The 1982-83 Denver Nuggets had a standout season in the NBA, finishing with a 45-37 record. Under head coach Doug Moe, the team was known for its high-scoring offense, leading the league in points per game with an average of 123.2. The Nuggets’ offensive prowess was spearheaded by Alex English, who was the team’s top scorer, averaging 28.4 points per game and earning a spot on the All-NBA Second Team.
Denver’s high-octane style also featured standout performances from Kiki Vandeweghe, who contributed significantly with 26.7 points per game. Despite their offensive success, the Nuggets struggled defensively, allowing the most points per game in the league. In the playoffs, they were eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Suns in a five-game series. Despite the early exit, the season was notable for the Nuggets’ entertaining and relentless offensive approach.
- Regular Season Record: 45-37
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 2-1, Western Conference Semifinals: 1-4
Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats for 1982-83 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Alex English | 82 | 28.4 | 7.3 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 18.2 | 7 | 25.9 | 6.3 | 6.0 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Kiki Vandeweghe | 82 | 26.7 | 5.3 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 30.6 | 8 | 26.8 | 6.5 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Dan Issel | 80 | 21.6 | 7.5 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 22.2 | 8 | 20.4 | 7.3 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Billy McKinney | 68 | 9.8 | 1.8 | 4.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 8 | 7.8 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Danny Schayes | 32 | 9.2 | 5.8 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 8 | 7.1 | 5.0 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| T.R. Dunn | 82 | 7.6 | 7.5 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 8 | 5.1 | 9.8 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Rob Williams | 74 | 7.0 | 1.9 | 4.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 13.3 | 7 | 8.1 | 1.9 | 5.3 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 66.7 |
| Mike Evans | 42 | 6.3 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 8 | 10.8 | 2.4 | 4.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 30.0 |
| Bill Hanzlik | 82 | 6.1 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 14.3 | 8 | 6.8 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Dave Robisch | 61 | 4.7 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Glen Gondrezick | 76 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Rich Kelley | 38 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dwight Anderson | 5 | 4.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| James Ray | 45 | 3.8 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
Denver Nuggets in the 1983 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Phoenix Suns
In the 1983 NBA Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets faced the Phoenix Suns in the first round. Despite their high-scoring offense, the Nuggets were swept in the best-of-three series, losing both games. Their inability to contain the Suns' balanced attack highlighted Denver's defensive vulnerabilities, ultimately leading to their early exit.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 1983 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 121-108 | |
| Apr 21, 1983 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 113-99 | |
| Apr 24, 1983 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 117-112 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. San Antonio Spurs
In the 1983 NBA Playoffs, the Denver Nuggets faced the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals. Despite a strong effort, the Nuggets were unable to overcome the Spurs' dynamic play, losing the series 4-1. Alex English led the Nuggets with his scoring prowess, but San Antonio's balanced attack proved too much for Denver to handle.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 1983 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 152-133 | |
| Apr 27, 1983 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 126-109 | |
| Apr 29, 1983 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 127-126 | |
| May 02, 1983 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 124-114 | |
| May 04, 1983 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 145-105 |
Denver Nuggets 1982-83 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1982-83 season for the Denver Nuggets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 1982 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 125-117 | |
| Oct 31, 1982 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 114-110 | |
| Nov 03, 1982 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 135-134 | |
| Nov 04, 1982 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 131-108 | |
| Nov 06, 1982 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 127-118 | |
| Nov 09, 1982 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 106-105 | |
| Nov 10, 1982 | @ Utah Jazz | L 125-119 | |
| Nov 12, 1982 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 128-111 | |
| Nov 13, 1982 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 140-130 | |
| Nov 16, 1982 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 136-130 | |
| Nov 18, 1982 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 118-107 | |
| Nov 21, 1982 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 143-129 | |
| Nov 23, 1982 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 136-126 | |
| Nov 24, 1982 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 129-123 | |
| Nov 26, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 127-106 | |
| Nov 27, 1982 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 141-125 | |
| Nov 30, 1982 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 140-129 | |
| Dec 03, 1982 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 132-124 | |
| Dec 08, 1982 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 130-126 | |
| Dec 09, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | L 98-90 | |
| Dec 10, 1982 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 117-107 | |
| Dec 12, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | L 126-112 | |
| Dec 15, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 113-98 | |
| Dec 16, 1982 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 120-108 | |
| Dec 18, 1982 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 123-114 | |
| Dec 22, 1982 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 146-102 | |
| Dec 23, 1982 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 135-127 | |
| Dec 27, 1982 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 130-128 | |
| Dec 28, 1982 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 155-150 | |
| Dec 30, 1982 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 145-132 | |
| Jan 01, 1983 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 127-125 | |
| Jan 02, 1983 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 122-104 | |
| Jan 04, 1983 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 137-121 | |
| Jan 05, 1983 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 138-118 | |
| Jan 07, 1983 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 125-97 | |
| Jan 08, 1983 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 122-120 | |
| Jan 11, 1983 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 131-119 | |
| Jan 12, 1983 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 126-118 | |
| Jan 14, 1983 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 149-139 | |
| Jan 15, 1983 | @ Houston Rockets | W 131-111 | |
| Jan 18, 1983 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 143-124 | |
| Jan 19, 1983 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 130-93 | |
| Jan 21, 1983 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 136-121 | |
| Jan 22, 1983 | vs. New York Knicks | L 102-98 | |
| Jan 25, 1983 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 119-112 | |
| Jan 28, 1983 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 118-109 | |
| Feb 01, 1983 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 133-124 | |
| Feb 02, 1983 | @ Houston Rockets | L 135-128 | |
| Feb 03, 1983 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 126-112 | |
| Feb 05, 1983 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 143-136 | |
| Feb 08, 1983 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 125-98 | |
| Feb 09, 1983 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 134-125 | |
| Feb 16, 1983 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 116-95 | |
| Feb 17, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 117-108 | |
| Feb 19, 1983 | @ New York Knicks | L 124-115 | |
| Feb 22, 1983 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 144-133 | |
| Feb 24, 1983 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 138-129 | |
| Feb 26, 1983 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 125-111 | |
| Feb 27, 1983 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 135-120 | |
| Mar 01, 1983 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 132-121 | |
| Mar 02, 1983 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 128-108 | |
| Mar 04, 1983 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 142-138 | |
| Mar 05, 1983 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 126-120 | |
| Mar 08, 1983 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 129-118 | |
| Mar 09, 1983 | @ Utah Jazz | W 122-109 | |
| Mar 13, 1983 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 130-117 | |
| Mar 15, 1983 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 139-115 | |
| Mar 18, 1983 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 147-117 | |
| Mar 20, 1983 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 118-106 | |
| Mar 22, 1983 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 130-117 | |
| Mar 25, 1983 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 131-120 | |
| Mar 26, 1983 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 124-110 | |
| Mar 29, 1983 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 136-129 | |
| Mar 31, 1983 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 122-116 | |
| Apr 02, 1983 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 107-99 | |
| Apr 06, 1983 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 130-113 | |
| Apr 08, 1983 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 132-115 | |
| Apr 09, 1983 | @ Houston Rockets | W 123-105 | |
| Apr 12, 1983 | @ Utah Jazz | L 125-116 | |
| Apr 13, 1983 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 131-112 | |
| Apr 15, 1983 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 137-126 | |
| Apr 17, 1983 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 125-116 |