The 2009–10 Denver Nuggets season was the 43rd season of the franchise, its 34th in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After their trip the conference finals last season, the Nuggets started the season 35–18 before the All-Star break. Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups were selected to the 2010 NBA All-Star Game with George Karl coaching the Western Conference. Karl was diagnosed with neck and throat cancer, ending his season. Adrian Dantley took over and the team struggled in the second half of the season, finishing with a 53–29 record and earned the number 4 seed in the West. Denver's season ended in the first round with a defeat to the Utah Jazz in six games. The Nuggets had the third best team offensive rating in the NBA.

Key dates

Free Agency

On July 8, the Nuggets re-signed fan favorite Chris "Birdman" Andersen to a 5-year, $21.17 million contract, worth up to $26 million with incentives. However, on July 13, the Nuggets lost starting shooting guard Dahntay Jones, who signed a 4-year, $10.6 million contract with the Indiana Pacers. The Nuggets also lost reserve forward Linas Kleiza to Greek team Olympiacos Piraeus on August 10, when he signed a 2-year, $12.2 million contract. On August 16, backup point guard Anthony Carter was re-signed to a 1-year minimum-salary contract worth $1,306,455. On August 27, the team re-signed reserve center Johan Petro to a 1-year minimum-salary contract worth $884,881. On September 25, the Nuggets signed forward Joey Graham to a 1-year, non-guaranteed, minimum salary contract worth $884,881. On September 28, reserve point guard Jason Hart signed a 1-year non-guaranteed minimum-salary contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. On September 26, the team also signed forward Keith Brumbaugh, point guard Dontaye Draper, and center Kurt Looby to non-guaranteed contracts for training camp. Brumbaugh was waived on October 10. Draper and Looby were waived on October 21.

Trades

The Nuggets made two draft-day trades as well as several others later in the offseason. On draft day, the Nuggets acquired the draft rights to point guard Ty Lawson, the 18th overall pick, from Minnesota in exchange for Charlotte's 2010 1st round pick, which they had previously acquired. The Nuggets also traded the draft rights to point guard Sergio Llull, a second round pick (34th overall), to the Houston Rockets in exchange for $2.25 million cash. On July 13, the Nuggets acquired shooting guard Arron Afflalo, forward Walter Sharpe, and $350,000 cash from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for a 2011 2nd round pick. The pick will be the lower of the Nuggets' and Blazers' selections, which the Nuggets previously acquired. On July 31, the Nuggets acquired power forward Malik Allen from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for swingman Sonny Weems, Sharpe, and cash considerations. On August 10, the Nuggets traded F/C Steven Hunter, their 2010 1st round pick, and $3 million cash to the Memphis Grizzlies for a 2014 conditional 2nd round pick. On September 22, the Nuggets acquired swingman James White from Houston in exchange for the draft rights to forward Axel Hervelle, a 2005 2nd round pick (52nd overall). White was waived on October 21.

Draft

x Traded to Houston.

Roster

Pre-season

Regular season

Standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

19,155 20,218 15,823 10,627 15,319 19,600 17,801 21,409 12,987 19,141 16,446 18,155 19,359 16,307 13,101 19,155 15,147 14,570 14,998 17,592 20,664 14,127 17,176 19,155 16,022 15,753 14,453 13,385 19,155 20,664 19,756 14,548 19,911 19,155 15,129 19,996 14,411 14,669 18,475 19,519 17,223 15,343 19,807 16,909 16,357 18,203 17,607 15,544 19,155 18,997 19,911 17,485 18,611 20,562 17,212 19,818 18,555 19,845 18,997 18,159 18,822 19,155 17,266 14,256 17,220 17,023 16,369 17,447 19,155 19,390 19,763 18,624 19,800 17,461 20,085 19,155 19,155 18,332 20,044 19,155 19,155 18,422

Playoffs

Game log

19,155 19,155 19,911 19,911 19,155 19,911

Player statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Awards, records and milestones

Awards

Week/Month

All-Star

Season

Transactions