Retired Jersey Numbers of the Denver Nuggets

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English is often hailed as one of the greatest players of all time, with many considering him to be the greatest Nugget in the history of the team. The emergence of Nikola Jokic has sparked some debate in this regard, but English's contributions to the Denver Nuggets cannot be overlooked. Despite being selected in the second round of the 1976 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, English found his home in Denver, where he played 11 of his final 12 seasons. It was during this time that he rose to superstar status, averaging an impressive 25.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists throughout his tenure with the Nuggets. His impact on the franchise is undeniable, as he ranks among the team leaders in almost every statistical category and made eight consecutive All-Star appearances. In 1997, English was rightfully inducted into the Hall of Fame, solidifying his legacy as one of the all-time greats. He currently holds the record for most games played and points scored in Nuggets history, further cementing his place in the pantheon of Denver basketball legends.

(2) Alex English

(12) Fat Lever

Lever was alongside English when the Nuggets were running rampant in the 80s. Fat was the primary distributor for guys like English, playing point guard during that span. He was taken as the 11th overall pick in the 1982 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers but joined Denver in 1984. He made two All-Star appearances in the 1988 and 1990 seasons. His best statistical season came in 1988 where he averaged 18.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists. His final season with Denver was in 1989, but a knee injury forced him to retire in 1994.

(33) David Thompson

Skywalker was the top pick in both the ABA and NBA Draft in 1975. He spent his first season in the ABA with the Nuggets and the next six in the NBA after the merger. Thompson won Rookie of the Year and finished second in MVP voting. That was their final season in the ABA, with Thompson also making an All-Star appearance in his first three seasons in the NBA. He closed his career with two seasons in Seattle making another All-Star appearance in 1982 but retired at 29 due to off-court issues. He was inducted into the Hall-of-Fame in 1996 and won two All-Star MVPs as well.

(40) Byron Beck

Beck spent his full 10-year career in Denver, with nine of those happening in the ABA. His final season was when the Rockets transferred to the NBA and became the Nuggets, but he did most of his damage during his ABA days. Beck was taken 15th overall in the 1967 ABA Draft, and he made an All-Star appearance in his sophomore season. Beck was a presence in the paint for Denver, averaging 12.9 points and 9.0 rebounds in his first six seasons. He has the third-most rebounds in franchise history and retired in 1977.

(44) Dan Issel

Issel was one of the stars alongside Lever and English. He started his career in the ABA when the Kentucky Colonels drafted him, but he joined Denver the season before they shifted to the NBA. He made an All-Star appearance in his first two seasons with the Nuggets, playing his final 10 seasons in Denver. He was one of the best scorers in the league during that stretch, averaging 20.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals per game. He ranks second in franchise history in points scored, rebounds and games played. Issel was inducted into the Hall-of-Fame in 1993.

(55) Dikembe Mutombo

Mutombo was famous for his patented finger wag because he was one of the greatest shot-blockers in NBA history. That all started in Denver, with Dikembe taken fourth overall in the 1991 NBA Draft. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting in his debut season and made three All-Star appearances in his five seasons with the Nuggets. He also won Denver Player of the Year in 1994, leading the league in blocks three times with Denver. Throughout his Nuggets career, Mutombo averaged 12.9 points, 12.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 3.8 blocks per game. He was inducted into the Hall-of-Fame in 2015.