The Denver Nuggets’ season came to a jarring end in the first round of the playoffs, swept by their Western Conference rivals, the Minnesota Timberwolves. For a team that has been built around the generational brilliance of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, the early exit served as a harsh wake-up call. The days of simply trying to outscore opponents may finally be over.
If the Nuggets are smart, they will rip a page directly from the New York Knicks’ playbook this offseason — a blueprint that has propelled the Knicks deep into the postseason and has the potential to transform Denver’s championship window once again.
The Knicks’ Formula: Defense First, Fit Around the Stars
The Knicks have shown this postseason what a modern contender can look like when built intelligently around offensive creators who are defensive liabilities. At the heart of their success is the pairing of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Brunson, while an elite scorer and playmaker, is not a strong defender. Towns is improved but still not a lockdown presence, though he provides occasional rim protection.
Rather than ignoring those weaknesses, the Knicks surrounded them with high-level defenders who can also shoot. Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby (who earned NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors), and Josh Hart form a formidable defensive core that complements the offense. These “glue guys” are not just specialists — they are complete role players who understand how to fit into a system.
New York also found gold on the bench. The signing of Landry Shamet as a backup to Brunson paid dividends, particularly against the Cleveland Cavaliers, where his shooting and adequate defense shone. Combined with Miles McBride’s improved play, the Knicks have created a balanced rotation where defense and spacing coexist.
Applying the Blueprint to Jokic and Murray
The parallels between the Nuggets’ stars and the Knicks’ duo are striking. Jokic and Murray have carried Denver with elite offense and playmaking for years, but neither is known for defensive prowess. For too long, the Nuggets have tried to win by outscoring teams, surrounding their All-NBA pair with three-point shooters who offered little resistance on the other end.
That formula has grown stale. The Timberwolves exposed Denver’s defensive shortcomings, proving that pure offensive firepower is no longer enough in today’s playoff basketball.
The solution is straightforward but transformative: defense must become the priority.
In trades and free agency, the Nuggets should target players who first and foremost address their defensive deficiencies, while still possessing enough offensive skill to thrive in Jokic’s gravity-driven system. The Serbian superstar has an unmatched ability to elevate teammates — making smart, versatile defenders even more dangerous when they have open looks created by his passing.
This isn’t about diminishing Jokic and Murray’s brilliance. It’s about maximizing it. Just as the Knicks have built a cohesive identity around Brunson and Towns, Denver can create a new formula: elite offense from the stars, supported by a versatile, switchable defense that can grind out wins when shots aren’t falling.
A New Era for the Nuggets?
The old approach — loading up on shooters and hoping offense alone would solve everything — has reached its limit. The Knicks have provided a live case study of how to build sustainably around creators who need defensive help.
If the Nuggets successfully snatch and adapt this blueprint, the implications for the Western Conference — and the entire NBA — would be enormous. A defensively sound Nuggets team led by Jokic at the peak of his powers would be a nightmare matchup for any opponent.
The bombshell this offseason won’t be another star acquisition for Denver. It will be their willingness to fundamentally change how they build around their two superstars. The Knicks have drawn the map. Now it’s up to the Nuggets to follow it.