arizona, Mutombo was selected for the1995 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team,[28][29][30] while Rose was selected for theNBA Rookie Game, as a member of the Green team.[31][32]
However, in the Western Conference First Round of the1995 NBA playoffs, the Nuggets were unable to repeat their previous playoff run, as they were swept by theSan Antonio Spurs in three straight games.[33][34][35] This would also be the Nuggets' final playoff appearance until2004.
Following the season, Rogers and Williams were both traded to theLos Angeles Clippers,[36][37][38] and Pack was dealt to theWashington Bullets.[39][40][41]
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Jalen Rose | SG/SF |  United States | Michigan |
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach
Assistant(s) Legend
Roster |
| W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| z-San Antonio Spurs | 62 | 20 | .756 | — | 33–8 | 29–12 | 20–6 |
| x-Utah Jazz | 60 | 22 | .732 | 2 | 33–8 | 27–14 | 17–9 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 | 25–16 | 22–19 | 13–13 |
| x-Denver Nuggets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 | 23–18 | 18–23 | 13–13 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 36 | 46 | .439 | 26 | 19–22 | 17–24 | 11–15 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 21 | 61 | .256 | 41 | 13–28 | 8–33 | 4–22 |
| # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
| 1 | z-San Antonio Spurs | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Phoenix Suns | 59 | 23 | .720 | 3 |
| 3 | x-Utah Jazz | 60 | 22 | .732 | 2 |
| 4 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 57 | 25 | .695 | 5 |
| 5 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 48 | 34 | .585 | 14 |
| 6 | x-Houston Rockets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 |
| 7 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 |
| 8 | x-Denver Nuggets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 |
| 9 | Sacramento Kings | 39 | 43 | .476 | 23 |
| 10 | Dallas Mavericks | 36 | 46 | .439 | 26 |
| 11 | Golden State Warriors | 26 | 56 | .317 | 36 |
| 12 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 21 | 61 | .256 | 41 |
| 13 | Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 45 |
| 1994–95 game log Total: 41–31 (home: 23–18; road: 18–23) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
November: 6–6 (home: 4–4; road: 2–2)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December: 8–7 (home: 5–2; road: 3–5)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
January: 5–10 (home: 4–3; road: 1–7)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
February: 5–8 (home: 3–4; road: 2–4)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
March: 10–5 (home: 4–1; road: 6–4)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
April: 7–5 (home: 3–4; road: 4–1)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–95 schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995 playoff game log | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995 schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf | 73 | 43 | 28.5 | .470 | .386 | .885 | 1.9 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 16.0 |
| Reggie Williams | 74 | 70 | 29.7 | .459 | .320 | .759 | 4.4 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 13.4 |
| Rodney Rogers | 80 | 77 | 26.8 | .488 | .338 | .651 | 4.8 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 12.2 |
| Robert Pack | 42 | 32 | 27.2 | .430 | .417 | .783 | 2.7 | 6.9 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 12.1 |
| Dikembe Mutombo | 82 | 82 | 37.8 | .556 | .654 | 12.5 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 3.9 | 11.5 | |
| Dale Ellis | 81 | 3 | 24.6 | .453 | .403 | .866 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 11.3 |
| Bryant Stith | 81 | 51 | 28.8 | .472 | .294 | .824 | 3.3 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 11.2 |
| Jalen Rose | 81 | 37 | 22.2 | .454 | .316 | .739 | 2.7 | 4.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 8.2 |
| Bison Dele | 63 | 10 | 20.0 | .589 | .654 | 4.7 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 7.9 | |
| Tom Hammonds | 70 | 5 | 13.7 | .535 | .000 | .746 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 5.9 |
| Reggie Slater | 25 | 0 | 9.4 | .494 | .727 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 4.8 | |
| LaPhonso Ellis | 6 | 0 | 9.7 | .360 | 1.000 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 4.0 | |
| Cliff Levingston | 57 | 0 | 8.2 | .423 | .000 | .422 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 2.3 |
| Greg Grant | 14 | 0 | 10.8 | .303 | .286 | .750 | 0.6 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 2.2 |
| Eldridge Recasner | 3 | 0 | 4.3 | .167 | .000 | 1.000 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Darnell Mee | 2 | 0 | 4.0 | .200 | .333 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.5 | |
| Mark Randall | 8 | 0 | 4.9 | .300 | .000 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 |
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryant Stith | 3 | 1 | 28.3 | .531 | .167 | .789 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 16.7 |
| Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf | 3 | 2 | 25.3 | .364 | .167 | 1.000 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 13.3 |
| Dale Ellis | 3 | 0 | 24.3 | .357 | .308 | .923 | 4.7 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 12.0 |
| Jalen Rose | 3 | 3 | 33.0 | .464 | .250 | .600 | 3.7 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 10.0 |
| Reggie Williams | 3 | 3 | 28.0 | .222 | .308 | 1.000 | 5.3 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 8.7 |
| Rodney Rogers | 3 | 3 | 25.3 | .545 | .250 | .250 | 4.0 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 8.7 |
| Bison Dele | 3 | 0 | 14.7 | .556 | 1.000 | 6.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 8.0 | |
| Tom Hammonds | 3 | 0 | 14.7 | .643 | .333 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 6.7 | |
| Dikembe Mutombo | 3 | 3 | 28.0 | .600 | .667 | 6.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 6.0 | |
| Cliff Levingston | 3 | 0 | 11.7 | .500 | .500 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 2.3 | |
| Greg Grant | 3 | 0 | 6.7 | .000 | .000 | 1.000 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 |
Player statistics citation:[27]
| Player | Signed | Date | Former team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reggie Slater | Free agent | August 2, 1994 | Girona (Spain) |
| Cliff Levingston | Free agent | September 29, 1994 | Buckler Bologna (Italy) |
| Dale Ellis | Free agent | October 4, 1994 | San Antonio Spurs |
| Mark Randall | Signed two 10-day contracts | February 23, 1995 | Fort Wayne Fury (CBA) |
| Eldridge Recasner | 10-day contract | March 14, 1995 | Yakima Sun Kings (CBA) |
| Greg Grant | Signed two 10-day contracts | March 14, 1995 | Mexico City Aztecas (CBA) |
| Mark Randall | Signed for rest of season | March 17, 1995 | Denver Nuggets |
| Greg Grant | Signed for rest of season | April 5, 1995 | Denver Nuggets |
| Player | Reason left | Date | New team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alvin Robertson | Waived | October 3, 1994 | Toronto Raptors |
| Mark Randall | Waived | November 1, 1994 | Fort Wayne Fury (CBA) |
| Darnell Mee | Waived | February 1, 1995 | Tri-City Chinook (CBA) |
The Denver Nuggets did not make any trades in the off-season and the regular season.
Player Transactions Citation:[43]
