Team:
Denver Nuggets
Sport: NBA Basketball
Background: The Denver Nuggets
are a National Basketball Association team
based in Denver, Colorado.
Founded: 1967, a member of
the American Basketball Association
Formerly known as: Denver
Rockets 1967-1974
Home Arena: Pepsi Center
Uniform colors: Columbine
Blue and Gold (originally Midnight Blue, Red,
and Gold)
Logo design: The words "Denver
NUGGETS" superimposed over a snowy mountain
peak
Franchise History
One of 4 ABA teams that joined the
NBA through a league merger in 1976, the Denver
Nuggets were one of the basketball's most
exciting franchises up until the end of the
1980's, but have had a resurgence in 2003.
They were known as the Rockets for their first
7 years of existence, and were very strong
in their early years. However, they tended
to struggle in the postseason and failed to
make a championship game during this span.
They had a solid core of players led by Byron
Beck and Larry Jones, then later by Beck and
Ralph Simpson. During the 1969-1970 season,
the team also had a controversial rookie named
Spencer Haywood. Haywood was one of the first
players to turn pro before graduating college,
and the NBA initially refused to let him play
in the league. Haywood averaged 30 points
in his only ABA season, and then was allowed
to sign with the Seattle SuperSonics to start
a productive NBA career.
