The Denver Nuggets rotation is looking a bit different now that everyone’s back to full health.
For the first time since early November, the Denver Nuggets rolled out a fully healthy rotation in their win over the Portland Trail Blazers, thanks to Peyton Watson returning from a lengthy hamstring injury. With everyone available, Denver delivered a convincing 128–112 victory.
However, getting back to full strength also means fewer opportunities for players who had been stepping into larger roles during the injury stretch. Those contributors are now being pushed back down the depth chart and out of the nightly rotation.
It’s a natural part of life in the NBA, but head coach David Adelman made it clear he still values those players, even as minutes become harder to come by.
After the win, Adelman pointed out that players like Jonas Valanciunas and Julian Strawther didn’t see action, despite previously playing key roles — with Strawther even starting games and helping the team win. He also highlighted contributions from Jalen Pickett and Zeke Nnaji throughout the season.
Adelman emphasized that the challenge moving forward will be maintaining an unselfish mindset. Even if players aren’t in the rotation on a given night, they’ll need to stay ready as Denver leans on a second unit that has been performing effectively.
David Adelman Urges Nuggets’ Bench to Stay Ready
With a fully healthy roster, the Denver Nuggets tightened things to a nine-man rotation, sticking with their usual starters while deploying a second unit of Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., Peyton Watson, and Spencer Jones. The group may be smaller in size, but it brings added versatility and defensive upside.
It’s a lineup David Adelman clearly trusts, and it proved effective in their recent win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Building more chemistry with this unit in the weeks leading up to the postseason should only strengthen Denver’s outlook once the playoffs begin.
As for players deeper on the bench like Julian Strawther and Jonas Valanciunas, both have made the most of their chances but are now on the outside looking in with limited minutes available.
Their roles could still fluctuate depending on matchups or potential injuries, but on most nights with a full roster, they’ll likely remain out of the regular rotation.
That uncertainty makes it even more important for them to stay prepared for whenever their number is called.
There’s still plenty of basketball left, and those at the end of the Denver Nuggets bench have already shown they can contribute as rotation players, helping the team stay competitive in the Western Conference during a challenging stretch.
If needed, David Adelman won’t hesitate to rely on them again. For now, the priority is staying ready and embracing whatever role helps Denver push toward its championship goals.
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