Josh Kroenke

Matt Brooks

On Friday, Vice Chairman of KSE Josh Kroenke, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Ben Tenzer, Executive Vice President of Player Personnel&nbsp;Jonathan Wallace, and Head Coach David Adelman addressed the media for the first time since the Denver Nuggets' first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Their message? The team and its decision-makers are going to take a hard look at things and reflect on what transpired in 2025-26.

"We're going to have some challenging conversations about how we can all get better. But I think the cool thing about our group is we all look each other in the eye, and we do challenge each other because we do want to be great," said Kroenke. "We do want to go win another one for all of our fans here in Denver and worldwide."

Here are some other takeaways from the availability.

Everything is on the table... outside of trading Nikola Jokić

In one of his very first answers during the media session, Vice Chairman of KSE, Josh Kroenke, made it very clear that Denver was evaluating all of its options this offseason.

"I think everything is on the table right now, including running it back," Kroenke said. "From my perspective, when I sit here and think about where we were 12 months ago, I think we've made really strong strides in certain areas. I think there are other areas where we've been complacent."

The Nuggets were ravaged by injuries during the regular season; four of their five starters suffered long-term injuries. The injury bug continued to bite Denver in the playoffs. Peyton Watson missed the entirety of the first round with a hamstring strain, and Aaron Gordon missed three of six playoff games with a calf injury.

"I do believe that basketball is a rhythm game, and as a team, we never had a chance to fully establish a rhythm," Kroenke said. "That truly showed up when the games mattered in April."

In a league with a constraining Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the margins have never mattered more. Unearthing talent in places other organizations do not is how you get a leg up on the competition.

"Whenever you have some of the players that we have on this roster, I think that you're definitely in a championship window," explained Kroenke. "It's about the margins, nailing those margins, staying healthy, and keeping that mindset.”

The culture of the Nuggets remains strong

Building off that, all four of Denver's decision-makers vocalized a belief in the team's culture. More specifically, a belief in the team's championship culture.

"I can compare and contrast with other organizations that have that genuine championship culture. And I think the Denver Nuggets absolutely still have that," Kroenke said on Friday. "Winning is a lifestyle, and I think that group has it."

Coach Adelman praised his staff for weathering the storm during the sea of injuries. The Nuggets famously went 10-6 while three-time MVP Nikola Jokić was sidelined with a knee hyperextension, and Adelman felt the group's positivity was a big reason for that.

"I was extremely proud of the staff. I thought throughout the season, the ups and downs of keeping guys going," Adelman said, "the staff, and I'm talking player development, video [coordinators], they just kept a really good vibe throughout the year. I really think it helped us get through some tough times."

Denver is looking to evolve with the new NBA

The league is an ever-changing beast. Trends come and go, and the NBA evolves. Twenty years ago, three-pointers were a bit of an afterthought. Now, they're baked into every team's offense.

One trend that has stuck out during the 2026 postseason is defense. Of the eight teams that advanced to the second round, five of them were top-eight defenses. That's a pretty crazy correlation to think about.

Denver's decision-makers made note of that. The Nuggets will look to evolve with the league while also maintaining their identity. Ball-handling and athleticism are two preliminary needs the team may target as it goes into an important offseason.

"San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Minnesota, these teams that pressure you have great athletes. It's team reliant. That's the new NBA," Adelman said. "You're watching all these series, and there are so many people bringing the ball up the floor. That's just the new league. These teams have athletes; they pick you up, and it's hard to find a good matchup. And so for us, player development, me as a coach, having that expectation for our guys to get better this summer, it's paramount for us to compete against that ball pressure and defensive theme that's going on in our league right now."

The front office was in full agreement with Adelman about the need for ball-handling.

"We've got to do it by committee, and that's multifaceted. Meaning, other players have to step up," Wallace said. "I think we always pride ourselves on the IQ of this team and this organization, and so that's going to be something that when we talk about accountability with these guys this summer, it's, hey, take a look back, look at the film, look at where you can be better in certain areas, but you're going to have to help us initiate offense easier.

"For us to adapt to the league, the league has adapted to us," Wallace continued. "They're going to pressure us, and that's just a constant at this point. I think, collectively, we'll figure it out, whether that's adding pieces, we'll be open and honest to hearing what's out there and seeing where we can make some marginal changes. But for the most part, we have the group that can do it."

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Takeaways from the Nuggets' end-of-season media availbility

On Tuesday, Josh Kroenke, Vice Chairman of KSE, introduced two new members of the Nuggets' revamped front office: Ben Tenzer, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, and Jonathan Wallace, Executive Vice President of Player Personnel.

"I'm really excited to pair these two guys together because I think they have really complementary skill sets that are going to serve this organization incredibly well moving forward," Kroenke told the sea of reporters at Ball Arena.

Tenzer has been with the organization for 20 years, working his way up from an intern position he took in 2005. Along the way, he served as a Legal Analyst, Director of Basketball Operations, and two seasons as General Manager of Denver's G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold. Now, he's one of the key decision-makers for a championship-winning organization.

"When I got this internship in 2005, I felt like I hit the jackpot. So, you can imagine how I feel now," Tenzer said through a laugh.

Wallace, meanwhile, got his start with the Nuggets in 2019 as a Basketball Operations Associate. He's spent the last three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves as their Director of Player Personnel as well as the General Manager of their G-League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves.

The return to Denver is a bit of a homecoming for Wallace.

"Familiarity is always key in this situation. Being able to work with good people has always been at the top of my list. Knowing Ben prior, knowing individuals that make up our front office, coaching staff, it just seemed like a no-brainer," he said. "Having worked with Jamal, Nikola, AG, and Mike, that's always an added bonus, as well."

Kroenke detailed Denver's search in finding a new front office, which was both diligent and thorough. He spoke to a variety of people to gain the best possible perspective for this new era of Nuggets basketball.

"I talked to a lot of different people from a lot of different areas and gained a lot of different perspectives, both in the basketball world and outside the basketball world, and really nailed down what the Denver Nuggets need, and that's the margins on the outside of our roster," he said on Tuesday.

Collaboration is the name of the game here with this new front office. Wallace and Tenzer each bring different strengths to the table, and they'll be given equal opportunities to showcase those skills. Prospective trade calls, for example, could be answered or made by either executive depending on the situation. After all, it's a relationship industry.

"I think that they both will," Kroenke said about Wallace and Tenzer speaking with executives from other teams. "I think that from the outside looking in, sometimes people have a false sense of how things actually go down in the professional sports world. Sometimes, that's owner talking to owner. Sometimes, that's President talking to President. That's basketball operations staff talking to basketball operations staff. There are a lot of different ways that deals get done in the NBA, and a lot of that is through relationships. I think that our organization has great relationships at all levels throughout the league, and we'll continue to have different conversations in different ways, with different teams, with different people."

Collaboration doesn't always mean agreement, and to Wallace and Tenzer, that's a good thing. Different perspectives are refreshing; they allow you to view situations from other angles to make the best possible decision.

"It's really healthy to disagree, and we have a great group. We disagree constantly," Tenzer said. "What's important is we make a decision together, and we're united. We have great leaders. Josh, Mr. [Stan] Kroenke, Kevin Demoff, and Mike Neary. We have great people around to help navigate these things."

Josh Kroenke expanded upon his role over the next couple of months, saying he would be more hands-on to get this new leadership team fully acclimated. After all, we're at a very busy point in the NBA calendar. The 2025 NBA Draft kicks off on Wednesday, and free agency is on the very near horizon.

"In times of transition, I need to be a little bit more hands-on. So, I'm going to be around quite a bit as these guys are kind of assuming their roles, making sure things are moving smoothly. But at a certain point, I'm not saying I let go of the rope, but you have to let people do their jobs. And my role with the Nuggets is not a daily one. I'll be checking in with them probably every few days, weekly. And then as the season starts, the cadence of those conversations changes based on what's going on," he explained.

The brand-new front office already has a plan in place for the busy transactional week. The goal, according to Wallace and Tenzer, is to improve on the fringes and increase the team's depth.

"We have to be really conscious of the margins. We've got to be very deliberate. The time is now," Wallace said. "[Nikola Jokić] is, obviously, a generational talent, and how he elevates the level of play of so many people around him, we've got to make sure that we find some more shooting, address some of the defensive concerns, but I think we have both young individuals here that can step up and do that as we continue to develop them, as well as we'll look outside and see what makes sense."

Up first is the NBA Draft. Currently, the Nuggets do not have any picks in the first or second round, but that can obviously change.

"I think right now, being patient, checking out the landscape, and seeing what's there and what could come our way. We'll do our due diligence to be ahead of the curve and be prepared for whatever might shake out," Wallace said ahead of Wednesday's draft.

"We have a great group of front office people who have been working around the clock before Jon started. We feel very comfortable with the draft, and we're always going to be aggressive in getting a good player," Tenzer said.

Next up is free agency. Moratorium opens on Sunday, June 30th, at 4 p.m. MT. That's when teams can officially negotiate deals with free agents.

Wallace shared his perspective on how to remain competitive in a Western Conference that's gotten younger and deeper. The Nuggets can use free agency to achieve those team-building goals.

"The West, specifically, it's gotten younger. It's gotten deeper. Depth is one of those things that you have to address," he said. "I think the IQ is so high here, positional size is so high here, you’re further along than you think you are. Now, it's just adding a few more pieces that can just give these guys, honestly, some rest."

Those depth pieces will only supplement the team's championship-winning starting lineup and bevy of young, promising role players. Wallace and Tenzer showered those young players with praise, stating that the best way to develop is by providing continuous opportunity on the court.

"The easiest way to develop is time. Over the past couple of years, they've gotten more experience and played in real games and real situations. We have the utmost confidence in them," Wallace said.

One of those promising youngsters is DaRon Holmes II, the Nuggets' first-round selection in 2024. Holmes missed all of his first year with a torn right Achilles tendon, and he'll redshirt that rookie season in 2025-26.

Tenzer said his road to recovery begins in Summer League.

"We want to not rush him back from his injury, and we'll just allow him to take his time, but he's playing in Summer League. We're not going to put pressure on him coming back, but we expect him to be healthy and ready to go," he said.

Denver remains incredibly high on its multi-positional big man.

"In the age of positionless basketball and the type of system that we play, he has actual skill sets with his shooting, with his rim protection, with his mobility, to where we're going to be able to highlight the way he plays and let him get more comfortable just getting those reps at this point," Wallace said.

The future of the Nuggets is in good hands.

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A new era is underway: Nuggets introduce Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace

Hear from Head Coach David Adelman in his Introductory Press Conference with Josh Kroenke, Vice Chairman of KSE.

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David Adelman's Introductory Press Conference with Josh Kroenke | 5/28/25

For the very first time, David Adelman addressed the media as Denver Nuggets head coach. Next to him was KSE Vice Chairman, Josh Kroenke, who made Adelman the 23rd head coach in Nuggets franchise history.

"First of all, thanks to the people who came out today. I know it's gonna sound like I won an Oscar, but I think it's important," Adelman said on Wednesday. "First, the Kroenke family. Mr. K, everything he's done here over the years, the support over the last two months has been incredible. And then obviously, Josh and what we've done together as a partnership, before this thing was finalized, was really special.

"My family's here, their support, their sacrifice, what they've done to help me get to this point. My family back home, my sisters, brother, parents, and then, really quickly, the journey of what this is as a coach, all the way back in Oregon in high school. Gene Potter, Jeff Peeler, Peyton Chapman, they're the reason I'm here. In Minnesota, my father trusted me on to Flip Saunders, Sam Mitchell, Frank Vogel, and obviously, Coach Malone here... It feels extremely blessed to have one of these 30 jobs and to be the head coach of the Denver Nuggets."&nbsp;

Denver fell short of its ultimate goal: securing their second championship in three years. But still, there was a lot to be proud of following the 2025 playoff run. The Nuggets defeated a very impressive LA Clippers team in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. They then pushed the 68-win Oklahoma City Thunder to the absolute brink, eventually losing in 7 games of the second round.

Adelman is confident the Nuggets can improve. His starters were absolutely incredible in the postseason, outscoring opponents by 11.3 points per 100 possessions (third-best of high-volume 5-man lineups), and he believes he can get more out of the players on his bench. Healthy competition, in his mind, can make the Nuggets even better next season.

"I expect guys to come back much better, stronger, more confident, and understand the opportunity that they have. People talk a lot about our first five, and they should. It's an incredible first five, but I see a lot of talent in that room," said Adelman. "It's a big summer for us. A lot of guys coming back are going to be competing for spots, and that's the biggest thing about the NBA, man, you want competition in that gym... whoever earns it is going to play in the playoffs."

He believes the Nuggets are in the inner circle of contention. It's tough to argue with him. They got three wins against the Thunder, who have lost just one total playoff game outside of that incredible second-round series.

"It's easy to say, well, we didn't have the roster last year because we didn't win it. Or you can look at it and say, well, how much better can this roster get? How can we maximize what we have? And if we do that, I think we have a great opportunity. As Josh said, we're more than capable of competing with [the top NBA teams]. We showed it... There's enough in there," said Adelman. "We'd love to improve, but you can improve with what you have, and that's going to be important for these guys looking at their summers."

Adelman stated Denver's biggest area for improvement is outside shooting. More specifically, outside shooting in big moments... like the postseason. The Nuggets shot just 34.7 percent from three-point land in 14 playoff games, 11th-best of 16 playoff teams. They'll need more standout shooting performances from their supplementary players. Julian Strawther happened to be in attendance for Wednesday's presser, and Adelman singled him out as a great example of that. The second-year wing was the hero of Denver's Game Six win over Oklahoma City, nailing a trio of three-pointers in 17 minutes off the bench.

"It's funny Julian is sitting right there, I mean, his Game Six was incredible. There's a premium on shot-making at the times you need it. It's not just about making shots during the [regular] season. I never look at percentages, because that's not real. When you get in those moments, it's about the repetition, the confidence of making shots in those big games. It's a talent... making shots in the moment, and how do you get yourself ready for that moment?” Adelman said. “We've got to take those steps, whether that's through talking about it mentally, the repetition they put in during the summer, the type of work they're putting in, not just getting 100 shots up, but what kind of shots are you shooting? All that stuff matters."

Adelman made some major changes to Denver's schemes after grabbing hold of the coaching reins as an interim. He ran a ton of zone defense against the Thunder to great effectiveness.

"I think you saw some of it defensively. I think we have to be much more creative throughout the season... You can demand a very aggressive man defense, but I think you can change things up," he said. "We have high-IQ players. That allows you to have more variety defensively."

Adelman hopes to do the same for the offense. He mentioned pace as a key variable for Denver going forward. Execution, as well.

"I think offensively, we were top five in the league, but it showed in the Oklahoma City series—our execution has to get better. You can run similar things that we've run that have been very successful. Our transition game was very impactful throughout the season, but some of that does not translate to the playoffs. So, that's a major goal for us. We have to get back to being an execution-based team. If that takes away some of our pace numbers, or whatever the analytics want to say, I think that's okay if it wins you a game in May, as opposed to playing a game in December. It's a very different style of basketball. We have to think that way throughout the whole season," said Adelman. "The majority of the time, if you want to win big, you gotta play slow, you gotta be efficient, you gotta be clean."

The new head coach noted how crucial a full training camp will be for revamping the offense. Offensive flow, he explained, requires an extended run of live-game reps.

"The offensive part, we didn't get to do as much as we would like to because you need repetition and live action,” Adelman said. "New ideas are good ideas. The guys have to feel like when they come back, it's not just the same. Some things you try, you end up throwing to the side because it doesn't work. But I have to give them something to come back to that excites them. A lot of these guys have been here for a long time. There's so much good basketball out there to watch, to learn from, and to implement. When you have the talent that we have, a lot of things can work.” 

Adelman's success in the postseason reverberated with Kroenke. The KSE Vice Chairman confidently stated the team did not need any sort of reset. The team's top-notch culture is still very much intact, and Adelman played a big role in that.

"I can say very clearly that this organization does not need a cultural reset. I think anyone who was in and around that dressing room for the last six weeks could probably say that there was a very unified group," he said. "A long time ago, we set organizational standards to get to where we are today. A lot of that is about culture... From what I saw, how the players responded, our culture is still there."

Adelman stressed the importance of communication between players when he took over in April. That continued in the postseason, resulting in a very connected and resilient Nuggets group.

"What you saw from these guys, communication-wise, is going to continue next year. This is their team. What they want to do next year, and the goals they have, it's going to come down to what they want. I'm there to help shepherd that, but this is about them and the success they've had," Adelman said. "It's an honor to coach the Denver Nuggets and, more importantly, coach these players. Very excited for the journey next year."

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David Adelman has a vision for the Nuggets as new head coach

Hear from Josh Kroenke, Vice Chairman of KSE, in his media availability.

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Josh Kroenke Media Availability | 4/14/25

Hear from Josh Kroenke, Vice Chairman of KSE, regarding today’s news.

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Josh Kroenke Addresses Denver Nuggets Changes

Nuggets.com

In 16 days, we will begin our 25th year in Ball Arena. It is remarkable to look back at all the history made here over the past quarter of a century since my father took over ownership of this arena and franchise and first implemented his vision for the Nuggets. We've been fortunate to witness some incredible talents, from Carmelo and A.I., to our current stars Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr. In this building, we’ve earned six division titles, a Western Conference title, and the city’s first NBA championship. Just last spring we celebrated Murray’s iconic “Shot at 5280” and a third MVP for Joker.

As we prepare for the Nuggets home opener on October 24, we are excited to embark on a new chapter for the Denver Nuggets and our fans. Inspired by your passion and insatiable demand for your favorite teams, we are thrilled to share that we have a solution for you to watch all Nuggets games this season.

Thanks to our tremendous partners and the hard work of many of our teammates, we are pleased to announce an expanded distribution model for our Altitude Sports network that will give fans wider access to more live broadcasts of all games. Yes – all games.

Beginning in mid-October, every Altitude Sports broadcast of the Nuggets and the Colorado Avalanche will be available on Altitude+, the new streaming home of Altitude Sports. You will be able to download Altitude+ on tablets and smartphones starting in mid-October, ensuring that Nuggets Nation can enjoy content wherever they are on their preferred device. Altitude+ will carry at least 60 games per team and will be available as a direct-to-consumer streaming service for $19.95 per month.

Consistent with past years, Altitude Sports network will continue to carry local games on television for subscribers of DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, and Spectrum TV. (For a full list of providers carrying Altitude Sports, visit www.altitudesports.com/how-to-watch.)

In addition, today we announced a broadcast rights agreement with TEGNA, which will enable 20 Nuggets games to be shown for free over-the-air on Denver’s 9NEWS (KUSA-TV) and My20 (KTVD-TV). This is in addition to the 22 nationally televised Nuggets games that were previously revealed. Games airing on 9NEWS and My20 will be produced by Altitude Sports and will feature the same talent with Chris Marlowe, Scott Hastings, Vic Lombardi, Christopher Dempsey, Katy Winge, and Bill Hanzlik.

This is an exciting time for Colorado sports and we cannot wait for you to be with us every step of the way in our quest to bring a second Larry O’Brien Trophy to Denver.

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you at Ball Arena soon.

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A Letter From Josh Kroenke

Hear what Josh Kroenke, Calvin Booth, and Coach Malone had to say in the End Of Season Media Availability.

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End of Season Press Conference: Josh Kroenke, Calvin Booth, Coach Malone 🎙

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