Rewriting the Denver Nuggets in NBA2K24 Pt. 1
DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A MODE WHERE THE NBA’S HISTORY RESETS ITSELF AFTER THE 1983–84 SEASON. THIS ISN’T THE NBA OF REAL LIFE.
Jaiden Molina
Student Writer
Jan 15th, 12:00 PM MDT
An Inspiration from Secret Base
Hello, everyone; welcome to my first article of 2024. I hope everyone enjoys this. I’ve wanted to do something different for a long time, and here it is.
The Denver Nuggets are the reigning NBA Champions in real life, yet in 1983, they had a losing record of 38–44; my goal is to change that. I want to shift the landscape of Nuggets basketball for the better, so I booted up NBA2K24 and started the grind. In this game, there is a mode titled “MyNba Eras” in which a player can choose between five different eras of basketball: the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and present day. For this article, I’ll start from the earliest era, 1983.
Before jumping straight in, I'll explain some basic info you'll need to know.
I'll be experiencing this from the perspective of a General Manager
I'm giving myself a deadline of 1993 to win six championships
I'm using the default 1983 NBA roster
The salary cap and dead cap are ON
The higher the overall rating, the better
Each season will be 82 games with 12 minutes quarter length
Each playoff series is best of seven
Difficulty is on Hall Of Fame (highest)
Injuries are ON
There are only 23 teams to start this series
I'll be using the 2K-made draft classes.
This is a pure simulation I'm NOT playing on the court.
Let's meet Governor Noah Vincent, who isn't much involved with the team but still has a decent desire to win.
First, I want to set out a goal to win multiple championships. The least I’ll settle for is three, but to get there, I need to see what I’m working with, roster-wise.
As you can see, my best players are 29-year-old Alex English and 25-year-old Kiki VanDeWeghe; these are the two that I’ll attempt to build around for the first couple of seasons. My head coach is the great Doug Moe, and he’s the guy to lead the team in a winning direction.
The Regular Season 1983-84
To start the season, my starting lineup is the following
T.R. Dunn - PG
Alex English - SG
Kiki VanDeWeghe - SF
Dan Issel - PF
Danny Schayes - C
Don't expect any drastic changes to the lineup for the first season; I may look to pick up a bench piece, though we don't have a first-round pick this season, so I'm open to all trades. Yet, I've got a whopping -$872K to work with for the year as my team adds up to $4.27M, with English and VanDeWeghe making close to $800K for the foreseeable future.
Now that we’ve got an idea of the team, I’m going to simulate to the trade deadline and see how we’re doing!
So far, the team has been fantastic. It’s mid-January, and we stand in second place in the west with a 24-14 record, only trailing the 29-8 Los Angeles Lakers; however, we’ve faced a severe loss as center Danny Schayes will miss 6-8 weeks with left shoulder tendinitis—a massive blow for the team.
We’ve officially arrived at the trade deadline, and we’re 26-14 still standing strong in the west! I won’t look to make any moves for now; I’ll let the team continue rolling and will simulate the contract extension deadline!
Another huge loss for the team as Power forward Dave Robisch breaks his right leg and will miss the next 6-8 weeks.
On the brighter side, Alex English and Kiki VanDeWeghe both represented the team at the all-star game!
I re-signed Power forward Kenny Dennard to a one-year $100k deal at the deadline.
As we wind down the regular season, it was announced that Alex English made the All-NBA 2nd team.
Playoffs 1983-84
It's officially playoff time! The Nuggets finished their first season as the second seed and will face the seventh-seeded San Diego Clippers in round one.
Round One - San Diego
Game One @Denver:
The Nuggets win an absolute nail-biter as they defeat the Clippers in a breathtaking 113-111 victory led by a Dan Issel double-double. 1-0 Nuggs.
Game Two @Denver:
Yet again, another close victory for the good guys as they defeat San Diego 93-88 to take a 2-0 series lead. Dan Issel has been a unit, as he records another double-double.
Game Three @San Diego:
BOOM!!!! An impressive 34-point bomb by Kiki Vandeweghe put the Nuggets up 3-0 after a 107-101 win. Vandeweghe only shot one three-pointer and was 15-23 on field goals. The Nuggets can put a nail in this coffin in the next game.
Game Four @San Diego:
NUGGETS WIN!!! The Nuggets exchange clippers for brooms as they sweep San Diego in a 127-120 double overtime thriller to move on to the second round! Alex English had a monster 35 points and a near triple-double, while Kiki VanDeWeghe dropped 34 points in 55 minutes played. This team is cooking!
After sweeping the Clips, the guys look to keep that same mojo against the third-seeded Portland Trail Blazers.
Round Two - Portland
Game One @Denver:
BANGGG!!! Kiki VanDeWeghe continues his hot streak to put the Nuggets up 1-0 after scoring 42 points in a dominant 107-87 win.
Game Two @Denver:
The Nuggets continue their winning by going up 2-0 on the Blazers in a 114-102 victory.
Game Three @Portland:
The Trail Blazers finally stop the bleeding by handing the Nuggets their first postseason loss in a 111-91 win over Denver. Game four will be a big one.
Game Four @Portland:
Denver fails to take a 3-1 lead as Portland proves to be too much for them in a 96-91 win for the Blazers. If the Nuggets want to win this series, they must win game five. The series is tied 2-2.
Game Five @Denver:
Yet again, the Nuggets take an L for the third time in a row in a 117-102 loss. It's hard to imagine the team winning in Portland after their recent struggles. Down 3-2.
Game Six @Portland:
NUGGETS HOLD ON! The Nuggets have forced a game seven after their 127-122 overtime win, led by Alex English's 34-point double-double.
For all the marbles, a date with Magic's Lakers in the Western Conference finals, this means everything; it doesn't get better than this. It's truly crunch time.
Game Seven @Denver:
An agonizing loss in the 5280 as the Nuggets fall 104-98 in game seven. The team ran out of gas. Onto the next year!
Off-season One:
I wanted the season to end differently; however, my team overachieved and is only a few pieces away from being a legitimate contender in such a tough league. Luckily, I still have nine more seasons to achieve my goal of six titles.
I started my off-season strong by trading Dan Issel to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for the number four overall pick, for which I chose Power forward Otis Thorpe.
In free agency, I picked up veteran center Bob Lanier on a two-year deal while also re-signing point guard T.R. Dunn for the next three seasons. We lacked size and strength in the Portland series, so that was a priority to address. By trading Dan Issel, I get a much younger big man in Thorpe who has the potential to succeed Issel.
Disappointingly, I’ve only got $32K in cap space; I need to move someone, especially Danny Schayes. He still has two years on his contract worth $450K, so dealing him would give me some wiggle room. Luckily, the Kansas City Kings agreed to give me a top-five protected pick for the 1986 season, along with a big man named Dwight Collins, in exchange for Danny Schayes.
The Regular Season 1984-85:
To start the season, my starting lineup is the following
T.R. Dunn - PG
Alex English - SG
Kiki VanDeWeghe - SF
Otis Thorpe - PF
Bob Lanier - C
I see no reason this team shouldn't go on a deep playoff run. We've severely improved from the previous year. Now that we know this season's team, it's time to simulate up to the trade deadline!
We arrived at the deadline, and this team had a rocky first half. Standing at fourth in the west with a 23-17 record, things could be much better. Looking to make a move, I jumped in the free agency pool and signed shooting guard Keith Edmonson to a veteran minimum. This will be the only move I make this deadline.
This year, our team only had one all-star, Alex English.
It’s time to sim to the contract extension deadline!
It has been a ROUGH second half for the Nuggs as they followed up the all-star weekend by going on a seven-game skid. We now stand at sixth in the west with a 29-32 record. The only player eligible for an extension was Kenny Dennard, who literally refused to resign with us. He doesn’t trust the process, I fear.
Despite the rough patch, it’s time I simulate to playoffs.
As the regular season ends, we finish as the sixth seed with a record of 40 - 42. Not what I was expecting at all. At least the losing record gets overlooked by a playoff appearance. Alex English also made the All-NBA 2nd team again.
Playoffs 1984-85
Round One - Portland
Well, what a coincidence, as we're facing the rival third-seeded Portland Trail Blazers in round one, the same team that booted us in seven games last year. This should be an intense series. The team is fully healthy. I'm expecting a series win.
Game One @Portland:
The first game was a pure beat down for the Nuggets as the Blazers beat them by 23 points with a score of 123-100—a wasted opportunity to capitalize on Keith Edmunson's 20-point game. Portland takes the 1-0 lead.
Game Two @Portland:
The Nuggets suffered a 114-99 loss, coming up short yet again, which gave Portland a 2-0 series lead. Obviously, I wanted to start the series differently.
Game Three @Denver:
Victory! The good guys finally get back on track thanks to a 34-point performance from Alex English and a 27-point game from Kiki VanDeWeghe in a 117-90 win for Denver! This was a must-win game, and the guys went out there showing what magic they could create. Game four should be a good one.
Game Four @Denver:
ANOTHER ONE! Kiki VanDeWeghe’s 30 points helps the Nuggets take full advantage of home court, successfully defending their floor by capturing two wins against the Blazers in a 105-89 win for the boys. A whole new series tied at two games apiece.
DISASTER STRIKES!
Starting point guard T.R. Dunn suffers a high left ankle sprain and will likely miss the rest of this postseason—a huge blow to the team.
Game Five @Portland:
A crushing 102-92 loss puts the Nuggs down 3-2 as Alex English's 29 points aren't enough to steal one in rip city. Luckily, game six will be back at home with the season on the line.
Game Six @Denver:
NUGGETS FORCE GAME SEVEN!!! The guys fought a tough, rough game, a 119-115 win led by an Alex English masterclass in which he scored 36 points on 14-19 shooting! Now we head back to Portland for a flabbergasting final game.
Here it is; this means everything: win or go home game seven.
Game Seven @Portland:
REVENGE IS BEST SERVED COLD!!! The Denver Nuggets are moving on to the second round as they defeat the rival Trail Blazers 111-109 in a masterpiece of a game to take the series 4-3. Not even Hollywood can write that! Once again, Alex English carries the Nuggets with his 35 points. The guys will now face the second-seeded Utah Jazz. EAT THAT PORTLAND!
Round Two — Utah
Game One @Utah:
Win! The Nuggets take game one 107–96 as English and VanDeWeghe lead the way, combining for 64 points! Nuggets up 1–0.
Game Two @Utah:
BOOM! Nuggets take game two with a 99–85 win and leave Salt Lake City with a 2–0 series lead.
Game Three @Denver:
Womp womp, the Nuggs fail to take a commanding lead as the Jazz steal the first game in Denver with a 120–110 victory over the good guys.
Game Four @Denver:
The Nuggets get their hearts broken as the Jazz escape Denver with a 100–98 win to tie the series at two games a piece.
No home team has won a game so far.
Game Five @Utah:
Yikes! The Nuggs drop a third straight game to the Jazz in a 131–108 loss. This team has choked a 2–0 lead and will look to survive game six back in Denver. The stars have severely underperformed in this series.
Game Six @Denver:
Feeling the blues. The Nuggets’ season ended heartbreakingly as Jazz player John Drew nailed a mid-ranger with two seconds in overtime to put Utah on top 121–119. Truly tragic for the Nuggs.
In a season full of ups and downs, the team fought hard until the end. We didn’t get the results we wanted, but how we performed in the playoffs gives me hope that I can still bring six titles to the Mile High City in the next eight seasons. These past two years were intense and differed from each other, but I believe we’re heading in the right direction. Until next time, this is where I’ll end part one. I hope this was a fun read, and I’d love to hear others’ thoughts on this project. I’ve never done anything like this, but I absolutely loved it. See you soon for part two!
Part One Recap
Finished second in west (83–84)
Finished Sixth in the west (84–85)
Three All-star selections 2x Alex English 1x Kiki VanDeWeghe
Alex English 2x All NBA 2nd team
Drafted Otis Thorpe, traded Dan Issel, signed Bob Lanier/ Keith Edmonson
Reached the second round of the playoffs twice
Battled the Trail Blazers twice in the playoffs
Credits
