Nuggets projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season

Denver Nuggets starting center: Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic is a 5x All-Star, 5x All-NBA, back-to-back MVP winner, the reigning NBA Finals MVP, and came off his best regular season yet. He averaged 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists on 63/38/82 splits. In the playoffs, he averaged 30 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 9.5 assists on 55/46/80 splits and became the first player in NBA history to have the most points, rebounds, and assists in the playoffs.

Jokic was nothing short of spectacular last season and is ranked as the best player in the NBA so of course he is going to be the starting center for the Nuggets. According to advanced statistics, Jokic was the most impactful player in the league last season because he had the highest PER, True Shooting Percentage, Win Shares, Win Shares per 48 minutes and Box Plus Minus.

Jokic is the most important piece for the Nuggets because he can do everything on the offensive end at an elite level. There aren’t many players who can be the best scorer, rebounder, and passer on the court at all times. Jokic is the bus driver for this team and will potentially lead them to another championship.

Nuggets primary backup center: Deandre Jordan

Throughout the postseason the Nuggets went without a backup center but to begin the regular season their backup will be Deandre Jordan who is the only backup center for the Nuggets. Last season he averaged 5.1 points, and 5.2 rebounds on 77 percent shooting from the field.

His role is going to be minimal behind Jokic cause at this point in his career he can only give you 10-15 minutes per game and can’t do much outside of getting rebounds and setting screens. It is possible the Nuggets will look for another backup center along the way but for now, they are stuck with Deandre Jordan.

Others who could receive minutes: Aaron Gordon