The Denver Nuggets' first-round picks have all played a part in shaping the franchise's history. Despite never reaching the NBA Finals or winning a championship, players like Carmelo Anthony have made significant contributions. Anthony, one of the best players of the 2000s, couldn't lead the Nuggets to a title before leaving for the Knicks. In contrast, picks like Tony Battie and Nikoloz Tskitishvili are among the biggest first-round busts. To rank these players, consider their stats with the Nuggets. Did they help improve the team?
About this list
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Draft selection: 4 (1991)Dikembe Mutombo was a 4th-round pick in 1991.
Achievements: 3× NBA All-Star (1992, 1995, 1996)
He played 391 games, averaged 12.8 points per game, 12.3 rebounds per game, and 3.8 blocks per game.NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1995)
Dikembe Mutombo earned 3 NBA All-Star selections in 1992, 1995, and 1996.
Dikembe Mutombo won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1995.
He made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1995.
Dikembe Mutombo was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1992.26 - 2
Achievements: 4× NBA All-Star (2007, 2008, 2010, 2011)Carmelo Anthony was a 3rd-round pick in 2003.
3× All-NBA Third Team (2006, 2007, 2009)
He played 564 games, averaged 24.8 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game, 3.1 assists per game, and 1.1 steals per game.Draft selection:
Carmelo Anthony earned 4 NBA All-Star selections in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011.
Carmelo Anthony made the All-NBA Second Team in 2010.
He earned 3 All-NBA Third Team selections in 2006, 2007, and 2009.
Carmelo Anthony was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2004.26 - 3
Draft selection: 13 (2017)Jamal Murray was a 7th-round pick in 2016.
Draft selection:
He played 238 games, averaged 14.8 points per game, 3.5 assists per game, and 3.4 rebounds per game.Stats: 343 games played, 15.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.2 apg
Jamal Murray made the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2017.25 - 4
Donovan Mitchell's draft selection is listed here.Donovan Mitchell was the 13th overall pick in 2017.
Stats: Has not played for Nuggets yet
Donovan Mitchell never played for the Nuggets.9 - 5
9 (1993)LaPhonso Ellis was a 5th-round pick in 1992.
Achievements: NBA All-Rookie Second Team (1992)
He played 343 games, averaged 15.2 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game, and 2.2 assists per game.Draft selection:
LaPhonso Ellis was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1993.7 - 6
Stats: 261 games played, 9.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.3 spgMichael Porter Jr. was a 14th-round pick in 2018.
Draft selection:
Michael Porter Jr. has not played for the Nuggets yet.7 - 7
Stats: 161 games played, 9.1 ppg, 5.5 apg, 3.0 rpgRodney Rogers was a 9th-round pick in 1993.
Draft selection:
He played 159 games, averaged 10.2 points per game, and 3.8 rebounds per game.3 - 8
Stats: Never played for NuggetsMahmoud Abdul-Rauf was a 3rd-round pick in 1990.
12 (1988)
He played 439 games, averaged 16.0 points per game, 4.0 assists per game, and 2.1 rebounds per game.Draft selection:
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf made the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 1991.
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was the NBA Most Improved Player in 1993.3 - 9
James Posey's draft selection is listed here.James Posey was the 18th overall pick in 1999.
Stats: Never played for Nuggets
He played 261 games, averaged 9.4 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, and 1.3 steals per game.16 (1986)
James Posey was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2000.1 - 10
James Posey's draft selection is listed here.James Posey was the 13th overall pick in 1994.
Stats: 65 games played, 8.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg
He played 161 games, averaged 9.1 points per game, 5.5 assists per game, and 3.0 rebounds per game.19 (1982)
James Posey made the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 1995.1 - 11
Rudy Gobert's draft selection is listed here.Rudy Gobert was the 27th overall pick in 2013.
Stats: 224 games played, 8.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg
Rudy Gobert never played for the Nuggets.1 - 12
17 (1978)Jerome Lane was a 12th-round pick in 1988.
Draft selection:
He played 192 games, averaged 5.7 points per game, and 6.2 rebounds per game.-1 - 13
Stats: 114 games played, 7.4 ppg, 2.1 rpgRob Williams was a 19th-round pick in 1982.
20 (04)
He played 153 games, averaged 8.6 points per game, and 5.4 assists per game.-1 - 14
Doug McDermott's draft selection is listed here.Doug McDermott was the 11th overall pick in 2014.
Stats: 157 games played, 5.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg
Doug McDermott never played for the Nuggets.-1 - 15
22 (2005)Mo Martin was a 16th-round pick in 1986.
Draft selection:
He played 69 games, averaging 3.0 points per game.-1 - 16
Brent Barry's draft selection is listed here.Brent Barry was the 15th overall pick in 1995.
Stats: 65 games played, 8.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg
Brent Barry never played for the Nuggets.-2 - 17
19 (2016)Bryant Stith was a 13th-round pick in 1992.
Draft selection:
He played 458 games, averaged 10.9 points per game, and 3.5 rebounds per game.-2 - 18
Stats: 64 games played, 7.9 ppgMark Macon was an 8th-round pick in 1991.
Mark Macon's stats are listed here.
He played 131 games, averaged 9.2 points per game, 2.5 rebounds per game, and 1.7 steals per game.Mark Macon has achievements listed here.
Mark Macon was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 1992.-2 - 19
Kenneth Faried's draft selection is listed here.Kenneth Faried was the 20th overall pick in 2011.
Kenneth Faried's stats are listed here.
He played 441 games, averaged 11.4 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game, and 0.8 blocks per game.Kenneth Faried has achievements listed here.
Kenneth Faried made the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2012.-2 - 20
Kenneth Faried's draft selection is listed here.Kenneth Faried was the 21st overall pick in 1978.
Kenneth Faried's stats are listed here.
He played 419 games, averaged 8.7 points per game, and 2.6 rebounds per game.-2 - 21
Kenneth Faried's draft selection is listed here.Kenneth Faried was the 9th overall pick in 1977.
Kenneth Faried's stats are listed here.
He played 77 games, averaging 4.0 points per game.-2 - 22
Kenneth Faried's draft selection is listed here.Kenneth Faried was the 20th overall pick in 2005.
Kenneth Faried's stats are listed here.
He played 18 games, averaging 1.1 points per game.-2 - 23
Kenneth Faried's draft selection is listed here.Kenneth Faried was the 15th overall pick in 1983.
Kenneth Faried's stats are listed here.
He played 55 games, averaging 6.2 points per game.-2 - 24
Kenneth Faried's draft selection is listed here.Kenneth Faried was the 20th overall pick in 2012.
Kenneth Faried's stats are listed here.
He played 114 games, averaged 7.4 points per game, and 2.1 rebounds per game.-3 - 25
Kenneth Faried's draft selection is listed here.Kenneth Faried was the 20th overall pick in 2004.
Kenneth Faried's stats are listed here.
He played 148 games, averaged 8.9 points per game, and 4.7 assists per game.-3 - 26
Kenneth Faried's draft selection is listed here.Kenneth Faried was the 15th overall pick in 2016.
Kenneth Faried's stats are listed here.
He played 157 games, averaged 5.1 points per game, and 3.2 rebounds per game.-3 - 27
Kenneth Faried's draft selection is listed here.Kenneth Faried was the 22nd overall pick in 2005.
Kenneth Faried's stats are listed here.
Kenneth Faried never played for the Nuggets.-3 - 28
Kenneth Faried's draft selection is listed here.Kenneth Faried was the 21st overall pick in 1977.
Kenneth Faried's stats are listed here.
He played 187 games, averaged 8.2 points per game, and 4.1 rebounds per game.Also ranks #151 on Famous People From Tennessee
-3 - 29
Kenneth Faried's draft selection is listed here.Kenneth Faried was the 5th overall pick in 1997.
Kenneth Faried's stats are listed here.
He played 65 games, averaged 8.4 points per game, and 5.4 rebounds per game.-4 - 30
Kenneth Faried's draft selection is listed here.Kenneth Faried was the 19th overall pick in 2016.
Kenneth Faried's stats are listed here.
He played 165 games, averaged 7.2 points per game, and 1.7 rebounds per game.-4 - 31
Kenneth Faried's draft selection is listed here.Kenneth Faried was the 18th overall pick in 1986.
Kenneth Faried's stats are listed here.
He played 64 games, averaging 7.9 points per game.-4 - 32
Kenneth Faried's draft selection is listed here.Kenneth Faried was the 23rd overall pick in 1996.
Kenneth Faried's stats are listed here.
Kenneth Faried never played for the Nuggets.-4 - 33
Kenneth Faried's draft selection is listed here.Kenneth Faried was the 23rd overall pick in 1998.
Kenneth Faried's stats are listed here.
Kenneth Faried never played for the Nuggets.-4 - 34
Kenneth Faried's draft selection is listed here.Kenneth Faried was the 3rd overall pick in 1998.
Kenneth Faried's stats are listed here.
He played 222 games, averaged 13.2 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game, and 2.5 blocks per game.-5 - 35
Kenneth Faried's draft selection is listed here.Kenneth Faried was the 15th overall pick in 1989.
Kenneth Faried's stats are listed here.
He played 224 games, averaged 8.1 points per game, and 2.2 rebounds per game.Also ranks #5 on Stanford's Greatest Basketball Players
-5 - 36
Kenneth Faried's draft selection is listed here.Kenneth Faried was the 17th overall pick in 1978.
Kenneth Faried's stats are listed here.
Kenneth Faried never played for the Nuggets.-5 - 37
Draft selection: Frank Williams25 (2002)
Stats
Frank Williams never played for the Nuggets.-5 - 38
Draft selection: Blair Rasmussen15 (1985)
Stats
429 games played, 10.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg-6 - 39
Draft selection: Carl Nicks23 (1980)
Stats
27 games played, 6.1 ppg-6 - 40
Draft selection: Mamadou N'Diaye26 (2000)
Stats
Mamadou N'Diaye never played for the Nuggets.-6 - 42
Draft selection: Nikoloz Tskitishvili5 (2002)
Stats
143 games played, 3.2 ppg-7 - 43
Draft selection: Emmanuel Mudiay7 (2015)
Stats
165 games played, 11.1 ppg, 4.3 apg, 3.1 rpgAchievements
NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2016)-9
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