1992–93 Denver Nuggets season

NBA professional basketball team season August 2023 March 2026 Denver Nuggets 1993 36 46 Midwest 4 9 Dan Issel Bernie Bickerstaff Bernie Bickerstaff McNichols Sports Arena Did not qualify DEN KWGN-TV Prime Sports Rocky Mountain KOA The 1992–93 Denver Nuggets season was the 17th season for the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association, and their 26th season as a franchise. Denver Nuggets Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/ August 6, 2026 Season summary Off-season The Nuggets received the fifth overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft, and selected power forward LaPhonso Ellis out of Notre Dame University, and also selected shooting guard Bryant Stith from the University of Virginia with the 13th overall pick. Araton Harvey Basketball: Draft Sticks to Program Until the 5th Pick, That Is The New York Times June 25, 1992 https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/25/sports/basketball-draft-sticks-to-program-until-the-5th-pick-that-is.html December 4, 2022 Associated Press After Big Men Go First, Locals Go in First Round: NBA Draft: Miner Goes to Heat at No. 12; Lakers Take Peeler. Clippers Select: La Salle's Woods with Their First Pick Los Angeles Times June 25, 1992 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-25-sp-1102-story.html July 25, 2022 1992 NBA Draft Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1992.html December 4, 2022 During the off-season, the team acquired second-year guard Robert Pack from the Portland Trail Blazers, Associated Press Trail Blazers Trade Pack to Nuggets Los Angeles Times October 24, 1992 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-10-24-sp-644-story.html April 23, 2023 Bullets Trade 2 Players for Pack United Press International October 30, 1995 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/10/30/Bullets-trade-2-players-for-Pack/1836815029200/ September 25, 2022 Bembry Jerry Going Fast Forward Robert Pack: Dumped by the Blazers and Nuggets, the Super-Quick Point Guard Pumps Life Into the Bullets The Baltimore Sun December 15, 1995 https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/12/15/going-fast-forward-robert-pack-dumped-by-the-blazers-and-nuggets-the-super-quick-point-guard-pumps-life-into-the-bullets/ December 31, 2021 and brought back Dan Issel as their new head coach; Issel starred for the Nuggets for ten seasons as a player. Sports People: Pro Basketball: Time Out: Don't Call Issel "Coach" Just Yet The New York Times May 14, 1992 https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/14/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-time-out-don-t-call-issel-coach-just-yet.html?sec=&spon= January 18, 2022 Issel Named Nuggets Coach United Press International May 20, 1992 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/05/20/Issel-named-Nuggets-coach/9261706334400/ December 25, 2022 Associated Press Three NBA Teams Decide on Coaches: Basketball: Pistons Expected to Hire Rothstein. Nuggets Take Issel, and Rockets Stay with Tomjanovich Los Angeles Times May 21, 1992 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-05-21-sp-409-story.html April 8, 2023 Regular season Under Issel and with the addition of Ellis, Stith and Pack, the Nuggets got off to a 7–7 start to the regular season, but then suffered a 14-game losing streak between December and January afterwards, which led to a 7–21 start to the season. All-Time Longest Denver Nuggets Losing Streaks Champs or Chumps https://champsorchumps.us/team/nba/denver-nuggets/longest-losing-streaks January 27, 2023 At mid-season, the team signed free agent Tom Hammonds, who was previously released by the Charlotte Hornets. Associated Press Weatherspoon Makes His Mark The News-Journal February 5, 1993 https://books.google.com/books?id=J48fAAAAIBAJ&dq=1993+Denver+Nuggets+signed+tom+hammonds&pg=PA26&article_id=1330,1803767 May 14, 2024 Aldridge David Uninspired Bullets Routed by Nuggets The Washington Post February 14, 1993 https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1993/02/14/uninspired-bullets-routed-by-nuggets/969067ab-f5c3-4aa1-97fc-c849b511fafc/ September 30, 2022 Despite the losing streak, the Nuggets played above .500 in winning percentage for the remainder of the season, and held a 20–30 record at the All-Star break. NBA Games Played on February 18, 1993 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/?month=2&day=18&year=1993 July 24, 2022 The Nuggets posted a 7–5 record in April, and finished in fourth place in the Midwest Division with a 36–46 record, missing the NBA playoffs by finishing three games behind the 8th–seeded Los Angeles Lakers; 1992–93 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1993_games.html June 22, 2021http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/denver/nuggets.html Denver Nuggets (1967-Present) May 28, 2008 July 2, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120702220102/http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/denver/nuggets.html dead the team also posted a very successful 28–13 home record at the McNichols Sports Arena during the regular season. Chris Jackson became the Nuggets' starting point guard this season, as he averaged 19.2 points and 4.2 assists per game, shot .935 in free throw percentage, and was named the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year. Sports People: Basketball: Nugget Wins Improved Player Award The New York Times May 13, 1993 https://www.nytimes.com/1993/05/13/sports/sports-people-basketball-nugget-wins-improved-player-award.html September 25, 2022 Jackson Named Most Improved Tampa Bay Times May 13, 1993 https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1993/05/13/jackson-named-most-improved/ November 18, 2022 NBA & ABA Most Improved Player Award Winners Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/mip.html November 29, 2022 In addition, Reggie Williams averaged 17.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, while Ellis provided the team with 14.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and second-year star Dikembe Mutombo provided with 13.8 points, 13.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game. Meanwhile, Pack contributed 10.5 points and 4.4 assists per game off the bench, Stith contributed 8.9 points per game, but only played just 39 games due to a broken toe, and right foot injury, Heisler Mark Nuggets Remain Under Lakers' Thumbs, 119-107 Los Angeles Times November 23, 1992 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-23-sp-635-story.html September 25, 2022 Howard-Cooper Scott Clippers Talk It Out, Take It Out on the Nuggets, 121-119 Los Angeles Times November 29, 1992 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-29-sp-2810-story.html April 20, 2023 Marcus Liberty averaged 8.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, and second-year guard Mark Macon provided with 7.5 points and 1.4 steals per game, but only played just 48 games due to injury. 1992–93 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1993.html June 22, 2021 During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Jackson participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. NBA All-Star Weekend The Register-Guard February 20, 1993 6B https://books.google.com/books?id=w0JWAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA12&dq=1993+NBA+Long+Distance+Shootout+roster&article_id=3349,4156356&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi0lozR3vGPAxW95skDHR7sAyg4ChDoAXoECAkQAw#v=onepage&q=1993%20NBA%20Long%20Distance%20Shootout%20roster&f=false September 24, 2025 NBA & ABA All-Star Game Contest Winners Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/allstar/contest.html September 24, 2025 The Nuggets finished 19th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 586,407 at the McNichols Sports Arena during the regular season. 1992–93 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1993.html February 14, 2026 Aftermath Following the season, Jackson would change his name to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf after converting to Islam two years ago, Mossman John Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf: An Intensely Private Person in the Spotlight Associated Press March 14, 1996 https://apnews.com/article/b5fc82563168328a63a618687ed77112 January 19, 2022 Lipsyte Robert Athletes Standing Up as They Did Before The New York Times March 17, 1996 https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/17/sports/athletes-standing-up-as-they-did-before.html September 25, 2022 Uitti Jacob Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf: "I Lost Millions, Because I Couldn't Keep My Mouth Shut" The Guardian October 15, 2022 https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/oct/15/mahmoud-abdul-rauf-nba-protest-national-anthem April 20, 2023 while Todd Lichti and Anthony Cook, who missed the entire regular season due to a knee injury, were both traded to the Orlando Magic, Nuggets Aq uire [sic] Williams United Press International August 19, 1993 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/08/19/Nuggets-aquire-Williams/2595745732800/ May 29, 2023 Sports People: Basketball: Nuggets-Magic Trade The New York Times August 20, 1993 https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/20/sports/sports-people-basketball-nuggets-magic-trade.html May 29, 2023 Shelton Gary Down on Luck, Lichti Can Use Some Magic Tampa Bay Times August 22, 1993 https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1993/08/22/down-on-luck-lichti-can-use-some-magic/ May 29, 2023 and Scott Hastings retired. This was also the final season in which the Nuggets wore their "rainbow skyline" uniforms until the 2018–19 season.Denver Nuggets City Edition Jerseys Denver Nuggets https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/denver-nuggets-city-edition-jerseys-110118 2026-04-06 www.nba.com en NBA draft 1992 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 1 5 LaPhonso Ellis PF/SF Notre Dame 1 13 Bryant Stith SG Virginia 2 46 Robert Werdann C St. John's Roster Denver Nuggets 1992–93 #2C3292 #EFE328 #DC143C #FFFFFF 43 Kevin Brooks basketball F 6 6 200 1969–10–12 Louisiana-Lafayette 45 Anthony Cook basketball F 6 9 205 1967–03–19 Arizona yes IN 20 LaPhonso Ellis F 6 8 240 1970–05–05 Notre Dame 21 Tom Hammonds F 6 9 215 1967–03–27 Georgia Tech 10 Scott Hastings basketball C 6 10 235 1960–06–03 Arkansas 3 Chris Jackson Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf G 6 1 162 1969–03–09 LSU 30 Marcus Liberty F 6 8 205 1968–10–27 Illinois 21 Todd Lichti G 6 4 205 1967–01–08 Stanford 1 Mark Macon G 6 4 185 1969–04–14 Temple 55 Dikembe Mutombo C 7 2 245 1966–06–25 Georgetown 14 Robert Pack basketball G 6 2 180 1969–02–03 Southern California 45 Gary Plummer basketball F 6 9 215 1962–02–21 Boston University 23 Bryant Stith G 6 5 208 1970–12–10 Virginia 28 Robert Werdann C 6 11 250 1970–09–12 St. John's 34 Reggie Williams basketball, born 1964 G/F 6 7 190 1964–03–05 Georgetown Dan Issel Mike Evans Gene Littles https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1993.html February 5, 1993 Roster notes Power forward Anthony Cook was on the injured reserve list due to a knee injury, and missed the entire regular season. Regular season Season standings DEN y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot DEN z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Player statistics Regular season Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPGMahmoud Abdul-Rauf818133.5.450.355.9352.84.21.00.119.2Reggie Williams797934.5.458.270.8045.43.71.61.017.0LaPhonso Ellis828233.5.504.154.7489.11.80.91.414.7Dikembe Mutombo828236.9.510.68113.01.80.53.513.8Robert Pack77120.5.470.125.7682.14.41.10.110.5Bryant Stith391222.2.446.000.8323.21.30.60.18.9Marcus Liberty783220.3.406.373.6544.31.30.80.38.1Mark Macon482723.8.415.000.7002.12.61.40.17.5Todd Lichti481215.7.449.333.7942.11.10.60.26.9Tom Hammonds35016.3.489.000.6112.70.50.50.25.9Gary Plummer60012.3.465.000.7262.90.70.20.24.7Kevin Brooks55210.4.399.231.8751.50.60.20.04.1Scott Hastings7608.8.509.250.7271.80.40.20.12.1Robert Werdann2805.3.305.000.5481.90.30.20.11.9 Player statistics citation: Awards, records, and honors Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, NBA Most Improved Player Award LaPhonso Ellis, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team References Category:Denver Nuggets seasons Category:1992 in sports in Colorado Category:1993 in sports in Colorado Denver Nuggets