NBA professional basketball team season
The 1995–96 NBA season was the Nuggets' 20th season in the National Basketball Association , and 29th season as a franchise.[1] During the off-season, the Nuggets acquired top draft pick Antonio McDyess from the Los Angeles Clippers ,[2] and acquired Don MacLean and Doug Overton from the Washington Bullets .[3] However, the team got off to a horrible start losing eight of their first nine games, as LaPhonso Ellis missed the first 37 games of the season with a knee injury. Despite the slow start, the Nuggets would then recover winning eight of their next nine games leading to a 9–9 start, but later on lost six straight games in January slipping below .500 with a 20–27 record at the All-Star break.[4]
In March, the Nuggets found themselves in the middle of an ugly controversy as Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf refused to stand for the Star-Spangled Banner , protesting what he felt was the country's poor treatment to Muslims in the world; he was suspended by the league.[5] [6] After a one-game suspension, Abdul-Rauf agreed to stand and pray during the anthem. However, the damage was done, and his reputation could not be repaired as he was the consistent target of boos from fans before missing the remainder of the season with a foot injury, leading the Nuggets with 19.2 points and 6.8 assists per game in 57 games.[7] The Nuggets finished fourth in the Midwest Division with a 35–47 record, missing the playoffs.[4]
McDyess averaged 13.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, while Dale Ellis finished second on the team in scoring averaging 14.9 points per game, and Dikembe Mutombo provided the team with 11.0 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game, and was selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game .[8] In addition, Bryant Stith contributed 13.6 points and 1.4 steals per game, while MacLean provided with 11.2 points per game off the bench, LaPhonso Ellis averaged 10.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, and second-year guard Jalen Rose contributed 10.0 points and 6.2 assists per game.[9] Mutombo also finished in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.[10]
Following the season, Abdul-Rauf was traded to the Sacramento Kings ,[11] while Mutombo signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Hawks ,[12] Rose and Reggie Williams were both dealt to the Indiana Pacers ,[13] and MacLean and Overton were both sent to the Philadelphia 76ers .
Draft picks [ ]
Roster [ ]
1995–96 Denver Nuggets roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB (YYYY-MM-DD)
From
G
1
Abdul-Rauf, Mahmoud
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
162 lb (73 kg)
1969–03–09
LSU
C
8
Cvetković, Rastko
7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
260 lb (118 kg)
1970–06–22
Serbia
F
3
Ellis, Dale
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1960–08–06
Tennessee
F
20
Ellis, LaPhonso
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1970–05–05
Notre Dame
C
50
Fish, Matt
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1969–11–18
UNC Wilmington
G
9
Grant, Greg
5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
140 lb (64 kg)
1966–08–29
Trenton State
F
21
Hammonds, Tom
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1967–03–27
Georgia Tech
F
7
MacLean, Don
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1970–01–16
UCLA
F
24
McDyess, Antonio
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1974–09–07
Alabama
C
55
Mutombo, Dikembe
7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
1966–06–25
Georgetown
G
11
Overton, Doug
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1969–08–03
La Salle
G
5
Rose, Jalen
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1973–01–30
Michigan
G
23
Stith, Bryant
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
208 lb (94 kg)
1970–12–10
Virginia
F
34
Williams, Reggie
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1964–03–05
Georgetown
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: March 29, 1996
Regular season [ ]
Season standings [ ]
Record vs. opponents [ ]
1995-96 NBA Records
Team
ATL
BOS
CHA
CHI
CLE
DAL
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
LAC
LAL
MIA
MIL
MIN
NJN
NYK
ORL
PHI
PHO
POR
SAC
SAS
SEA
TOR
UTA
VAN
WAS
Atlanta
—
4–0
3–1
0–4
3–1
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
2–0
0–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
4–0
2–1
2–2
2–1
0–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
0–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
1–3
Boston
0–4
—
2–2
0–3
1–3
0–2
1–1
2–1
0–2
1–1
0–4
2–0
0–2
3–1
3–1
2–0
2–2
0–4
1–3
4–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
3–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
Charlotte
1–3
2–2
—
1–3
3–1
2–0
2–0
1–3
0–2
0–2
1–3
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
0–3
3–0
0–4
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
Chicago
4–0
3–0
3–1
—
4–0
2–0
1–1
4–0
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
2–0
3–1
4–0
2–0
3–0
3–1
3–1
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
3–1
2–0
2–0
4–0
Cleveland
1–3
3–1
1–3
0–4
—
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
2–0
1–3
4–0
2–0
1–2
3–1
1–2
4–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
3–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
Dallas
1–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–2
—
2–2
0–2
2–2
1–3
0–2
2–2
0–4
0–2
1–1
0–4
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
0–4
2–2
2–2
2–2
1–1
1–3
4–0
0–2
Denver
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–2
—
1–1
2–2
1–3
0–2
1–3
2–2
0–2
1–1
4–0
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
0–4
0–4
0–4
1–3
2–0
3–1
3–1
1–1
Detroit
2–2
1–2
3–1
0–4
2–2
2–0
1–1
—
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–0
0–2
1–3
2–2
1–1
4–0
0–4
1–3
4–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
4–0
0–2
2–0
1–2
Golden State
1–1
2–0
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–2
2–2
0–2
—
2–2
1–1
3–1
1–3
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–0
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
4–0
1–1
Houston
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
2–2
—
2–0
4–0
3–1
0–2
2–0
2–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–0
2–2
4–0
1–1
Indiana
3–1
4–0
3–1
2–2
2–2
2–0
2–0
2–2
1–1
0–2
—
2–0
1–1
3–0
3–1
1–1
1–3
1–3
2–2
3–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
4–0
0–2
2–0
3–0
L.A. Clippers
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
3–1
0–2
1–3
0–4
0–2
—
0–4
1–1
1–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–2
1–3
0–4
0–2
1–3
3–1
1–1
L.A. Lakers
2–0
2–0
0–2
0–2
0–2
4–0
2–2
2–0
3–1
1–3
1–1
4–0
—
2–0
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
3–1
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–2
4–0
1–1
Miami
2–2
1–3
2–2
1–3
3–1
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
2–0
0–3
1–1
0–2
—
3–0
1–1
5–0
1–3
1–3
3–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
Milwaukee
2–2
1–3
1–3
0–4
0–4
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
0–3
—
1–1
1–3
2–2
1–3
2–1
0–2
2–0
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–2
0–2
1–1
1–3
Minnesota
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
4–0
0–4
1–1
1–3
2–2
1–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
1–1
—
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–3
0–4
3–1
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–3
2–2
0–2
New Jersey
0–4
2–2
3–0
0–3
2–1
1–1
2–0
0–4
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
0–2
0–5
3–1
1–1
—
2–2
0–4
2–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
0–2
2–0
2–2
New York
1–2
4–0
0–3
1–3
1–3
2–0
1–1
4–0
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–2
—
1–3
3–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
4–0
1–1
1–1
3–1
Orlando
2–2
3–1
4–0
1–3
2–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
3–1
3–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
—
4–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–1
1–1
2–0
4–0
Philadelphia
1–2
0–4
1–3
0–4
0–4
2–0
0–2
0–4
0–2
0–2
1–3
0–2
1–1
1–3
1–2
1–1
2–2
1–3
0–4
—
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–3
Phoenix
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
3–1
1–3
0–2
3–1
1–3
1–1
1–3
1–3
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
2–0
0–2
2–0
—
2–2
2–2
1–3
0–4
2–0
1–3
4–0
2–0
Portland
0–2
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
4–0
4–0
0–2
3–1
2–2
1–1
2–2
2–2
2–0
0–2
4–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
—
1–3
1–3
1–3
2–0
1–3
2–2
0–2
Sacramento
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–2
4–0
1–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–2
1–3
1–1
2–0
1–3
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
—
1–3
0–4
2–0
0–4
2–2
0–2
San Antonio
2–0
2–0
2–0
0–2
2–0
2–2
4–0
0–2
3–1
3–1
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
3–1
3–1
—
2–2
2–0
3–1
4–0
1–1
Seattle
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
1–1
4–0
4–0
0–2
4–0
2–2
2–0
2–0
4–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
4–0
3–1
4–0
2–2
—
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–1
Toronto
0–4
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–3
1–1
0–2
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–4
2–0
0–2
1–2
2–2
1–1
2–2
0–4
1–2
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
—
0–2
1–1
3–1
Utah
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
3–1
1–3
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–0
3–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–1
3–1
3–1
4–0
1–3
1–3
2–0
—
4–0
1–1
Vancouver
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–4
1–3
0–2
0���4
0–4
0–2
1–3
0–4
1–1
1–1
2–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–4
2–2
2–2
0–4
1–3
1–1
0–4
—
0–2
Washington
3–1
2–2
1–3
0–4
1–3
2–0
1–1
2–1
1–1
1–1
0–3
1–1
1–1
2–2
3–1
2–0
2–2
1–3
0–4
3–1
0–2
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–1
2–0
—
Game log [ ]
This section may need to be
rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's
quality standards .
. The talk page may contain suggestions. (October 2020 )
Game
Date
Opponent
Result
Nuggets points
Opponents
Record
Streak
OT
1
November 3
@ LA Lakers
Loss
96
98
0-1
Lost 1
2
November 4
San Antonio
Loss
108
116
0-2
Lost 2
3
November 7
@ Golden State
Loss
93
98
0-3
Lost 3
4
November 8
Seattle
Loss
117
122
0-4
Lost 4
5
November 10
@ Utah
Loss
86
109
0-5
Lost 5
6
November 12
@ LA Clippers
Loss
103
108
0-6
Lost 6
7
November 15
@ Phoenix
Win
137
127
1-6
Won 1
3OT
8
November 17
New York
Loss
94
103
1-7
Lost 1
9
November 18
@ Houston
Loss
97
101
1-8
Lost 2
10
November 21
Atlanta
Win
107
99
2-8
Won 1
11
November 24
@ Dallas
Win
112
109
3-8
Won 2
OT
12
November 25
Utah
Win
94
91
4-8
Won 3
13
November 28
@ Sacramento
Loss
85
91
4-9
Lost 1
14
December 2
Minnesota
Win
109
105
5-9
Won 1
15
December 4
Detroit
Win
85
82
6-9
Won 2
16
December 7
@ Utah
Win
124
119
7-9
Won 3
17
December 8
Phoenix
Win
103
98
8-9
Won 4
18
December 11
@ Philadelphia
Win
104
91
9-9
Won 5
19
December 12
@ Indiana
Loss
92
125
9-10
Lost 1
20
December 14
@ New York
Win
103
94
10-10
Won 1
21
December 16
@ Atlanta
Loss
86
95
10-11
Lost 1
22
December 17
@ Cleveland
Loss
79
92
10-12
Lost 2
23
December 20
Golden State
Win
109
104
11-12
Won 1
24
December 21
@ San Antonio
Loss
96
114
11-13
Lost 1
25
December 23
LA Clippers
Loss
92
107
11-14
Lost 2
26
December 26
Dallas
Win
114
102
12-14
Won 1
27
December 27
@ Seattle
Loss
83
99
12-15
Lost 1
28
December 29
@ Phoenix
Loss
92
103
12-16
Lost 2
29
December 30
Philadelphia
Win
108
100
13-16
Won 1
30
January 2
Indiana
Loss
87
102
13-17
Lost 1
31
January 4
@ Sacramento
Loss
96
126
13-18
Lost 2
32
January 6
Miami
Loss
86
88
13-19
Lost 3
33
January 7
@ LA Lakers
Win
96
93
14-19
Won 1
34
January 10
@ Vancouver
Win
91
85
15-19
Won 2
35
January 12
Cleveland
Win
90
83
16-19
Won 3
36
January 13
Portland
Loss
117
118
16-20
Lost 1
37
January 16
@ Portland
Loss
69
87
16-21
Lost 2
38
January 17
Houston
Loss
112
120
16-22
Lost 3
39
January 20
Sacramento
Loss
110
115
16-23
Lost 4
40
January 24
@ Seattle
Loss
79
86
16-24
Lost 5
41
January 25
@ LA Clippers
Loss
93
94
16-25
Lost 6
42
January 27
Toronto
Win
93
82
17-25
Won 1
43
January 30
@ Minnesota
Win
88
86
18-25
Won 2
44
February 1
@ Milwaukee
Loss
102
108
18-26
Lost 1
45
February 4
Chicago
Win
105
99
19-26
Won 1
46
February 6
LA Lakers
Loss
78
99
19-27
Lost 1
47
February 8
LA Clippers
Win
115
95
20-27
Won 1
48
February 13
@ Orlando
Loss
93
121
20-28
Lost 1
49
February 15
@ Miami
Loss
91
97
20-29
Lost 2
50
February 16
@ Charlotte
Loss
100
107
20-30
Lost 3
51
February 18
Boston
Win
117
93
21-30
Won 1
52
February 22
@ Portland
Loss
78
107
21-31
Lost 1
53
February 24
Utah
Win
99
90
22-31
Won 1
54
February 27
Washington
Win
96
92
23-31
Won 2
55
February 29
Dallas
Loss
120
137
23-32
Lost 1
56
March 2
Vancouver
Win
108
82
24-32
Won 1
57
March 4
San Antonio
Loss
90
101
24-33
Lost 1
58
March 6
@ San Antonio
Loss
90
100
24-34
Lost 2
59
March 7
Phoenix
Win
103
92
25-34
Won 1
60
March 9
Golden State
Win
102
88
26-34
Won 2
61
March 10
New Jersey
Loss
88
99
26-35
Lost 1
62
March 12
Orlando
Win
110
93
27-35
Won 1
63
March 15
@ Chicago
Loss
87
108
27-36
Lost 1
64
March 17
@ Detroit
Loss
81
91
27-37
Lost 2
65
March 18
@ Toronto
Win
122
114
28-37
Won 1
66
March 21
@ New Jersey
Loss
89
97
28-38
Lost 1
67
March 22
@ Boston
Loss
98
99
28-39
Lost 2
68
March 24
@ Washington
Loss
90
92
28-40
Lost 3
69
March 26
Charlotte
Loss
112
119
28-41
Lost 4
2OT
70
March 28
@ Vancouver
Win
92
88
29-41
Won 1
71
March 30
Milwaukee
Win
98
85
30-41
Won 2
72
April 2
Minnesota
Win
86
78
31-41
Won 3
73
April 4
@ Golden State
Loss
90
98
31-42
Lost 1
74
April 5
Portland
Loss
91
97
31-43
Lost 2
75
April 7
Houston
Win
111
105
32-43
Won 1
76
April 9
LA Lakers
Win
98
91
33-43
Won 2
77
April 11
@ Houston
Loss
109
113
33-44
Lost 1
78
April 14
@ Minnesota
Win
98
91
34-44
Won 1
79
April 15
Sacramento
Loss
86
90
34-45
Lost 1
80
April 18
@ Dallas
Loss
98
132
34-46
Lost 2
81
April 19
Vancouver
Loss
78
92
34-47
Lost 3
82
April 21
Seattle
Win
99
88
35-47
Won 1
Player statistics [ ]
Regular Season [ ]
Player Statistics Citation:[9]
Awards, records, and honors [ ]
Transactions [ ]
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References [ ]
^ 1995-96 Denver Nuggets
^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Underclassmen Rule Atop N.B.A. Draft Board" . New York Times . June 29, 1995. Retrieved July 25, 2021 .
^ "PRO BASKETBALL; The Bullets Pick Up Pack" . New York Times . October 31, 1995. Retrieved January 18, 2022 .
^ a b "1995–96 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021 .
^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Abdul-Rauf Vows Not to Back Down From N.B.A." New York Times . March 14, 1996. Retrieved January 14, 2022 .
^ "PRO BASKETBALL; N.B.A. Suspends Rauf" . New York Times . March 13, 1996. Retrieved January 19, 2022 .
^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Abdul-Rauf Is Calm In Face of Controversy" . New York Times . March 21, 1996. Retrieved December 2, 2016 .
^ "1996 NBA All-Star Game: East 129, West 118" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved November 27, 2021 .
^ a b "1995–96 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021 .
^ "1995–96 NBA Awards Voting" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved January 2, 2022 .
^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Nuggets Trade Abdul-Rauf, Acquire Pacers' Jackson" . New York Times . June 14, 1996. Retrieved July 31, 2021 .
^ "Hawks Get Big With Mutombo" . Los Angeles Times . July 16, 1996. Retrieved July 24, 2017 .
^ "Pacers trade Jackson, Pierce to Denver" . UPI Archives . June 13, 1996. Retrieved July 31, 2021 .
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