2009–10 Denver Nuggets season
Encyclopedia
The 2009-10
Denver Nuggets
season was the 43rd season of the franchise, its 34th in the National Basketball Association
(NBA).
to a 5 year, $21.17 million contract, worth up to $26 million with incentives. However, on July 13, the Nuggets lost starting shooting guard Dahntay Jones
, who signed a 4 year, $10.6 million contract with the Indiana Pacers
. The Nuggets also lost reserve forward Linas Kleiza
to Greek team Olympiacos Piraeus on August 10, when he signed a 2 year, $12.2 million contract. On August 16, backup point guard Anthony Carter
was re-signed to a 1 year minimum-salary contract worth $1,306,455. On August 27, the team re-signed reserve center Johan Petro
to a 1 year minimum-salary contract worth $884,881. On September 25, the Nuggets signed forward Joey Graham
to a 1 year, non-guaranteed, minimum salary contract worth $884,881. On September 28, reserve point guard Jason Hart signed a 1 year non-guaranteed minimum-salary contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves
. On September 26, the team also signed forward Keith Brumbaugh, point guard Dontaye Draper
, and center Kurt Looby to non-guaranteed contracts for training camp. Brumbaugh was waived on October 10. Draper and Looby were waived on October 21.
, a second round pick (34th overall), to the Houston Rockets
in exchange for $2.25 million cash. On July 13, the Nuggets acquired shooting guard Arron Afflalo
, forward Walter Sharpe
, and $350,000 cash from the Detroit Pistons
in exchange for a 2011 2nd round pick. The pick will be the lower of the Nuggets' and Blazers' selections, which the Nuggets previously acquired. On July 31, the Nuggets acquired power forward Malik Allen
from the Milwaukee Bucks
in exchange for swingman Sonny Weems
, Sharpe, and cash considerations. On August 10, the Nuggets traded F/C Steven Hunter, their 2010 1st round pick, and $3 million cash to the Memphis Grizzlies
for a 2014 conditional 2nd round pick. On September 22, the Nuggets acquired swingman James White
from Houston in exchange for the draft rights to forward Axel Hervelle
, a 2005 2nd round pick (52nd overall). White was waived on October 21.
* Acquired from Minnesota.
x Traded to Houston.
2009–10 NBA season
The 2009–10 NBA season was the 64th season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, and ended on Wednesday, April 14, 2010....
Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
season was the 43rd season of the franchise, its 34th in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA).
Key dates
- June 25 - The 2009 NBA Draft2009 NBA DraftThe 2009 NBA Draft was held on June 25, 2009, the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
took place in New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. - July 8 - The free agencyFree agentIn professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
period started.
Free Agency
On July 8, the Nuggets re-signed fan favorite Chris "Birdman" AndersenChris Andersen
Chris Andersen is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association...
to a 5 year, $21.17 million contract, worth up to $26 million with incentives. However, on July 13, the Nuggets lost starting shooting guard Dahntay Jones
Dahntay Jones
Dahntay Lavall Jones is an American professional basketball player, currently playing for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.Originally a student at Rutgers University, Jones transferred to Duke University...
, who signed a 4 year, $10.6 million contract with the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. The Nuggets also lost reserve forward Linas Kleiza
Linas Kleiza
Linas Kleiza is a Lithuanian professional basketball player with the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association. He is also a member of the Lithuanian national team. He can play either forward position. Kleiza signed a four year, $18.8 million contract prior to the 2010–11 NBA...
to Greek team Olympiacos Piraeus on August 10, when he signed a 2 year, $12.2 million contract. On August 16, backup point guard Anthony Carter
Anthony Carter
Anthony Bernard Carter is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New York Knicks.-Early life:...
was re-signed to a 1 year minimum-salary contract worth $1,306,455. On August 27, the team re-signed reserve center Johan Petro
Johan Petro
Johan Petro is a French professional basketball player of Guadeloupean descent who is playing for the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association. A 7'0", 247 lbs. center, Petro was selected by the Sonics in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft...
to a 1 year minimum-salary contract worth $884,881. On September 25, the Nuggets signed forward Joey Graham
Joey Graham
Joseph "Joey" Graham is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers.-College career:Graham played at Central Florida from 2000 to 2002, and at Oklahoma State from 2003 to 2005...
to a 1 year, non-guaranteed, minimum salary contract worth $884,881. On September 28, reserve point guard Jason Hart signed a 1 year non-guaranteed minimum-salary contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
. On September 26, the team also signed forward Keith Brumbaugh, point guard Dontaye Draper
Dontaye Draper
Dontaye Dominic Draper is an American professional basketball player. He is a 5'11" tall point guard.-College career:...
, and center Kurt Looby to non-guaranteed contracts for training camp. Brumbaugh was waived on October 10. Draper and Looby were waived on October 21.
Trades
The Nuggets made two draft-day trades as well as several others later in the offseason. On draft day, the Nuggets acquired the draft rights to point guard Ty Lawson, the 18th overall pick, from Minnesota in exchange for Charlotte's 2010 1st round pick, which they had previously acquired. The Nuggets also traded the draft rights to point guard Sergio LlullSergio Llull
Sergio Llull Melià is a Spanish professional basketball player. He is 6 ft 3 ¾ in tall. He currently plays with the professional club Real Madrid.-Player profile:...
, a second round pick (34th overall), to the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
in exchange for $2.25 million cash. On July 13, the Nuggets acquired shooting guard Arron Afflalo
Arron Afflalo
Arron Agustin Afflalo is an American professional basketball player, currently with the Denver Nuggets of the NBA. He completed a three-year career at University of California, Los Angeles in the Pacific-10 Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association as the starting shooting...
, forward Walter Sharpe
Walter Sharpe
Walter L. Sharpe III is an American professional basketball player.-Early career:Sharpe played his prep basketball at Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama, his place of birth. He was later signed by Mississippi State University...
, and $350,000 cash from the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
in exchange for a 2011 2nd round pick. The pick will be the lower of the Nuggets' and Blazers' selections, which the Nuggets previously acquired. On July 31, the Nuggets acquired power forward Malik Allen
Malik Allen
Malik Omar Allen is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Orlando Magic.After four years at Villanova University Allen went undrafted in the 2000 NBA Draft. He began his career in the ABA with the San Diego Wildfire and in the International Basketball League with...
from the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
in exchange for swingman Sonny Weems
Sonny Weems
Clarence "Sonny" Weems is an American basketball player who plays for Zalgiris Kaunas. Weems was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 2008 NBA Draft and shortly thereafter traded to the Denver Nuggets. Weems played collegiate basketball at the University of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas...
, Sharpe, and cash considerations. On August 10, the Nuggets traded F/C Steven Hunter, their 2010 1st round pick, and $3 million cash to the Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
for a 2014 conditional 2nd round pick. On September 22, the Nuggets acquired swingman James White
James White (basketball)
James William White IV is an American professional basketball player. He is a 6'7", 200 lb. guard/forward. He earned the nickname 'Flight 75' due to his leaping ability....
from Houston in exchange for the draft rights to forward Axel Hervelle
Axel Hervelle
Axel Hervelle is a Belgian professional basketball player. Hervelle was drafted by the NBA club the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft, becoming the first Belgian player ever to be drafted by an NBA team. He is a and small forward-power forward.-Pro career:Hervelle spent...
, a 2005 2nd round pick (52nd overall). White was waived on October 21.
Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | Ty Lawson* | Point Guard Point guard Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that... |
UNC North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is considered one of the most successful programs in NCAA history... |
|
| 2 | 34 | Sergio Llull Sergio Llull Sergio Llull Melià is a Spanish professional basketball player. He is 6 ft 3 ¾ in tall. He currently plays with the professional club Real Madrid.-Player profile:... x |
Point Guard Point guard Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that... |
Real Madrid Real Madrid Baloncesto Real Madrid Baloncesto is a Spanish professional basketball team founded in 1932 as a division of the Real Madrid club. They play in the Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto .... (Spain) |
|
* Acquired from Minnesota.
x Traded to Houston.
Roster
Pre-season
| 2009 Pre-season Game Log: 4–4 (Home: 2–1 ; Road: 2–3) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Attendance | Record | |||
| 1 | October 1 | Denver Nuggets Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams... |
87 - 103 | Utah Jazz Utah Jazz The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
18,114 | 0-1 | ||||
| 2 | October 3 | Partizan Belgrade KK Partizan Košarkaški klub Partizan is a Serbian professional basketball club. It is part of the multi-sports Belgrade-based club Partizan. The club competes in the Serbian League, Adriatic League and the Euroleague.... (Serbia) |
70 - 102 | Denver Nuggets | 9,749 | 1-1 | ||||
| 3 | October 8 (in Taipei Taipei Arena Taipei Arena is an indoor sporting arena located in Taipei, Taiwan. Built in 2005, the large multi-purpose stadium can accommodate major international sport events such as ice skating, ice hockey, gymnastics, handball, basketball, tennis, badminton, table tennis, indoor soccer, boxing, judo,... ) |
Indiana Pacers Indiana Pacers The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association... |
126 - 104 | Denver Nuggets | 13,599 | 1-2 | ||||
| 4 | October 11 (in Beijing, China) | Denver Nuggets | 128 - 112 | Indiana Pacers | 16,982 | 2-2 | ||||
| 5 | October 18 | Denver Nuggets | 96 - 98 | Portland Trail Blazers Portland Trail Blazers The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the... |
18,943 | 2-3 | ||||
| 6 | October 20 | Minnesota Timberwolves Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor... |
100 - 129 | Denver Nuggets | 11,228 | 3-3 | ||||
| 7 | October 22 (in Anaheim, CA) | Denver Nuggets | 89 - 106 | Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
15,206 | 3-4 | ||||
| 8 | October 23 (in San Diego, CA) | Denver Nuggets | 119 - 105 | Los Angeles Lakers | 13,586 | 4-4 | ||||
Standings
Regular season
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | 75 | 27.2 | .465 | .434 | .735 | 3.10 | 1.7 | .56 | .37 | 8.8 | |
| 51 | 3 | 8.9 | .397 | .167 | .923 | 1.60 | .3 | .22 | .10 | 2.1 | |
| 76 | 0 | 22.3 | .566 | .000 | .695 | 6.40 | .4 | .55 | 1.88 | 5.9 | |
| 69 | 69 | 38.2 | .458 | .316 | .830 | 6.60 | 3.2 | 1.28 | .43 | 28.2 | |
| 13 | 1 | 7.0 | .333 | .000 | .333 | 1.80 | .5 | .62 | .15 | 1.1 | |
| 73 | 73 | 34.1 | .418 | .386 | .910 | 3.10 | 5.6 | 1.12 | .12 | 19.5 | |
| 54 | 7 | 15.9 | .420 | .270 | .846 | 1.60 | 3.0 | .72 | .24 | 3.3 | |
| 63 | 18 | 12.0 | .520 | .154 | .740 | 2.00 | .3 | .37 | .11 | 4.2 | |
| 64 | 8 | 20.2 | .514 | .407 | .759 | 1.90 | 3.1 | .73 | .03 | 8.3 | |
| 57 | 57 | 34.5 | .458 | .276 | .557 | 9.50 | 1.9 | 1.26 | 1.05 | 11.6 | |
| 81 | 81 | 33.8 | .586 | .000 | .704 | 7.70 | 2.5 | 1.42 | 1.01 | 13.9 | |
| 35 | 16 | 12.0 | .531 | .000 | .667 | 3.60 | .4 | .29 | .37 | 3.4 | |
| 74 | 0 | 27.9 | .416 | .338 | .706 | 3.10 | 2.5 | 1.31 | .27 | 15.5 |
Playoffs
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 20.0 | .625 | .429 | .818 | 2.0 | 1.2 | .2 | .3 | 9.2 | |
| 4 | 0 | 2.8 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .8 | .0 | .2 | .0 | .0 | |
| 6 | 0 | 19.3 | .529 | .000 | .643 | 4.5 | .2 | .2 | 1.0 | 4.5 | |
| 6 | 6 | 42.3 | .464 | .316 | .877 | 8.5 | 3.2 | 2.0 | .5 | 30.7 | |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | |
| 6 | 6 | 34.5 | .446 | .355 | .881 | 2.3 | 6.3 | 1.0 | .5 | 20.6 | |
| 1 | 0 | 7.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .0 | 3.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | |
| 4 | 0 | 7.3 | .588 | .333 | .600 | 2.5 | .0 | .5 | .2 | 6.0 | |
| 6 | 6 | 19.7 | .429 | .400 | .684 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 1.0 | .0 | 7.8 | |
| 6 | 6 | 34.2 | .480 | .000 | .632 | 8.3 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 10.0 | |
| 5 | 5 | 33.8 | .621 | .000 | .583 | 5.8 | 2.2 | 1.2 | .2 | 11.4 | |
| 6 | 1 | 7.5 | .545 | .000 | .500 | 1.8 | .2 | .2 | .5 | 2.2 | |
| 6 | 0 | 26.5 | .368 | .355 | .875 | 3.8 | 1.7 | .7 | .3 | 11.2 |
Week/Month
- Carmelo AnthonyCarmelo AnthonyCarmelo Kiyan Anthony , nicknamed "Melo", is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association...
was named Western ConferenceWestern Conference (NBA)Below is a list of current Western Conference NBA team rosters.-Western Conference:There are a total of 15 teams in the Western Conference. The current leading team of the Western conference are the Dallas Mavericks....
Player of the Week for games played from Tuesday, Oct. 27 through Sunday, Nov. 1. - Carmelo Anthony was named Western Conference Player of the Month for games played during the month of November.
- Carmelo Anthony was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from Monday, Jan. 11 through Sunday, Jan. 17.
- Chauncey BillupsChauncey BillupsChauncey Ray Billups is an American professional basketball point guard for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association . He has also played for Team USA. Billups won the NBA Finals MVP in 2004, helping the Detroit Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals, and was given the...
was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from Monday, Jan. 18 through Sunday, Jan. 24.
All-Star
- Carmelo AnthonyCarmelo AnthonyCarmelo Kiyan Anthony , nicknamed "Melo", is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association...
was voted as a NBA Western Conference All-Star starter. - Chauncey BillupsChauncey BillupsChauncey Ray Billups is an American professional basketball point guard for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association . He has also played for Team USA. Billups won the NBA Finals MVP in 2004, helping the Detroit Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals, and was given the...
was named to the NBA Western Conference All-Star team as a replacement for Chris PaulChris PaulChristopher Emmanuel Paul is an American professional basketball point guard for the New Orleans Hornets.Paul was born and raised in North Carolina. Despite only playing two varsity basketball seasons in high school, he was a McDonald's All-American and accepted a scholarship with nearby Wake...
. Billups finished in 3rd place in the 3-point contest.
Transactions
Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams... |
Players Added Via Draft
Via Trade
Via Free Agency
|
Players Lost Via Trade
Via Free Agency
|