1994–95 Denver Nuggets season

NBA professional basketball team season August 2023 March 2026 Denver Nuggets 1995 41 41 Midwest 4 8 Dan Issel (resigned) (18–16) Gene Littles (interim) (3–13) Bernie Bickerstaff (20–12) Bernie Bickerstaff Bernie Bickerstaff McNichols Sports Arena First round(lost to Spurs 0–3) DEN KWGN-TV Prime Sports Rocky Mountain KOA The 1994–95 Denver Nuggets season was the 19th season for the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association, and their 28th season as a franchise. Denver Nuggets Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/ August 6, 2026 Season summary Off-season The Nuggets had the 13th overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, and selected shooting guard Jalen Rose from the University of Michigan, Denlinger Ken Robinson Goes with the Bucks The Washington Post June 30, 1994 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/06/30/robinson-goes-with-the-bucks/3e3bc384-1f59-4554-87a1-43ff800f3454/ December 1, 2022 Baker Chris NBA Draft: Clippers Select Murray: Pro Basketball: Cal Forward Drafted Amid Rumors of Impending Mark Jackson Trade Los Angeles Times June 30, 1994 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-06-30-sp-10445-story.html June 3, 2023 1994 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1994.html December 1, 2022 and signed free agent Dale Ellis during the off-season. Nuggets Sign Ellis United Press International October 4, 1994 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/10/04/Nuggets-sign-Ellis/8171781243200/ February 25, 2023 Nuggets Sign Ellis Orlando Sentinel October 5, 1994 https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1994-10-05-9410050209-story,amp.html July 31, 2021 Nuggets Sign Ellis to Boost Their Three-Point Shooting Tampa Bay Times October 5, 1994 https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/10/05/nuggets-sign-ellis-to-boost-their-three-point-shooting/ September 22, 2022 Prior to the regular season, LaPhonso Ellis suffered a knee injury from an off-season pickup game; Knight-Ridder/Tribune Nuggets' Ellis Lost for Season with Knee Injury Chicago Tribune November 21, 1994 https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-11-21-9411210037-story.html July 20, 2017 Nuggets' Ellis to Undergo Knee Surgery United Press International November 22, 1994 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/11/22/Nuggets-Ellis-to-undergo-knee-surgery/7559785480400/ October 5, 2022 Nuggets Activate Ellis United Press International April 14, 1995 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/04/14/Nuggets-activate-Ellis/6364797832000/ February 5, 2023 second-year forward Rodney Rogers replaced Ellis as the team's starting power forward, while Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was replaced with Robert Pack as the team's starting point guard. Regular season With the addition of Dale Ellis and Rose, and despite the loss of LaPhonso Ellis, the Nuggets won five of their first six games of the regular season. However, after an 18–16 start to the season, head coach Dan Issel resigned and was replaced with assistant coach Gene Littles as an interim coach. Sports People: Basketball: Issel Quits as Coach of Nuggets The New York Times January 16, 1995 https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/16/sports/sports-people-basketball-issel-quits-as-coach-of-nuggets.html July 24, 2022 Associated Press Issel Steps Down as Coach of Nuggets Los Angeles Times January 16, 1995 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-16-sp-20563-story.html December 20, 2022 Under Littles, the Nuggets struggled losing 13 of their next 16 games; Littles was replaced with General Manager Bernie Bickerstaff as the team's new coach. Associated Press New Nugget Coach Bickerstaff Moves Littles Back to Assistant Los Angeles Times February 21, 1995 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-02-21-sp-34405-story.html April 7, 2023 Bickerstaff Returns to Coach Nuggets The Washington Post February 21, 1995 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/02/21/bickerstaff-returns-to-coach-nuggets/52b8bdea-414c-4e46-b119-4d2ce22d9868/ April 7, 2023 The Nuggets were out of playoff position with a 20–26 record at the All-Star break. NBA Games Played on February 9, 1995 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/?month=2&day=9&year=1995 July 18, 2022 Pack suffered a knee injury in February, as Abdul-Rauf returned to the starting lineup; Pack eventually returned during the final month of the season in April, but then re-injured his knee after only playing just 42 games. Howard-Cooper Scott Lakers in a Real Slump: Pro Basketball: Nuggets Bury Them in First Three-Game Losing Streak of Season, 88-74 Los Angeles Times February 4, 1995 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-02-04-sp-28027-story.html October 5, 2022 Weidie Kyle Remembering Robert Pack, a Bullet Flash in the Pan Bullets Forever August 4, 2008 https://www.bulletsforever.com/2008/8/4/586094/remembering-robert-pack-a June 17, 2021 Under Bickerstaff, the Nuggets recovered playing above .500 in winning percentage by winning 20 of their final 32 games of the season; LaPhonso Ellis returned from his knee injury to play in the final six games. On the final day of the regular season on April 23, 1995, the Nuggets faced off against the Sacramento Kings at home at the McNichols Sports Arena, as both teams were fighting for the eighth seed in the Western Conference; the Nuggets defeated the Kings, 102–89 to qualify for the NBA playoffs, Associated Press Pro Basketball: As Regular Season Ends, Denver's Season Lives On The New York Times April 24, 1995 https://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/24/sports/pro-basketball-as-regular-season-ends-denver-s-season-lives-on.html July 20, 2017 Associated Press NBA Roundup: Nuggets Win to Clinch Final Playoff Spot, 102-89 Los Angeles Times April 24, 1995 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-04-24-sp-58166-story.html July 24, 2022 Sacramento Kings at Denver Nuggets Box Score, April 23, 1995 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199504230DEN.html November 19, 2022 finishing in fourth place in the Midwest Division with a 41–41 record. 1994–95 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1995_games.html June 23, 2021 Dikembe Mutombo averaged 11.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game, and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Mutombo Named NBA Defensive Player of the Year United Press International May 1, 1995 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/05/01/Mutombo-named-NBA-Defensive-Player-of-the-Year/7557799300800/ July 24, 2022 Sports People: Basketball: Mutombo Honored The New York Times May 2, 1995 https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/02/sports/sports-people-basketball-mutombo-honored.html February 5, 2023 NBA & ABA Defensive Player of the Year Award Winners Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/dpoy.html November 29, 2022 In addition, Abdul-Rauf averaged 16.0 points and 3.6 assists per game, while Reggie Williams provided the team with 13.4 points and 1.5 steals per game, Rogers provided with 12.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, and Pack contributed 12.1 points, 6.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Meanwhile, Dale Ellis played a sixth man role off the bench, averaging 11.3 points per game and leading the Nuggets with 106 three-point field goals, Bryant Stith contributed 11.2 points per game, and Rose provided with 8.2 points and 4.8 assists per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Brian Williams averaged 7.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, while Tom Hammonds provided with 5.9 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, and LaPhonso Ellis contributed 4.0 points per game during his short six-game stint. 1994–95 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1995.html June 23, 2021 During the NBA All-Star weekend at the America West Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, Mutombo was selected for the 1995 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team, Cotton Anthony New-Age NBA Reaches for the Stars The Washington Post February 12, 1995 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/02/12/new-age-nba-reaches-for-the-stars/d15a11d4-7755-43a8-b889-b17b766093cc/ January 2, 2023 NBA.com Staff 1995 NBA All-Star Recap NBA.com September 13, 2021 https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-star-recap-1995 May 17, 2023 1995 NBA All-Star Game: West 139, East 112 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1995.html November 28, 2021 while Rose was selected for the NBA Rookie Game, as a member of the Green team. Basketball The Tuscaloosa News February 11, 1995 2C https://books.google.com/books?id=2TodAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA9&dq=1995+nba+slam+dunk+contest+long+distance+shootout&article_id=5801,3069932&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiZrZDPvOCPAxWVlokEHYslNY8Q6AF6BAgKEAM#v=onepage&q=1995%20nba%20slam%20dunk%20contest%20long%20distance%20shootout&f=false September 18, 2025 1995 NBA Rising Stars: White 83, Green 79 (OT) Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/NBA_1995_rookie.html September 18, 2025 Rogers finished tied in ninth place in Most Improved Player voting. Most Improved Player The Telegraph-Herald May 11, 1995 2B https://books.google.com/books?id=fXNjAAAAIBAJ&dq=1995+nba+most+improved+barros+perry+burrell+muresan+houston&pg=PA16&article_id=5387,2721138 May 16, 2025 1994–95 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1995.html May 16, 2025 The Nuggets finished tenth in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 704,011 at the McNichols Sports Arena during the regular season. 1994–95 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1995.html January 22, 2026 NBA playoffs In the Western Conference First Round of the 1995 NBA playoffs, the Nuggets faced off against the top–seeded, and Midwest Division champion San Antonio Spurs, who were led by the trio of All-Star center, and Most Valuable Player of the Year, David Robinson, Sean Elliott, and rebound-specialist Dennis Rodman. However, without LaPhonso Ellis and Pack due to season-ending injuries, the Nuggets were unable to repeat their previous playoff run, losing the first two games to the Spurs on the road at the Alamodome, before losing Game 3 at home, 99–95 at the McNichols Sports Arena, thus losing the series in a three-game sweep. Associated Press 1995 N.B.A. Playoffs: Suns, Spurs and Pacers Make It a Sweeps Night The New York Times May 3, 1995 https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/03/sports/1995-nba-playoffs-suns-spurs-and-pacers-make-it-a-sweeps-night.html May 26, 2022 Associated Press Spurs Sweep in a Rough One at Denver Los Angeles Times May 3, 1995 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-05-03-sp-61849-story.html June 6, 2022 1995 NBA Western Conference First Round: Nuggets vs. Spurs Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1995-nba-western-conference-first-round-nuggets-vs-spurs.html February 5, 2023 This would also be the Nuggets' final NBA playoff appearance until the 2003–04 season, as what would follow was an eight-year playoff drought. Aftermath Following the season, Rogers and Brian Williams were both traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, Wise Mike Pro Basketball: Underclassmen Rule Atop N.B.A. Draft Board The New York Times June 29, 1995 https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/29/sports/pro-basketball-underclassmen-rule-atop-nba-draft-board.html October 13, 2021 Associated Press NBA Draft: Clippers Deal No. 2 McDyess to Nuggets: Pro Basketball: L.A. Gets Rodney Rogers and Rights to Oregon State's Brent Barry. O'Bannon Goes Ninth to New Jersey, and Zidek Is Selected No. 22 by Charlotte Los Angeles Times June 29, 1995 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-06-29-sp-18369-story.html January 30, 2023 Baker Chris NBA Draft: Clippers Hope This Shortcut Is Right Way: Pro Basketball: They Give Up No. 2 Pick McDyess to Get Rodney Rogers and No. 15 Pick Brent Barry from Nuggets Los Angeles Times June 29, 1995 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-06-29-sp-18371-story.html July 24, 2022 and Pack was traded to the Washington Bullets. Associated Press Pro Basketball: The Bullets Pick Up Pack The New York Times October 31, 1995 https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/31/sports/pro-basketball-the-bullets-pick-up-pack.html December 30, 2021 Justice Richard Maclean, Overton Traded The Washington Post October 31, 1995 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/10/31/maclean-overton-traded/aeacfd89-8eec-45f7-a99f-1b98317a4a82/ July 24, 2022 Bembry Jerry Bullets Get to Point, Trading for Pack; MacLean, Overton Go to Nuggets for Guard The Baltimore Sun October 31, 1995 https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/10/31/bullets-get-to-point-trading-for-pack-maclean-overton-go-to-nuggets-for-guard/ January 30, 2023 Draft picks 1994 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 1 13 Jalen Rose SG/SF United States Michigan Roster 1994–95 Denver Nuggets #141A44 #CBA135 #A50021 #FFFFFF 1 Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf G 6 1 162 1969–03–09 LSU 3 Dale Ellis F 6 7 205 1960–08–06 Tennessee 20 LaPhonso Ellis F 6 8 240 1970–05–05 Notre Dame 9 Greg Grant basketball, born 1966 G 5 7 140 1966–08–29 Trenton State 21 Tom Hammonds F 6 9 215 1967–03–27 Georgia Tech 53 Cliff Levingston F 6 8 210 1961–01–04 Wichita State 55 Dikembe Mutombo C 7 2 245 1966–06–25 Georgetown 14 Robert Pack basketball G 6 2 180 1969–02–03 USC 42 Mark Randall basketball F 6 8 235 1967–09–30 Kansas 54 Rodney Rogers F 6 7 235 1971–05–20 Wake Forest 5 Jalen Rose G 6 8 210 1973–01–30 Michigan 35 Reggie Slater F 6 7 215 1970–08–27 Wyoming 23 Bryant Stith G 6 5 208 1970–12–10 Virginia 8 Brian Williams Bison Dele C 6 11 260 1969–04–06 Arizona 34 Reggie Williams basketball, born 1964 F 6 7 190 1964–03–05 Georgetown Dan Issel (fired) Gene Littles (interim) Bernie Bickerstaff Tom Nissalke https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1995.html April 5, 1995 Regular season Season standings DEN 1994-95 NBA Season Summary - Basketball-Reference.com DEN Game log Regular season Denver Nuggets 1995 #141A44 #BC2224 Total: 41–31 (home: 23–18; road: 18–23) Denver Nuggets November yes #BC2224 #141A44 4 4 2 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 | November 19, 19947:00p.m. MST | Houston | L 101–109 | Williams (26) | Williams (9) | Abdul-Rauf (5) | McNichols Sports Arena17,171 | 5–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 | November 29, 19946:30p.m. MST | @ Houston | L 81–96 | Rogers (16) | Mutombo (10) | Pack, Rogers (4) | The Summit14,295 | 6–6 Denver Nuggets December #BC2224 #141A44 5 2 3 5 Denver Nuggets January #BC2224 #141A44 4 3 1 7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 34 | January 14, 19957:00p.m. MST | Houston | W 118–104 | Abdul-Rauf (36) | Williams (10) | Williams (11) | McNichols Sports Arena17,171 | 18–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 42 | January 31, 19956:30p.m. MST | @ Houston | L 74–86 | Rogers (23) | Mutombo (13) | Rogers (5) | The Summit14,761 | 19–23 Denver Nuggets February #BC2224 #141A44 3 4 2 4 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" Denver Nuggets March #BC2224 #141A44 4 1 6 4 Denver Nuggets April #BC2224 #141A44 3 4 4 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 74 | April 9, 19951:30p.m. MDT | Houston | L 120–123 | Abdul-Rauf (34) | Mutombo (14) | Abdul-Rauf (7) | McNichols Sports Arena17,171 | 35–39 DEN 1995 Playoffs Denver Nuggets 1995 yes #141A44 #BC2224 Denver Nuggets First round no yes yes #BC2224 #141A44 0 1 0 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 28 | @ San Antonio | L 88–104 | Bryant Stith (16) | Bison Dele (12) | three players tied (3) | Alamodome25,235 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | April 30 | @ San Antonio | L 96–122 | Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (21) | Dale Ellis (10) | Jalen Rose (10) | Alamodome | 0–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | May 2 | San Antonio | L 95–99 | Rogers, Stith (18) | Rodney Rogers (9) | Jalen Rose (7) | McNichols Sports Arena17,171 | 0–3 |- DEN 1995 yes Player statistics Regular season Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPGMahmoud Abdul-Rauf734328.5.470.386.8851.93.61.10.116.0Reggie Williams747029.7.459.320.7594.43.11.50.913.4Rodney Rogers807726.8.488.338.6514.82.01.20.612.2Robert Pack423227.2.430.417.7832.76.91.50.112.1Dikembe Mutombo828237.8.556.65412.51.40.53.911.5Dale Ellis81324.6.453.403.8662.70.70.50.111.3Bryant Stith815128.8.472.294.8243.31.91.10.211.2Jalen Rose813722.2.454.316.7392.74.80.80.38.2Bison Dele631020.0.589.6544.70.80.60.77.9Tom Hammonds70513.7.535.000.7463.20.50.20.25.9Reggie Slater2509.4.494.7272.30.50.30.14.8LaPhonso Ellis609.7.3601.0002.80.70.20.84.0Cliff Levingston5708.2.423.000.4222.20.50.20.42.3Greg Grant14010.8.303.286.7500.63.10.40.12.2Eldridge Recasner304.3.167.0001.0000.70.31.00.02.0Darnell Mee204.0.200.3330.51.00.50.01.5Mark Randall804.9.300.0001.50.10.00.00.8 Playoffs Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPGBryant Stith3128.3.531.167.7893.02.30.30.316.7Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf3225.3.364.1671.0001.71.70.70.013.3Dale Ellis3024.3.357.308.9234.71.00.70.312.0Jalen Rose3333.0.464.250.6003.76.01.00.710.0Reggie Williams3328.0.222.3081.0005.34.01.00.38.7Rodney Rogers3325.3.545.250.2504.01.71.01.38.7Bison Dele3014.7.5561.0006.00.70.00.38.0Tom Hammonds3014.7.643.3332.30.30.00.76.7Dikembe Mutombo3328.0.600.6676.30.30.02.36.0Cliff Levingston3011.7.500.5003.00.31.00.72.3Greg Grant306.7.000.0001.0001.01.70.30.00.7 Player statistics citation: Awards, records, and honors Dikembe Mutombo, NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award Dikembe Mutombo, NBA All-Defensive Second Team Jalen Rose, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team Transactions Free agents Additions Player Signed Date Former teamReggie SlaterFree agentAugust 2, 1994Girona (Spain)Cliff LevingstonFree agentSeptember 29, 1994Buckler Bologna (Italy)Dale EllisFree agentOctober 4, 1994San Antonio SpursMark RandallSigned two 10-day contractsFebruary 23, 1995Fort Wayne Fury (CBA)Eldridge Recasner10-day contractMarch 14, 1995Yakima Sun Kings (CBA)Greg GrantSigned two 10-day contractsMarch 14, 1995Mexico City Aztecas (CBA)Mark RandallSigned for rest of seasonMarch 17, 1995Denver NuggetsGreg GrantSigned for rest of seasonApril 5, 1995Denver Nuggets Subtractions Player Reason left Date New teamAlvin RobertsonWaivedOctober 3, 1994Toronto RaptorsMark RandallWaivedNovember 1, 1994Fort Wayne Fury (CBA)Darnell MeeWaivedFebruary 1, 1995Tri-City Chinook (CBA) Trades The Denver Nuggets did not make any trades in the off-season and the regular season. Player Transactions Citation:1994–95 Denver Nuggets Transactions Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1995_transactions.html July 9, 2021 References Nuggets on Basketball Reference Category:Denver Nuggets seasons Denver Nuggets season Denver Nuggets season Denver Nug