Nuggets Ink

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene two weeks into the regular season. Among the topics discussed: + The Nuggets are 4-3 with several narrow wins on the resume that revealed more than a few holes. And now the national media is in a panic over Denver's title window. Time to pump the breaks? + The boys dig into a few overreactions in a game of "It might be early, but .." Chief among those hot takes: Is it time to start worrying about Jamal Murray? + Has Christian Braun already proven himself an upgrade over Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the Nuggets' starting lineup? What happens if Aaron Gordon continues his torrid 3-point shooting? Is this the worst second unit of the Nikola Jokic era? Speaking of the big fella: Is the Joker really going to win the MVP yet again? + On the other side of the break, Matt offers up a few more overreactions from around the NBA, then the boys open up the mailbag.

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene with the regular season set to tip off. Among the topics discussed: + Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon got his contract extension -- a four-year, $133 million deal that could have him in Denver through the 2028-29 season. Is the value good? What does this mean for the team long-term? + Bennett goes abroad and recounts stories from his time in the United Arab Emirates, where he covered a couple of Nuggets preseason games and saw Nikola Jokic's old team, Mega, in Dubai. + Jamal Murray had a bit of a bumpy preseason with a "funny" knee and a couple of off shooting nights. Cause for concern or just the normal getting-ready-for-the-season routine for Murray? + Bennett makes some Nuggets over/under predictions as Matt cooks up the stats. Producer: AAron Ontiveroz Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene with media day just one week away. Among the topics discussed: + Jamal Murray is officially locked up. The Nuggets' star point guard signed a four-year, $208.5 million extension after an up-and-down summer that concluded with a sub-par showing at the Paris Olympics.  What does the deal mean for the Nuggets long-term? Was this a move the team had to make? + Looking back at the Olympics, Bennett talks about his experience watching Serbia and Team USA face off in the group stage of the Summer Games. Who impressed most in Paris? Is there anything that can be taken from those games that applies to this upcoming NBA season? + Our old friend Mike Singer has joined the Nuggets front office. A good addition? Or a great addition?  + The fellas draft all 30 NBA teams based upon how many wins they think each team will finish with. Producer: AAron Ontiveroz Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene with Russell Westbrook expected to soon join Denver in free agency. Among the topics discussed: + Russell Westbrook is bound to be a Mile High favorite, but does he have enough left at nearly 36 years old to help the Nuggets return to the NBA Finals? Ideally, who can play alongside Westbrook on the second unit? + Has the Nuggets’ starting five taken a step back this season with the loss of KCP? Are they deeper now than they were a year ago? + Rookie DaRon Holmes II ruptured an Achilles tendon in his first Summer League game. How much does this injury hurt Denver's plans? And what else can be gleaned from the Nuggets' performances in Las Vegas? + The Paris Olympics are almost here. Who is most likely to bring back a medal: Nikola Jokic or Jamal Murray? Producer: AAron Ontiveroz Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after NBA free agency opens and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope leaves for Orlando. Among the topics discussed: + Now that KCP has left the Nuggets for the Orlando Magic on a three-year deal, where does that leave Denver? Is Christian Braun ready for a bigger role? How will his exit cascade down through the rest of the roster? + There's been rumors about the Nuggets kicking the tires on Russell Westbrook as a possible addition. Would he be a good fit in Denver? Is Jamal Murray signing an extension? + Did Calvin Booth give up too much draft capital to move up and acquire DaRon Holmes with the 22nd overall pick of the NBA draft? How will Holmes slot into the lineup? Should Nuggets fans be worried that Booth has traded away so many picks, including the two second-rounders he had to send Charlotte to get off Reggie Jackson's salary? + Who has improved the most early on in free agency? Are the Oklah

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after the Boston Celtics took down the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. Among the topics discussed: + How good are the 2023-24 Boston Celtics after capping off a dominant title run? Did the voters get it right giving the Finals MVP to Jaylen Brown over Jayson Tatum? + As the Nuggets continue to bring in draft prospects for visits, are there any names emerging for Denver's first-round pick? There's a lot of smoke with Dayton big man DaRon Holmes II. Could it be that the Nuggets made him a promise? Or might they be looking for a backup PG? + Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's decision on opting out of the final year of his contract is coming up. Will the Nuggets guard wait until the last minute to make his decision? + Matt, Bennett and AAron draft the past 15 NBA champions to determine which teams rise to the top. Producer: AAron Ontiveroz Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene a day before the NBA Finals with plenty to talk about. Among the topics discussed: + The NBA Finals are here, with the Dallas Mavericks set to face the Boston Celtics. Is Luka Doncic the truth? Could he take the World's Best Basketball Player title from Nikola Jokic if he beats the Celtics in the Finals? + The fellas hold a quick and informal draft of the top players in the NBA Finals. How many of the top eight players are Celtics? And who ultimately wins the series? + Looking ahead to free agency: Who is likely and who is completely unlikely to join the Nuggets this summer? Does Denver have any chance of bringing an impact player into the fold without trading one of its marquee starters? + Is Jayson Tatum a top-five player? Is Joel Embiid still in the conversation? Producer: AAron Ontiveroz Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert are joined by esteemed author and former Nuggets beat writer Mike Singer. Among the topics discussed: + Mike weighs in on what went wrong for the Nuggets after they were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-3 in the Western Conference semifinals. Did Denver not have the depth needed to defend its title? Was this team compromised from the very start? + Bennett talks about head coach Michael Malone’s reluctance to rely on youth when the team needed an answer for the unrelenting T-Wolves.  Did the head coach run his players into the ground, as he suggested during an end-of-season news conference? Or did he not have a choice? + Mike talks about the work that went into producing his debut book: "Why So Serious? The Untold Story of Nikola Jokic." He shares never-before-heard anecdotes ahead of the book’s upcoming release. + After the passing of NBA legend Bill Walton, Mike and Bennett share person

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated Denver in a stunning Game 7 comeback. Among the topics discussed: + Where did things go wrong for the Nuggets in the second half of Game 7? What could coach Michael Malone have done differently to stem the tide as Minnesota rallied from 20 points down to advance? + How much of the blame for what happened Sunday should be heaped upon the shoulders of superstars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray? What about the supporting players around them, in particular a cold-shooting Michael Porter Jr.? + What part of this result can be pinned on management? Did general manager Calvin Booth not give his head coach enough parts to successfully defend the title? What must be done to avoid this next season? + Lastly, Bennett talks about the chain of events that led to Michael Malone blowing up at him in the postgame press conference. Producer: AAron Ontiveroz Musi

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after the Minnesota Timberwolves blew away Denver to take a 2-0 series lead. Among the topics discussed: + Jamal Murray threw in the towel and the heat pack. How does this affect the team, the struggling star and the Nuggets’ chances to dig out of a deep hole against a surging Minnesota team? + What answer is there for Anthony Edwards? With Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hobbled and struggling, Bennett contends Christian Braun might be the best bet. + Nikola Jokic is on the verge of his third MVP but took just 13 shots in the Game 2 loss. Does he need to do more? + The Minnesota defense ranked No. 1 this season and is proving its worth during an unbeaten playoff run -- even with Rudy Gobert missing Game 2. Are there avenues the Nuggets can explore to overcome the suffocating attack? Producer: AAron Ontiveroz Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after Jamal Murray hit yet another game-winner to eliminate the Los Angeles Lakers. Among the topics discussed: + Jamal Murray's postseason credentials continue to grow after the Nuggets guard hit his second game-winner in eight days. How concerned should the Nuggets be about his health? Or that his shot came and went throughout a hotly contested five-game series against the Lakers. + Michael Porter Jr. was arguably the most consistent offensive threat the Nuggets had all series. Can he maintain his hot streak as the Nuggets advance to take on Minnesota? + What are the key matchups against the Timberwolves? And how will lingering injuries affect Denver against a surging young team? Should Nikola Jokic be happy to finally rid himself of Anthony Davis? + Should the Nuggets feel concerned about the bench matchups against Minnesota? + Matt talks up his favorite NBA books then gets back on t

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after Jamal Murray's buzzer-beating game-winner over Anthony Davis and the Lakers. Among the topics discussed: + Jamal Murray has an all-time postseason resume that keeps growing. Is the killer over Davis the best of his shots to date? + Down 20 with 10 minutes to play in the third quarter, the Nuggets erupted to beat the Lakers for the 10th straight time. Will the Nuggets sweep or can L.A. muster something, anything to push the series to five games? + Do the Nuggets need to make any adjustments for Game 3 to avoid another double-digit deficit or is the game plan simply: Win by any means necessary? + Matt asks, yet again, who can challenge the Nuggets in the West? Bennett gives a revealing answer, while also shedding light on his mysterious NBA season awards ballot. + Bennett trolls loyal listeners, yet again, as he goes inside baseball and talks about a Toronto Blue Jays game. Produce

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after the Los Angeles Lakers beat New Orleans in the play-in round to set up another playoff series with Denver. Among the topics discussed: + The Lakers held on to beat Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans, setting up a third playoff series in five seasons.  With the series tied 1-1, can the Nuggets ride their eight-game win streak against the Purple and Gold to the second round? + With the No. 1 seed on the line and almost in the bag, the Nuggets blew a 23-point lead to the Spurs en route to ending the season at No. 2. Does the seeding matter in a stacked Western Conference? + Victor Wembanyama is here and it’s official. Has his second-half emergence moved Jokic's projected titles line? + Will Bennett reveal his NBA awards ballot? Or will it remain shrouded in mystery? + Bennett and Matt hand out Nuggets team awards for the 2023-24 season.

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene following Denver's win over Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in a down-to-the-wire classic. Among the topics discussed: + As expected, San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama put on a show against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets on Tuesday night. Are the Nuggets and the rest of the NBA just living on borrowed time? Could Wemby actually win eight defensive player of the year awards? + Jamal Murray has now missed six straight games, and it's not apparent when exactly he will return to the lineup. At what point does this start to become a concern? + The Nuggets are locked in a three-way battle with Minnesota and Oklahoma City for the top seed in the Western Conference. What do they have to do to lock it down? Is it really worth expending extra energy to make it happen? + Luka Doncic is making a late run at the MVP award. Does he have any chance of overtaking Nikola Jokic? Or is t

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene following a 3-1 road trip for the defending NBA champions. Among the topics discussed: + Do the Nuggets need to fear the Celtics or the Bucks more? Is there another team coming out of the Eastern Conference that should give Nuggets fans pause? + The fellas catch up and rehash Kyrie Irving's miraculous left-handed hook shot that took down the Nuggets in Dallas and why Anthony Edwards should be feared by anyone who encounters him. + The gold standard for Nuggets fame is securely owned by Nikola Jokic, but when recently paired with fellow Serbian great Novak Djokovic in L.A., did Denver's big man take a back seat? Bennett talks about his encounter with the tennis GOAT. + Nuggets are roaring after the All-Star break sporting a 12-2 record. Is the playoff form or are they just warming up ahead of next month's tournament? + Matt learns about rizz, emojis and admits to not having seen Dune 2.

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, Denver Post beat writer Bennett Durando is joined by USA Today national NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt to talk about Denver and the NBA. Among the topics discussed: + The Western Conference appears to be loaded. Where do things stand in the hierarchy around the Nuggets? Bennett and Jeff give their thoughts. + Lebron James gave Jeff a special shout out at the All-Star Game. The two talk about that and LeBron reaching 40,000 career points against the Nuggets in a prime-time showdown. + The Suns took down the Nuggets in a thriller on Tuesday night. What can be gleaned from that result? Producer: AAron Ontiveroz Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, Denver Post beat writer Bennett Durando is joined by Oklahoman beat writer Joel Lorenzi to break down a tight MVP race and the remaining slate of games in the NBA season. Among the topics discussed: + Nikola Jokic has come out of the All-Star break on a tear, but can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander get the West’s No. 1 seed and take home his first MVP? + Where does Luka Doncic rank? All the stats are there, but do do the Mavs have enough wins for a solid case? + Giannis Antetokounmpo is having a career year, but are Jokic and SGA too far ahead of the field? + Jayson Tatum is the best player on the best team… does the math add up? + Bennett and AAron talk about their All-Star weekend in Indy. Producer: AAron Ontiveroz Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink Podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene hours after the NBA trade deadline comes to a close. Among the topics discussed: + Who are the winners and losers from the trade deadline? Who got better? Who got worse? Have any new contenders emerged? + The Nuggets stood pat at the deadline, with their lone deal involving the rights to a player who wasn't even on their 18-man roster.  Is the path to another title secure with Reggie Jackson, Peyton Watson and Christian Braun coming off the bench? + The All-NBA and MVP 65-game threshold is suddenly the talk of the league following Joel Embiid's injury. Is it fair to the players to put a requirement on the number of games played? Matt and Bennett debate. +Reader emails and more.

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink Podcast, Denver Post Nuggets beat writer Bennett Durando is joined by his predecessor Mike Singer. + Did Joel Embiid cede the MVP after sitting out against the Nuggets for the fourth straight game at Ball Arena? Citing knee soreness minutes before tipoff, Embiid scratched from lineup for the Nuggets' home matchup of the year. + Giannis and the Bucks come to town and the Nuggets edge them 113-107 to complete the weeklong trifecta of wins over the top three teams from the Eastern Conference following victories at Boston and a home win against Philadelphia. + Where are the Nuggets heading into the All-Star break among the best in the NBA? + Bennett and Mike square off in a game of ‘Who wrote it?’ All this and more…

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink Podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene at the tail end of an epic road trip for Denver. Among the topics discussed: + How impressive is the Nuggets' road performance? Are you more sold on this team as the leading NBA title contender? Is the win at Boston the most telling game of the year as the team looks ahead to the playoffs? + The fellas take a look at Jamal Murray's All-Star case. What is the likelihood he emerges as a reserve? Where does he rank in a stacked Western Conference backcourt? + Bennett speaks on the death of Golden State assistant coach Dejan Milojevic, his relationship with Nikola Jokic and how the Nuggets superstar has dealt with the sudden passing of a friend. + MVP race: Joel Embiid a clear leader. Can Jokic make up ground? + Kevin Durant in the GOAT conversation? Schubert weighs in with his own hot take. Producer: AAron Ontiveroz Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel