Power-ranking the 10 biggest challengers to the Lakers in 2020-21

7. Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets felt like underdogs throughout their run to the conference finals, but let’s not forget that before the season was suspended, they were right behind the Clippers for the 2-seed out West. What they were able to accomplish with Gary Harris still working his way back and Will Barton out for the entire bubble experience shouldn’t be overlooked.

Nikola Jokic proved Skinny Nikola is just as elite. Jamal Murray took his long-awaited leap to stardom. Paul Millsap and Mason Plumlee are free agents, but the promise of younger prospects like Michael Porter Jr. and (to a lesser extent) Bol Bol should have the Nuggets feeling good about their short- and long-term future.

However, we can’t overlook that in a normal playoff series, with actual home-court advantage, pulling off both of those 3-1 comebacks would’ve been highly unlikely — especially against the heavily favored Clippers, even if they’re historically known as choke artists. Denver will be in the mix at the top of the West, but they don’t feel like legit title contenders … yet.