Nuggets are better positioned in the West than the latest power ranking lets on

The Denver Nuggets have been placed eighth in the latest NBA power rankings compiled by Michael Pina of The Ringer, who assigned them a puncher's chance of contending for a championship. The ranking follows an early playoff exit last season against the Minnesota Timberwolves after Denver entered the postseason as the third seed in the Western Conference.

Denver enters the 2026-27 season returning its core starting lineup, which earned 54 victories last year despite players combining to miss 136 games due to injury. Staying healthy is expected to serve as a pivotal factor for the Nuggets alongside Western Conference competitors, including the third-ranked Oklahoma City Thunder and top-ranked San Antonio Spurs.