The Denver Nuggets have thrown their hats into the LeBron James sweepstakes. While they might not be the obvious frontrunners, they certainly present an intriguing prospect for the acclaimed NBA star.
As reported by The Denver Post, the Nuggets have reached out to James, signaling their eagerness to bring the legendary 21-time All-NBA forward to Denver. As James moves on from the Los Angeles Lakers, after eight impactful seasons that included a championship, an NBA scoring record, and another stellar year achieved at the age of 41, the league watches closely to see where he will land next.
The burning question on everyone’s mind is where this iconic player intends to play next to finish out his career.
Apart from Denver, other franchises vying for James’ talents include Golden State, Cleveland, Miami, and Minnesota, all linked with possible interest.
However, this isn’t a typical free agency saga. Rich Paul, James’ agent, emphasized in a recent interview that they’ve had conversations with “about 12-14 teams.” This suggests nearly half of the teams in the league have expressed some level of interest in adding LeBron to their rosters, highlighting the widespread allure and impact of his potential signing.
Paul also explained that James is not simply chasing the biggest contract.
“I think it’s more so having the ability to compete for the possibility to compete for winning a championship,” Paul said. “I think you can say being competitive. I think you can say having guys who understand how to play at a high level.”
That is where Denver becomes interesting.
The Nuggets cannot offer James the kind of money some other teams might without major roster gymnastics. Luckily, Paul also said maximizing money won’t be the deciding factor. If James is truly open to taking less for the right basketball situation, Denver has a real pitch: Nikola Jokic.
The basketball case is pretty easy to understand.
James and Jokic would give Denver two elite passers who know how to make the game easier for everyone around them. Jokic would still be the center of the offense, but James could take pressure off him as another creator, especially in late-clock situations, transition chances and playoff matchups where Denver needs a different look.
The fit would not be seamless automatically. Denver’s offense runs through Jokic, and changing that would present many dubious realities. James would have to be comfortable picking his spots, playing off the ball more often and acting as a secondary playmaker instead of controlling every possession.
At this stage, that might be a reasonable role and would in a sense mimic his role with the Lakers last season. James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists last season. But on a Nuggets team with Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon already in place, the appeal would be less about LeBron carrying the offense and more about giving Denver another high-level option in high leverage situations.
There is also history here. Nuggets president Josh Kroenke tried to recruit James in 2018 by sending him a throwback Denver jersey. James later called Kroenke a “very dear friend” and said the two had spent time together away from basketball.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has also called Denver a possible “outlier team” for James, especially if he is willing to take some kind of exception to play with Jokic.
Then there is, perhaps, the most important free agency factor of all: golf.
Paul joked that James would be fine as long as there is “indoor and outdoor golf.” Denver, somehow, checks that box.
Winter golf in Colorado is strange, weather-dependent and occasionally interrupted by snow, frost delays and frozen fairways that play like concrete. But between sunny winter days, year-round courses and indoor simulator spots around the city, LeBron’s golf requirement can technically survive the Rockies.
The Nuggets are still a long shot.
But they are not a joke.
If James wants a comfortable landing spot, title contenstion, and a chance to play beside Jokic, the Nuggets have a pitch worth listening to.
And apparently, they already have the communication lines open.