The 1976-77 Denver Nuggets had a remarkable season, finishing as the best team in the Western Conference with a 50-32 record. This was their first season in the NBA after the ABA-NBA merger. Coached by Larry Brown, the team featured standout performances from David Thompson and Dan Issel, who were instrumental in their success. Thompson averaged 25.9 points per game, emerging as a key offensive force.
The Nuggets secured the Midwest Division title and advanced to the playoffs, where they faced the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals. Despite a strong effort, they were defeated 4-2 by the eventual NBA champions, led by Bill Walton. This season set the stage for Denver’s future competitiveness in the NBA, establishing them as a strong franchise in the league.
- Regular Season Record: 50-32
- Playoff Result: Western Conference Semifinals: 2-4
Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats for 1976-77 Season
POINTS
David Thompson
25.9
REBOUNDS
Dan Issel
8.8
ASSISTS
Ted McClain
4.5
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| David Thompson | 82 | 25.9 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 6 | 24.7 | 5.2 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Dan Issel | 79 | 22.3 | 8.8 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 6 | 22.0 | 9.7 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Bobby Jones | 82 | 15.1 | 8.3 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 6 | 12.0 | 5.8 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 0.0 |
| Mack Calvin | 29 | 11.1 | 1.7 | 4.0 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6 | 10.3 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gus Gerard | 24 | 10.0 | 4.2 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Willie Wise | 75 | 8.2 | 3.4 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 6 | 7.5 | 4.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Ted McClain | 72 | 8.2 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 6 | 7.3 | 2.3 | 4.5 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Jim Price | 55 | 7.9 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 6 | 7.2 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Paul Silas | 81 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 6 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Marvin Webster | 80 | 6.7 | 6.1 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 6 | 5.0 | 6.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 0.0 |
| Chuck Williams | 21 | 4.8 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Byron Beck | 53 | 4.7 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Fatty Taylor | 79 | 3.8 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Monte Towe | 52 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Denver Nuggets in the 1977 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Portland Trail Blazers
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 20, 1977 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 101-100 | |
| Apr 22, 1977 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 121-110 | |
| Apr 24, 1977 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 110-106 | |
| Apr 26, 1977 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 105-96 | |
| May 01, 1977 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 114-105 | |
| May 02, 1977 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 108-92 |
Denver Nuggets 1976-77 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1976-77 season for the Denver Nuggets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 22, 1976 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 123-110 | |
| Oct 23, 1976 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 120-99 | |
| Oct 28, 1976 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 119-100 | |
| Oct 30, 1976 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 113-107 | |
| Nov 03, 1976 | vs. New York Knicks | W 119-110 | |
| Nov 05, 1976 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 99-85 | |
| Nov 06, 1976 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 105-103 | |
| Nov 09, 1976 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 123-117 | |
| Nov 11, 1976 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 105-94 | |
| Nov 13, 1976 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 128-96 | |
| Nov 17, 1976 | vs. New York Nets | W 112-78 | |
| Nov 19, 1976 | @ Boston Celtics | L 112-108 | |
| Nov 20, 1976 | @ New York Knicks | L 120-115 | |
| Nov 23, 1976 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 117-96 | |
| Nov 24, 1976 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 122-112 | |
| Nov 26, 1976 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 120-110 | |
| Nov 27, 1976 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 122-113 | |
| Nov 30, 1976 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 99-93 | |
| Dec 01, 1976 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 114-102 | |
| Dec 03, 1976 | @ New York Nets | W 126-124 | |
| Dec 04, 1976 | @ Washington Bullets | L 100-95 | |
| Dec 05, 1976 | @ New Orleans Jazz | W 117-105 | |
| Dec 07, 1976 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 122-115 | |
| Dec 09, 1976 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 104-94 | |
| Dec 12, 1976 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 112-83 | |
| Dec 15, 1976 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 117-103 | |
| Dec 17, 1976 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 127-105 | |
| Dec 18, 1976 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 111-106 | |
| Dec 21, 1976 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 108-94 | |
| Dec 23, 1976 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 123-95 | |
| Dec 26, 1976 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 103-101 | |
| Dec 28, 1976 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 110-102 | |
| Dec 30, 1976 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 123-106 | |
| Jan 02, 1977 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 145-120 | |
| Jan 04, 1977 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 113-109 | |
| Jan 05, 1977 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 137-133 | |
| Jan 07, 1977 | @ Houston Rockets | W 117-107 | |
| Jan 08, 1977 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 119-99 | |
| Jan 12, 1977 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 110-99 | |
| Jan 14, 1977 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 116-96 | |
| Jan 16, 1977 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 109-101 | |
| Jan 18, 1977 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 107-101 | |
| Jan 21, 1977 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 120-106 | |
| Jan 24, 1977 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 127-102 | |
| Jan 26, 1977 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 107-102 | |
| Jan 28, 1977 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 108-96 | |
| Jan 30, 1977 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 107-101 | |
| Feb 02, 1977 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 119-105 | |
| Feb 04, 1977 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 124-111 | |
| Feb 06, 1977 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 115-104 | |
| Feb 08, 1977 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 119-111 | |
| Feb 10, 1977 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 114-101 | |
| Feb 11, 1977 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-109 | |
| Feb 16, 1977 | vs. New York Nets | W 116-102 | |
| Feb 19, 1977 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 133-124 | |
| Feb 20, 1977 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 111-95 | |
| Feb 22, 1977 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 118-106 | |
| Feb 23, 1977 | @ New York Nets | L 91-88 | |
| Feb 25, 1977 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 130-128 | |
| Feb 27, 1977 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 121-100 | |
| Mar 01, 1977 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 110-94 | |
| Mar 02, 1977 | @ Washington Bullets | L 115-113 | |
| Mar 06, 1977 | @ Boston Celtics | L 112-110 | |
| Mar 08, 1977 | @ New York Knicks | W 114-108 | |
| Mar 09, 1977 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 129-125 | |
| Mar 11, 1977 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 100-95 | |
| Mar 13, 1977 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 102-95 | |
| Mar 15, 1977 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 107-95 | |
| Mar 16, 1977 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 109-98 | |
| Mar 17, 1977 | vs. New York Knicks | L 115-107 | |
| Mar 20, 1977 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 133-104 | |
| Mar 23, 1977 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 122-120 | |
| Mar 25, 1977 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 112-108 | |
| Mar 27, 1977 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 115-109 | |
| Mar 29, 1977 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 119-105 | |
| Mar 31, 1977 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 110-95 | |
| Apr 01, 1977 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 107-97 | |
| Apr 03, 1977 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 124-109 | |
| Apr 06, 1977 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 110-95 | |
| Apr 07, 1977 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 108-94 | |
| Apr 09, 1977 | @ Houston Rockets | W 118-110 | |
| Apr 10, 1977 | @ New Orleans Jazz | L 139-125 |