Editing Denver Nuggets (section)

===1991–1996: The Dikembe Mutombo era===
[[File:Dikembe Mutombo at the Aspire4Sport Congress in Doha. crop.jpg|thumb|[[Dikembe Mutombo]], nicknamed "Mount Mutombo" for his exceptional rim protecting and shot blocking ability, was drafted by the Nuggets in 1991 and won [[NBA Defensive Player of the Year|Defensive Player of the Year]] with the Nuggets in 1995.]]
Denver took a positive step in rebuilding by drafting [[Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball|Georgetown University]] center [[Dikembe Mutombo]] in 1991. Mutombo finished runner-up to [[Larry Johnson (basketball, born 1969)|Larry Johnson]] for the NBA rookie of the year that season. Denver finished 24–58 that year.

Denver fired Westhead prior to the 1992–93 season and hired former star player [[Dan Issel]] as his successor. The Nuggets had two lottery picks that year and drafted [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball|University of Notre Dame]] [[forward (basketball)|forward]] [[LaPhonso Ellis]] and [[Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball|University of Virginia]] [[guard (basketball)|guard]] [[Bryant Stith]]. Denver improved to 36–46, just missing the playoffs that year.

Denver ditched their rainbow colors for a dark navy, metallic gold and wine color scheme starting in the 1993–94 season. Led by Mutombo, [[Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf]] (who changed his name from Chris Jackson prior to the season), and Ellis, Denver finished with its first winning season since the Doug Moe era at 42–40. Denver clinched the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs, playing the first place [[Seattle SuperSonics]]. Denver was a heavy underdog, having only a couple of players on their roster with actual NBA playoff experience. After dropping the first two games of the five-game set in [[Seattle]], the series returned to Denver. Denver won both games and tied the series at 2. The Nuggets made NBA history in Game 5, upsetting Seattle in overtime 98–94. They became the first 8th-seeded team to defeat a 1st-seeded team in NBA playoff history. Denver almost repeated the feat before falling to the [[Utah Jazz]] in Game 7 of the second round.

Denver acquired Sonics sharp-shooter [[Dale Ellis]] in the off-season and drafted [[Michigan Wolverines men's basketball|University of Michigan]] guard [[Jalen Rose]]. Denver struggled, causing Issel to resign as coach partway into the season. Assistant Coach [[Gene Littles]] assumed control for a brief period before relinquishing control to general manager [[Bernie Bickerstaff]]. Denver rebounded and earned the eighth seed again in the playoffs, finishing 41–41. The Nuggets were swept by the [[San Antonio Spurs]] in the first round of the playoffs that season.

Following that season, Denver acquired [[Antonio McDyess]] in a draft-day trade with the [[Los Angeles Clippers]]. McDyess was the face of the franchise for the next few years, as Mutombo left after the 1995–96 season for the [[Atlanta Hawks]], Ellis missed the majority of the next few seasons due to recurring knee and leg injuries, Rose was traded to the [[Indiana Pacers]] for [[Mark Jackson (basketball)|Mark Jackson]], and Abdul-Rauf was traded to the [[Sacramento Kings]] prior to the 1996–97 season.