The Denver Nuggets are going all-in for the NBA championship, and this time they are betting on one of the greatest scorers ever. DeMar DeRozan is 37 years old, but he is coming off a strong 2025-26 season averaging 18.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, and 0.3 BPG on 49.7% FG and 32.0% 3-PT FG over 77 games.
Denver clearly believes his elite scoring and playoff experience can give the overburdened Nikola Jokic another weapon as the team chases another championship.
The question is how Denver should actually use him. DeRozan has been a starter for almost his entire career (77 starts with the Kings last season), but at this stage, asking him to carry a huge workload every night may not be the smartest strategy.
Could he start alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray to become Denver’s third-best scorer, or would his value actually be greater as a sixth man who destroys opposing second units?
DeRozan Still Has Plenty Left At 37
DeMar DeRozan is 37 years old, but the Nuggets clearly believe the veteran still has enough left in the tank to make a difference. After a strong 2025-26 campaign, Denver brought him in despite his age, giving Nikola Jokic another elite offensive option.
DeRozan had a strong season, averaging 18.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, and 0.3 BPG on 49.7% FG and 32.0% 3-PT FG in 77 games. He played 31.2 MPG, mainly from the power forward position.
It’s obvious that the future Hall of Famer still has what it takes offensively.
What they need from DeRozan is the ability to score when the offense becomes stagnant. That has plagued the Nuggets whenever Jokic and Murray have been swamped with double teams, and it showed in last season’s first-round exit against the Timberwolves.
His Midrange Game Could Be A Perfect Skill
DeRozan’s biggest weapon is making difficult midrange shots look normal. DeRozan is very effective from mid-range and is even better getting to the line.
DeRozan has averaged 6.5 free-throw attempts per game over his career, making 5.5 of them. Last season, the veteran averaged 5.6 free-throw attempts, making 4.9. Most of this damage came from the mid-range, where he would then attack the paint or even draw fouls on his jumpers.
That could actually make him an interesting complement to Jokic. Adding DeRozan gives Denver another player who can attack mismatches and create his own shot.
Now, the biggest question is efficiency. DeRozan has never been a high-volume three-point shooter, so Denver has to make sure his minutes don’t affect spacing.
DeRozan has only averaged 30.2% from deep over his career, and made 32.0% last season. He only attempted 1.9 threes per game last season, and that number is expected to stay the same or only slightly increase in 2026-27.
But when the playoffs slow down, and every possession becomes a half-court battle, having a veteran who can simply rise over a defender for a 15-foot jumper has real value.
Starter Or Sixth Man?
This is where it gets interesting. On paper, starting him makes plenty of sense because Denver can put another proven scorer alongside Jokic from the opening tip. In many ways, DeRozan can be asked to somewhat replicate the departed Michael Porter Jr. in terms of scoring output.
DeRozan has spent almost his entire career as a starter and knows how to carry offensive responsibility. He has started 1,252 games out of the 1,264 career games played. But there might be a stronger argument for bringing him off the bench.
DeRozan could become the player who changes the entire complexion of Denver’s second unit. The Nuggets averaged 35.7 PPG and 6.4 APG off the bench last season (translating to 2,928 points across 82 games), and DeRozan can realistically improve those marks single-handedly.
Instead of asking Jokic to play heavy minutes just to keep the offense afloat, the Nuggets could hand DeRozan the ball and allow him to operate as the primary creator while Jokic rests.
That is exactly the role that could put DeRozan into the Sixth Man of the Year conversation.
Denver Could Finally Have A Go-To Bench Scorer
One of Denver’s biggest problems in recent seasons has been the lack of reliable offensive creation outside of Jokic and Murray. When the MVP-caliber center leaves the floor, the Nuggets have often needed somebody capable of generating offense rather than simply waiting for a teammate to create a shot.
DeRozan changes that immediately. At 37, expecting him to dominate for 35 minutes every night would be unreasonable.
But asking him to play roughly 25-30 high-impact minutes while spending stretches as Denver’s offensive centerpiece is a completely different proposition. In stretches, DeRozan can win Denver games.
If Denver can preserve DeRozan’s legs while allowing him to destroy second units, the Nuggets could enter the postseason with a veteran scorer who isn’t being asked to carry the same workload he had earlier in his career.
His Playmaking Makes Him More Than A Scorer
DeRozan has developed into a legitimate playmaker throughout his career. Especially since his Bulls days, DeRozan is a capable point-forward. He posted 4.1 APG on a very bad team last season, and there is no reason to believe he won’t put up similar numbers.
That matters tremendously in Denver because Jokic is one of the greatest passing centers basketball has ever seen. The Nuggets don’t need DeRozan to become their point guard, but having another experienced creator gives head coach David Adelman more ways to organize the offense.
It also gives Denver some insurance when opponents successfully take Jokic out of his preferred actions. The Nuggets can allow DeRozan to attack from the wing and mid-post while Jokic works as a screener.
The Defensive Problem Cannot Be Ignored
There is one obvious concern with putting DeRozan on the floor: defense. DeRozan held a 123.5 defensive rating last season.
The Nuggets, as a team, only ranked 21st in defense last season (116.9 OPPG, 117.4 defensive rating). They need help on that end, but have to find ways to make this work.
At 37, Denver cannot expect DeRozan to be the high-level perimeter defender he was earlier in his career. His athleticism has declined, and opponents will look to involve him in pick-and-rolls whenever possible.
That becomes especially important if DeRozan starts. DeRozan and Jokic won’t exactly be a lockdown duo.
The Nuggets will have to protect DeRozan defensively and make sure his offensive value outweighs what he gives up on the other end.
Could DeRozan Actually Win Sixth Man Of The Year?
DeMar DeRozan could be in the running for Sixth Man of the Year. This would put DeRozan in a position to play around 28 minutes per night and average 15-18 points while remaining one of Denver’s primary late-game creators.
If the Nuggets finish near the top of the Western Conference (at least top-three or top-four), his candidacy would immediately become interesting.
The key is that DeRozan doesn’t need to chase statistics. He just needs to be who he is: make mid-range shots, get to the line, and make the right play.
The Nuggets Are Betting On DeRozan’s Experience
This signing isn’t really about what DeRozan was five or 10 years ago. It’s about what he can still provide to a championship-caliber team.
He has played 17 years in the league, averaged 21.1 PPG and 4.1 APG, and has totaled 43,634 minutes of action in the regular season and 2,368 minutes in the playoffs. For Denver, that’s the appeal.
DeRozan needs to give Jokic one more weapon when the postseason gets ugly.
And if Denver can keep him fresh, hide some of his defensive limitations, and unleash his scoring against second units, there is a very real path toward DeRozan becoming one of the most valuable sixth men in the league.
