Editing Denver Nuggets (section)

===2003–2011: The Carmelo Anthony era===
[[File:Carmelo Anthony Nuggets.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Denver drafted Carmelo Anthony 3rd overall in the 2003 draft.]]
In [[2003–04 NBA season|2003]], the Nuggets drafted future [[NBA All-Star Game|All-Star]] [[Carmelo Anthony]] with the third overall pick in the [[2003 NBA draft]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Denver ecstatic to get Anthony with third pick|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/2003/draft/news/2003/06/26/nuggets_anthony_ap/|work=CNN|access-date=May 1, 2010|archive-date=May 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511145626/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/2003/draft/news/2003/06/26/nuggets_anthony_ap/|url-status=dead}}</ref> That same year, the team also updated their logos and uniforms, with a new color scheme of powder blue, gold and royal blue; the latter color was changed to navy blue in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Going Retro: Denver Nuggets|url=http://www.nba.com/history/uniforms_nuggets.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=December 2, 2004|access-date=August 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605052646/http://www.nba.com/history/uniforms_nuggets.html|archive-date=June 5, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In just two months of the season, the Nuggets recorded more wins than they had in {{frac|5|1|2}} months of play in 2002–03. Much of the reason for this incredible turnaround were the front-office moves of general manager [[Kiki Vandeweghe]], a former Nuggets player who assumed general manager duties on August 9, 2001.<ref name="kikinuggetsgm">{{cite news|last=Lopez|first=Aaron|title=Denver Nuggets A to Z: Kiki Vandeweghe|url=https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/denver-nuggets-z-kiki-vandeweghe|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=August 22, 2014|access-date=June 11, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612155515/https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/denver-nuggets-z-kiki-vandeweghe|url-status=live}}</ref> In April, the turnaround was complete as they became the first franchise in NBA history to qualify for the postseason following a sub-20-win campaign the previous year since the NBA went to an 82-game schedule.<ref name="kikinuggetsgm" /> They were eliminated in the first round four games to one by the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Target Center, Minneapolis |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=240430016 |title=ESPN – Denver vs. Minnesota – Recap – April 30, 2004 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=April 30, 2004 |access-date=May 18, 2012 |archive-date=February 18, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218093822/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=240430016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On December 28, 2004, head coach [[Jeff Bzdelik]] was fired from the organization and replaced by interim coach, former [[Los Angeles Lakers]] player and [[Los Angeles Sparks]] head coach [[Michael Cooper]].<ref>{{cite news|title=BASKETBALL; Slumping Nuggets Fire Their Coach|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/29/sports/basketball-slumping-nuggets-fire-their-coach.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 29, 2004|access-date=May 1, 2010|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612222310/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/29/sports/basketball-slumping-nuggets-fire-their-coach.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Nuggets later hired [[George Karl]] as a permanent replacement.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nuggets Hire Karl to Right the Ship|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jan-28-sp-nbarep28-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=January 28, 2005|access-date=June 6, 2010|archive-date=November 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107103200/http://articles.latimes.com/2005/jan/28/sports/sp-nbarep28|url-status=live}}</ref> Karl led the team to a record of 32–8 in the second half of the regular season, which vaulted the team into the playoffs for the second consecutive year.<ref>{{cite web|title=George Karl|url=http://www.nba.com/coachfile/george_karl/|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|access-date=June 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201035606/http://www.nba.com/coachfile/george_karl/|archive-date=December 1, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the [[2005 NBA playoffs|playoffs]], however, the Nuggets could not survive the [[San Antonio Spurs]]. After winning game one in [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]], the Nuggets proceeded to lose the next four games and lost the series 4–1.<ref>Deseret News Publishing Co. (May 5, 2005). "[https://web.archive.org/web/20081227161054/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20050505/ai_n14614497 Spurs oust Denver in 5 games]."</ref> The Nuggets picked 20th in the [[2005 NBA draft]]; it was acquired from the [[Washington Wizards]] via the [[Orlando Magic]].<ref name="2005NBADraft">{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/draft_central_2005.html |title=NUGGETS: 2005 Draft Central |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=NBA.com |date=April 20, 2012 |access-date=May 18, 2012 |archive-date=June 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625115728/http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/draft_central_2005.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Denver selected [[Julius Hodge]] with the pick. The Nuggets also had the 22nd overall selection in the draft, in which they selected [[Jarrett Jack]], but sent him to the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] for rights to Portland's 27th overall pick, [[Linas Kleiza]].<ref name="2005NBADraft" />

In [[2005–06 NBA season|2005–06]], for the first time in 18 years, the club won the Northwest division title.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nuggets 110, Trail Blazers 98 – NBA – Yahoo! Sports|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2006041022&prov=ap|work=Yahoo! Sports|date=April 11, 2006|access-date=May 18, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026021445/http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2006041022&prov=ap|archive-date=October 26, 2012}}</ref> This placed the team in the third seed of the Western Conference [[2006 NBA playoffs|playoffs]]. Denver played the [[Los Angeles Clippers]] who, despite their sixth seeding, had a better regular season record. As a result, the Clippers received home-court advantage. They defeated the Nuggets in 5 games. Shortly after, the Nuggets announced that general manager Kiki Vandeweghe's contract would not be renewed. He was replaced by [[Mark Warkentien]].<ref>{{cite web |author=STAPLES Center, Los Angeles |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=260501012 |title=ESPN – Denver VS. Los Angeles – Recap – May 01, 2006 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=May 1, 2006 |access-date=May 18, 2012 |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107034853/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=260501012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On December 18, 2006, team co-captain [[Carmelo Anthony]], shooting guard [[J. R. Smith]] and power forward [[Nenê]] were suspended by the NBA (15, 10 and one games respectively) for a [[Knicks–Nuggets brawl|fight]] that occurred in the last two minutes of a game against the [[New York Knicks]] two days earlier.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=261216018 |title=ESPN – Denver vs. New York – Recap – December 16, 2006 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=December 16, 2006 |access-date=May 18, 2012 |archive-date=February 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202001733/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=261216018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2701228 |title=ESPN – Suspensions total 47 games from Knicks-Nuggets fight – NBA |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=December 20, 2006 |access-date=May 18, 2012 |archive-date=August 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804105517/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2701228 |url-status=live }}</ref> The fight was sparked by Knicks rookie [[Mardy Collins]], when he tackled J. R. Smith on a breakaway layup. According to Anthony, Knicks coach [[Isiah Thomas]] warned him to not go in the paint shortly before the hard foul.<ref>{{cite web |author=Marc Stein |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=2700058 |title=ESPN – Answering the hard questions after Garden brawl – NBA |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=December 17, 2006 |access-date=May 18, 2012 |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107034901/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=2700058 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2006–2008: The Anthony and Iverson duo====
[[File:Iverson from behind.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|Allen Iverson helped Denver to their first 50-win season since 1988.]]
On December 19, 2006, the Nuggets traded [[Joe Smith (basketball)|Joe Smith]], [[Andre Miller]] and two first-round draft picks of the [[2007 NBA draft]] to the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] for [[Ivan McFarlin]] and superstar [[Allen Iverson]] (McFarlin was waived immediately following the trade's approval). The moves gave the Nuggets the top two scorers in the league at the time in Anthony and Iverson, who were both scoring over 30 points per game at the time of the trade. On January 11, 2007, [[Earl Boykins]], [[Julius Hodge]] and cash considerations were traded to the [[Milwaukee Bucks]], in exchange for point guard [[Steve Blake]]. With Iverson, many considered the Nuggets as one of the elite in the West. However, chemistry was an issue, as the Nuggets finished the season with the sixth seed, giving them a first-round matchup against the [[San Antonio Spurs]]. In the [[2007 NBA playoffs|playoffs]], the Nuggets took Game 1 and home-court advantage away from the Spurs. However, as had occurred in the 2005 playoffs, the Spurs bounced back to sweep the next four, as the Nuggets were eliminated in the first round in five games for the fourth straight year.

On March 16, [[2007–08 NBA season|2008]], the Nuggets scored 168 points in a 168–116 home win over [[Seattle SuperSonics]].<ref name="nuggets168points">{{cite web |author=Pepsi Center, Denver |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280316007 |title=ESPN – Seattle vs. Denver – Recap – March 16, 2008 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=March 16, 2008 |access-date=May 18, 2012 |archive-date=May 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523010935/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280316007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was the third-most points scored for a regulation game in NBA history (The Nuggets and the Pistons hold the spot for most combined points scored in a game which was over 360 points total.)<ref name="nuggets168points" />

They finished the [[2007–08 NBA season]] with exactly 50 wins as well as finishing the first half of that season 25–16 (50–32 overall record, tied for the third-best all-time Nuggets record since the team officially joined the NBA in 1976), following a 120–111 home victory over the [[Memphis Grizzlies]] in the last game of the season.<ref name="nuggets50wins0708">{{cite web |author=Pepsi Center, Denver |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280416007 |title=ESPN – Memphis vs. Denver – Recap – April 16, 2008 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=April 16, 2008 |access-date=May 18, 2012 |archive-date=May 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512062658/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280416007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was the first time since the [[1987–88 NBA season]] that the Nuggets finished with at least 50 wins in a season.<ref name="nuggets50wins0708" /> Denver ended up as the eighth seed in the Western Conference of the [[2008 NBA playoffs]], and their 50 wins marked the highest win total for an eighth seed in NBA history.<ref name="nuggets50wins0708" /> It also meant that for the first time in NBA history, all eight playoff seeds in a Conference had at least 50 wins. The Nuggets faced the top-seeded [[Los Angeles Lakers]] (57–25) in the first round. The seven games separating the Nuggets and the Lakers overall records is the closest margin between an eighth seed and a top seed since the NBA went to a 16-team playoff format in [[1983–84 NBA season|1983–84]].<ref name="nuggets50wins0708" /> However, the Lakers swept them in four games, marking the second time in NBA history that a 50-win team was swept in a [[Best-of-seven playoff|best-of-seven playoff series]] in the first round. It was Denver's fifth straight first-round loss.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nuggets Put Up a Fight, but Lakers Get Sweep|url=http://www.nba.com/playoffs2008/series/series_w1s1.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=NBA.com|date=April 29, 2008|access-date=June 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624070435/http://www.nba.com/playoffs2008/series/series_w1s1.html|archive-date=June 24, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=NBA – 2004 Playoffs Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs – Yahoo! Sports|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/playoffs/memsas?season=2003|work=Yahoo! Sports|date=April 20, 2011|access-date=May 18, 2012|archive-date=October 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024155743/http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/playoffs/memsas?season=2003|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2008–2011: The Anthony and Billups duo====
On July 16, 2008, at the end of the [[2007–08 NBA season]], the Nuggets traded former [[NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award|NBA Defensive Player of the Year]] [[Marcus Camby]] to the [[Los Angeles Clippers]] for a second-round draft pick (that was then traded to the [[New York Knicks]] for [[Renaldo Balkman]]).

On November 3, 2008, guard [[Allen Iverson]] was traded to the [[Detroit Pistons]] for [[Chauncey Billups]], [[Antonio McDyess]], and [[Cheikh Samb]] (part of the trade exception from the Marcus Camby trade was used to allow the deal to go through). McDyess was waived though on November 10, 2008, and he returned to Detroit shortly afterwards.

[[File:Chauncey Billups with the ball.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Chauncey Billups, acquired in 2008, helped the George Karl/Carmelo Anthony duo to their first playoff series win.]]
With [[Carmelo Anthony]] averaging 22.8 points per game and Billups averaging 6.4 assists in the [[2008–09 NBA season]] the [[2008–09 Denver Nuggets season|Nuggets]] accomplished a great number of franchise milestones. Their 54–28 record matched the most wins the franchise had gotten since their induction in the NBA; their 27–14 start was also a record for wins in the first half of a season. This also marked the first time in the franchise's history the team had back-to-back 50-win seasons. They led the Northwest division for much of the season, eventually winning the division and placing #2 in the Western Conference, matching the highest the team has ever been seeded for the playoffs. General manager [[Mark Warkentien]] won the [[NBA Executive of the Year Award]] for the Nuggets' improvement. They won Game 1 of the playoffs against the [[2008–09 New Orleans Hornets season|New Orleans Hornets]], the first time they had home-court advantage since [[1987–88 NBA season|1988]] and also, the 29-point victory was the largest victory for any team for Game 1 of the first round of the [[2009 NBA playoffs]]. Chauncey Billups set a Nuggets franchise record with the most three-pointers in a playoff game with 8, and his 19 three-pointers in total is also a Nuggets record for threes made in a playoff series.<ref>{{cite news|title=Denver Nuggets on Yahoo! Sports – News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/den|work=Yahoo! Sports|date=November 10, 2009|access-date=April 27, 2010|archive-date=April 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100427062755/http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/den|url-status=live}}</ref> They went on to beat the Hornets in 5, including a 58-point victory in Game 4 which matched the most lopsided win in [[List of NBA post-season records|NBA playoff history]]. They then went on to beat the sixth seed [[Dallas Mavericks]] four games to one in the Conference Semifinals to make their first trip to the [[1985 NBA playoffs|Western Conference Finals since 1985]]. That was also the first time the Nuggets had ever led 3–0 in a best-of-seven series. Up to that point, they held an NBA Playoffs-high in three-pointers made and a 16-point average margin of victory, the largest average margin of victory in the first 10 playoff games in NBA Playoff history. They lost the first game of the Western Conference Finals against the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] but won the second game to tie the series. Anthony became the first Denver player to score at least 30 points in five consecutive playoff games since the Nuggets joined the NBA in 1976. They lost the series 4–2, ending Denver's longest playoff run in team history.<ref>{{cite news |author=BETH HARRIS, AP Sports Writer, May 22, 2:04 am EDT |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap;_ylt=AlNN2XjoZYQHYEqbjaNlBrN70bYF?gid=2009052113&prov=ap |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715232954/http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap;_ylt=AlNN2XjoZYQHYEqbjaNlBrN70bYF?gid=2009052113&prov=ap |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 15, 2012 |title=Nuggets beat Lakers 106–103 in Game 2 – NBA – Yahoo! Sports |work=Yahoo! Sports |access-date=April 27, 2010 }}</ref>

In the [[2009 NBA draft]], the Nuggets traded a first-round draft pick acquired from the [[Charlotte Bobcats]] to the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] for the rights to rookie [[Ty Lawson]], who was drafted 18th overall. On July 13, 2009, the Nuggets traded a second-round draft pick to the Detroit Pistons for [[Arron Afflalo]] (part of the trade exception from the Iverson trade was used to allow the deal to go through) and [[Walter Sharpe]]. Afflalo replaced starting guard [[Dahntay Jones]], who signed with the [[Indiana Pacers]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Chris Dempsey The Denver Post |url=http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_12830172 |title=Nuggets' deal for Afflalo fills Jones' role |newspaper=The Denver Post |date=July 14, 2009 |access-date=April 27, 2010 |archive-date=July 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717031436/http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_12830172 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, on August 10, the Nuggets lost forward [[Linas Kleiza]], who signed with [[Olympiacos B.C.|Olympiacos Piraeus]] of the [[A1 Ethniki|Greek League]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=4389053 |title=NBA free agents: Denver Nuggets forward Linas Kleiza takes Olympiakos' offer – ESPN |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=August 11, 2009 |access-date=April 27, 2010 |archive-date=August 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814002823/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4389053 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[2009–10 NBA season|2009–10 season]] saw Anthony average 28.2 points per game and Billups average a career-high 19.6 points per game. In the opening two games of the season, Anthony totaled 71 points, scoring 30 points in the home opener and 41 the next night, in wins against division rivals [[Utah Jazz]] and [[Portland Trail Blazers]], respectively. Anthony became one of two players in the Nuggets' history to open with more than 70 points through two games (Alex English also accomplished the feat). It was also only the second time since 1987 that the Nuggets started the season 2–0.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hochman |first=Benjamin |url=http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_13681618 |title=Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony, armed with a new mindset, is off to sizzling start for 2–0 Denver |newspaper=The Denver Post |date=October 31, 2009 |access-date=April 27, 2010 |archive-date=November 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091103102738/http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_13681618 |url-status=live }}</ref> They later went 3–0, 4–0, and 5–0 for the first time since 1985 after defeating the [[Memphis Grizzlies]], [[Indiana Pacers]], and [[New Jersey Nets]] respectively. Despite injuries that caused all three captains – Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, and [[Kenyon Martin]] – to miss a total of 46 games, and then later on in the second half of the season the absence of head coach [[George Karl]], who underwent treatment for neck and [[throat cancer]], the Nuggets were still able to win 53 games (third consecutive 50-win season, a Nuggets first) for the season which gave them a second consecutive Northwest division title and finished as the fourth seed in the West Conference. However, they were eliminated by the [[Utah Jazz]] 4–2, their sixth first-round elimination in 7 seasons. Anthony averaged a career-high 30.7 points per game in the playoffs.

On July 14, 2010, the Nuggets bolstered their frontcourt depth by signing [[Al Harrington]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Chris Tomasson %BloggerTitle% |url=http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/07/14/harrington-heading-to-denver-for-five-tear-deal/ |title=Al Harrington Heading to Denver for Five-Year Deal |publisher=Nba.fanhouse.com |date=July 14, 2010 |access-date=May 18, 2012 |archive-date=November 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125004243/http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/07/14/harrington-heading-to-denver-for-five-tear-deal |url-status=live }}</ref> During the 2010 off-season, [[Masai Ujiri]] replaced [[Mark Warkentien]] as the general manager, while Josh Kroenke was named team president.