1976-77 Denver Nuggets: NBA Debut

1976-77 Denver Nuggets: NBA Debut

1976-77 Denver Nuggets: A New Life in the NBA

Joining the NBA After the Merger

After nine seasons in the American Basketball Association, the Denver Nuggets had to come to terms with the fact that the ABA would cease to exist following the 1975-1976 season. Thankfully for the Nuggets, they were one of four teams approved by the NBA to join the league as part of the ABA-NBA merger. The other three teams in the merger were the Indiana Pacers, the New York Nets, and the San Antonio Spurs. However, the Nuggets had it rough when getting used to their NBA surroundings, as they had to pay a $3.2 million entry fee, forgo television revenue for their first three NBA seasons, and sit out the 1976 NBA Draft.

A Strong Regular Season

Despite these obstacles, the 1976-77 Denver Nuggets were able to put together a solid first season in the NBA. In the 1976-1977 NBA season, the Nuggets went 50-32, winning the Midwest Division by six games over the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls. The Nuggets were amazing on their home court, the McNichols Sports Arena, as they went 36-5 at home, as opposed to their 14-27 road record. In divisional play, the Nuggets went 15-5.

Statistical Leaders

Star Performers

Shooting guard David Thompson had 2,125 total points off 334 rebounds, 337 assists, and 114 steals, making 824 of 1,626 field goal shots and averaging 25.9 points per game. Center Dan Issel had 1,765 total points off 696 rebounds and 177 assists, making 660 of 1,282 field goal shots. Issel averaged 22.3 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game. Power forward Bobby Jones had 1,238 total points off 678 rebounds, 264 assists, 186 steals, and 162 blocks, making 501 of 879 field goal shots and averaging 15.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game.

Reserve Contributors

Shooting guard Ted McClain had 589 points off 324 assists and 106 steals, making 245 of 551 field goal shots and averaging 4.5 steals per game. Point guard Mack Calvin had 323 points off 115 assists, making 100 of 225 field goal shots and averaging 4 assists per game. Making 123 of 144 free throws for the regular season, Calvin led the Nuggets in free throw percentage with .854.

Power forward Paul Silas had 582 points off 606 rebounds and 132 assists, making 206 of 572 field goal shots and averaging 7.5 rebounds per game. Point guard Roland Morris “Fatty” Taylor had 301 points off 288 assists and 132 steals, making 132 of 314 field goal shots. Small forward Willie Wise had 616 points off 253 rebounds and 142 assists, making 237 of 513 field goal shots. Point guard Jim Price had 435 points along with 208 assists, making 188 of 422 field goal shots. Center Marvin Webster had 539 points off 484 rebounds and 118 blocks, averaging 6.1 rebounds per game and making 198 of 400 field goal shots.

Individual Honors

Only two individual awards were given to Nuggets players as a result of their great play on the basketball court. David Thompson would make the All-NBA First Team, while Bobby Jones would make the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

Winning Streaks and a Playoff Berth

Despite all of the roadblocks thrown at them before a minute of basketball was even played, the Nuggets were one of the four former ABA teams that could take the NBA by storm in just their first season, and to a certain extent, the Nuggets did just that. The team went on an impressive eight-game winning streak to start the season. This streak started with a 123-110 win over the Indiana Pacers on October 22 and ended with a 123-117 win over the Golden State Warriors on November 9. Later in the regular season, the Nuggets put together a modest five-game winning streak, which began with a 117-107 win over the Houston Rockets on January 7 and ended with a 109-101 win over the Seattle SuperSonics on January 16.

Along with finishing as Midwest Division champions, the 1976-77 Denver Nuggets finished as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, trailing only the Los Angeles Lakers. As the No. 2 seed, the Nuggets received a bye in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. In the Western Conference Semifinals, the crusade of the Nuggets was short-lived, as they fell to the Portland Trail Blazers, four games to two.

A Hard-Fought Series Against Portland

Game 2: A Home Statement

In Game 2 on April 22 at the McNichols Sports Arena, the Nuggets defeated the Trail Blazers 121-110. Leading the way for the Nuggets in this game was Dan Issel, who scored 36 points and made 14 of 15 free throws. Supporting Issel’s cause was Bobby Jones, who scored 19 points. David Thompson scored 18 points and made 6 of 9 free throws. Paul Silas scored 13 points and made 3 of 3 free throws.

Game 5: Overtime Heroics

The other win for the Nuggets came in Game 5 on May 1, returning home to the McNichols Sports Arena after a not-so-kind road trip to Portland. The Nuggets defeated the Trail Blazers 114-105 in overtime. David Thompson led Denver’s offensive charge this time, scoring 31 points and making 9 of 12 free throws. Dan Issel scored 23 points and made 7 of 11 free throws. Willie Wise scored 14 points and made 7 of 11 free throws. Jim Price scored 13 points and made 3 of 4 free throws.

The very next season would see more progress for the Denver Nuggets as an NBA franchise, and the remainder of the 1970s appeared to be a successful run of sorts for a franchise that had already seen much success in the ABA.