1992–93 Denver Nuggets season

The 1992–93 NBA season was the Nuggets' 17th season in the National Basketball Association and 26th season as a franchise.^[1] In the 1992 NBA draft, the Nuggets selected LaPhonso Ellis out of Notre Dame University with the fifth overall pick, and selected Bryant Stith from the University of Virginia with the thirteenth overall pick.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} During the off-season, the team acquired second-year guard Robert Pack from the Portland Trail Blazers,^[7][8][9] and brought back Dan Issel as their new head coach; Issel starred for the Nuggets for ten seasons as a player.^[10][11][12] Under Issel, the Nuggets got off to a 7–7 start, but then suffered a 14-game losing streak from December 5, 1992 to January 5, 1993.^[13][14] At midseason, the team signed free agent Tom Hammonds, who was previously released by the Charlotte Hornets.^[15][16] Despite the losing streak, the Nuggets showed significant improvement holding a 20–30 record at the All-Star break,^[17] and missed the playoffs by three games with a record of 36–46, fourth in the Midwest Division.^[18]

1992–93 Denver Nuggets season
Head coach	Dan Issel
General manager	Bernie Bickerstaff
President	Bernie Bickerstaff
Arena	McNichols Sports Arena
Results
Record	36–46 (.439)
Place	Division: 4th (Midwest) Conference: 11th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KWGN-TV Prime Sports Rocky Mountain
Radio	KOA
< 1991–92 1993–94 >

The progress of second-year star Dikembe Mutombo into one of the league's best defensive players was reason for hope, as he averaged 13.8 points, 13.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game, while Chris Jackson led the team in scoring averaging 19.2 points per game, which resulted in him being named the Most Improved Player of the Year.^{[19][20][21][22]} In addition, Ellis averaged 14.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, while Reggie Williams provided the team with 17.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, and Pack contributed 10.5 points and 4.4 assists per game off the bench. Stith contributed 8.9 points per game, but only played just 39 games due to a broken toe, and right foot injury,^[23][24] and Marcus Liberty provided with 8.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.^[25]

Following the season, Jackson would change his name to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf after converting to Islam two years ago,^{[26][27][28][29]} and Todd Lichti and Anthony Cook, who missed the entire season with a knee injury, were both traded to the Orlando Magic.^[30][31][32] It was also the final season the Nuggets wore their "rainbow skyline" uniforms.^{[citation needed]}

NBA draft

Main article: 1992 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	5	LaPhonso Ellis	PF/SF	United States	Notre Dame
1	13	Bryant Stith	SG	United States	Virginia
2	46	Robert Werdann	C	United States	St. John's

Roster

1992–93 Denver Nuggets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From F 43 Brooks, Kevin 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1969–10–12 Louisiana F 45 Cook, Anthony   (IN) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1967–03–19 Arizona F 20 Ellis, LaPhonso 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1970–05–05 Notre Dame F 21 Hammonds, Tom 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1967–03–27 Georgia Tech C 10 Hastings, Scott 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1960–06–03 Arkansas G 3 Jackson, Chris 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 162 lb (73 kg) 1969–03–09 LSU F 30 Liberty, Marcus 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1968–10–27 Illinois G 21 Lichti, Todd 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1967–01–08 Stanford G 1 Macon, Mark 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1969–04–14 Temple C 55 Mutombo, Dikembe 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1966–06–25 Georgetown G 14 Pack, Robert 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1969–02–03 USC F 45 Plummer, Gary 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1962–02–21 Boston University G 23 Stith, Bryant 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 208 lb (94 kg) 1970–12–10 Virginia C 28 Werdann, Robert 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1970–09–12 St. John's G/F 34 Williams, Reggie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1964–03–05 Georgetown

Head coach Dan Issel Assistant coach(es) Mike Evans Gene Littles Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended   Injured Roster Last transaction: February 5, 1993

Roster Notes

• Power forward Anthony Cook missed the entire season due to a knee injury.^[30][31]

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Houston Rockets	55	27	.671	—	31–10	24–17	19–7
x-San Antonio Spurs	49	33	.598	6	31–10	18–23	17–9
x-Utah Jazz	47	35	.573	8	28–13	19–22	16–10
Denver Nuggets	36	46	.439	19	28–13	8–33	13–13
Minnesota Timberwolves	19	63	.232	36	11–30	8–33	10–16
Dallas Mavericks	11	71	.134	44	7–34	4–37	3–23

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Phoenix Suns	62	20	.756	–
2	y-Houston Rockets	55	27	.671	7
3	x-Seattle SuperSonics	55	27	.671	7
4	x-Portland Trail Blazers	51	31	.622	11
5	x-San Antonio Spurs	49	33	.598	13
6	x-Utah Jazz	47	35	.573	15
7	x-Los Angeles Clippers	41	41	.500	21
8	x-Los Angeles Lakers	39	43	.476	23
9	Denver Nuggets	36	46	.439	26
10	Golden State Warriors	34	48	.415	28
11	Sacramento Kings	25	57	.305	37
12	Minnesota Timberwolves	19	63	.232	43
13	Dallas Mavericks	11	71	.134	51

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1992-93 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	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	–	2–2	3–2	2–2	0–5	1–1	2–0	2–3	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	3–2	2–0	1–3	2–2	1–3	3–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2
Boston	2–2	–	3–1	1–3	3–1	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	4–0	1–4	3–2	4–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–1
Charlotte	2–3	1–3	–	2–3	1–3	2–0	1–1	4–1	2–0	0–2	0–5	1–1	1–1	2–2	3–1	2–0	2–2	1–3	3–1	4–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–0
Chicago	2–2	3–1	3–2	–	2–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	5–0	2–0	0–2	3–1	4–1	2–0	4–0	1–3	3–1	2–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	4–0
Cleveland	5–0	1–3	3–1	3–2	–	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–0	1–1	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	4–1	2–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	4–0	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–1
Dallas	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	–	1–5	1–1	0–4	1–4	1–1	0–4	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	0–4	0–4	0–5	1–3	0–5	1–1
Denver	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–1	–	1–1	3–1	2–3	1–1	2–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–3	1–3	3–1	1–4	1–3	2–3	2–0
Detroit	3–2	3–1	1–4	1–3	2–3	1–1	1–1	–	0–2	1–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–2	1–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	3–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–2	4–0
Golden State	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	4–0	1–3	2–0	–	2–2	0–2	2–3	1–4	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–4	0–5	4–1	3–1	1–4	3–1	1–1
Houston	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–1	3–2	1–1	2–2	–	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	1–3	4–0	4–1	1–3	4–1	1–1
Indiana	2–2	2–2	5–0	0–5	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–3	2–0	0–2	–	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–3	1–1	3–1	1–3	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	0–2	3–1
L.A. Clippers	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	3–2	0–4	1–1	–	3–2	0–2	2–0	4–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–2	2–3	3–2	0–4	1–4	2–2	2–0
L.A. Lakers	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	3–1	3–1	1–1	4–1	1–3	1–1	2–3	–	0–2	1–1	3–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–0	0–5	3–2	3–2	2–2	1–4	1–3	2–0
Miami	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	0–2	0–2	2–2	2–0	2–0	–	2–2	2–0	2–3	0–5	3–2	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–3
Milwaukee	2–3	2–2	1–3	1–4	1–4	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	–	1–1	0–4	1–3	2–2	2–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3
Minnesota	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	4–1	2–3	1–1	1–3	2–4	1–1	0–4	1–3	0–2	1–1	–	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–4	1–3	1–3	1–4	0–4	1–4	1–1
New Jersey	3–1	0–4	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–0	2–0	3–2	4–0	1–1	–	1–3	3–2	3–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1
New York	2–2	4–1	3–1	3–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	0–2	2–0	5–0	3–1	2–0	3–1	–	2–2	5–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–1
Orlando	3–1	2–3	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–1	2–0	1–3	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	2–3	2–2	2–0	2–3	2–2	–	3–2	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	4–0
Philadelphia	1–3	1–4	0–4	2–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–1	0–2	3–1	2–2	2–0	2–3	0–5	2–3	–	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–1
Phoenix	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	4–0	3–1	2–0	4–1	2–2	1–1	2–3	5–0	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	–	3–2	5–0	3–1	2–3	3–1	2–0
Portland	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	1–1	5–0	3–1	1–1	3–2	2–3	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–3	–	5–0	2–2	2–3	2–2	1–1
Sacramento	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	4–0	1–3	0–2	1–4	0–4	0–2	2–3	2–3	1–1	1–1	3–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–5	0–5	–	2–2	1–4	2–2	1–1
San Antonio	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	5–0	4–1	2–0	1–3	1–4	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	4–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–3	2–2	2–2	–	3–1	3–3	1–1
Seattle	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	3–1	2–0	4–1	3–1	0–2	4–1	4–1	1–1	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–2	3–2	4–1	1–3	–	2–2	2–0
Utah	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	5–0	3–2	2–0	1–3	1–4	2–0	2–2	3–1	2–0	2–0	4–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–3	2–2	–	1–1
Washington	2–2	1–4	0–4	0–4	1–3	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	3–2	3–1	1–1	1–4	1–4	0–4	1–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	—

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Regular season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf	81	81	33.5	.450	.355	.935	2.8	4.2	1.0	0.1	19.2
Reggie Williams	79	79	34.5	.458	.270	.804	5.4	3.7	1.6	1.0	17.0
LaPhonso Ellis	82	82	33.5	.504	.154	.748	9.1	1.8	0.9	1.4	14.7
Dikembe Mutombo	82	82	36.9	.510		.681	13.0	1.8	0.5	3.5	13.8
Robert Pack	77	1	20.5	.470	.125	.768	2.1	4.4	1.1	0.1	10.5
Bryant Stith	39	12	22.2	.446	.000	.832	3.2	1.3	0.6	0.1	8.9
Marcus Liberty	78	32	20.3	.406	.373	.654	4.3	1.3	0.8	0.3	8.1
Mark Macon	48	27	23.8	.415	.000	.700	2.1	2.6	1.4	0.1	7.5
Todd Lichti	48	12	15.7	.449	.333	.794	2.1	1.1	0.6	0.2	6.9
Tom Hammonds	35	0	16.3	.489	.000	.611	2.7	0.5	0.5	0.2	5.9
Gary Plummer	60	0	12.3	.465	.000	.726	2.9	0.7	0.2	0.2	4.7
Kevin Brooks	55	2	10.4	.399	.231	.875	1.5	0.6	0.2	0.0	4.1
Scott Hastings	76	0	8.8	.509	.250	.727	1.8	0.4	0.2	0.1	2.1
Robert Werdann	28	0	5.3	.305	.000	.548	1.9	0.3	0.2	0.1	1.9

Player Statistics Citation:^[25]

Awards, records, and honors

• Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, NBA Most Improved Player Award
• LaPhonso Ellis, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

References

1. "1992-93 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats".
2. Araton, Harvey (June 25, 1992). "BASKETBALL; Draft Sticks to Program Until the 5th Pick, That Is". The New York Times. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
3. "After Big Men Go First, Locals Go in First Round: NBA Draft: Miner Goes to Heat at No. 12. Lakers Take Peeler. Clippers Select: La Salle's Woods with Their First Pick". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 25, 1992. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
4. Wojciechowski, Gene (June 25, 1992). "Miner Didn't Realize Heat Would Be on Like This: NBA Draft: USC Star Waits Longer Than Expected Before Miami Makes Him the 12th Overall Selection. UCLA's Murray Goes to San Antonio, Pepperdine's Christie to Seattle". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
5. Aldridge, David (June 25, 1992). "O'Neal, Mourning 1-2". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
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7. "Trail Blazers Trade Pack to Nuggets". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. October 24, 1992. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
8. "Bullets Trade 2 Players for Pack". United Press International. October 30, 1995. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
9. Bembry, Jerry (December 15, 1995). "Going Fast Forward Robert Pack: Dumped by the Blazers and Nuggets, the Super-Quick Point Guard Pumps Life Into the Bullets". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
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11. "Issel Named Nuggets Coach". United Press International. May 20, 1992. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
12. "Three NBA Teams Decide on Coaches: Basketball: Pistons Expected to Hire Rothstein. Nuggets Take Issel, and Rockets Stay with Tomjanovich". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 21, 1992. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
13. "The Daily Sentinel - 06 Jan 1993, Wed - Page 20 - (Grand Junction, Colorado)". Newspapers.com. January 6, 1993. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
14. "All-Time Longest Denver Nuggets Losing Streaks". Champs or Chumps. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
15. Aldridge, David (February 14, 1993). "Uninspired Bullets Routed by Nuggets". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
16. Goldstein, Alan (February 20, 1993). "Overmatched Bullets Looking for a Break; Growing Pains Leave Team Gasping". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
17. "NBA Games Played on February 18, 1993". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
18. "1992–93 Denver Nuggets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
19. "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Nugget Wins Improved Player Award". The New York Times. May 13, 1993. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
20. "Jackson Named Most Improved". Tampa Bay Times. May 13, 1993. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
21. "Sports Capsules". Deseret News. May 13, 1993. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
22. "NBA & ABA Most Improved Player Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
23. Heisler, Mark (November 23, 1992). "Nuggets Remain Under Lakers' Thumbs, 119-107". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
24. Howard-Cooper, Scott (November 29, 1992). "Clippers Talk It Out, Take It Out on the Nuggets, 121-119". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
25. "1992–93 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
26. Mossman, John (March 14, 1996). "Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf: An Intensely Private Person in the Spotlight". Associated Press. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
27. Lipsyte, Robert (March 17, 1996). "Athletes Standing Up as They Did Before". The New York Times. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
28. Uitti, Jacob (October 15, 2022). "Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf: "I Lost Millions, Because I Couldn't Keep My Mouth Shut"". The Guardian. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
29. Denver Nuggets (1967-Present)
30. "Nuggets Aquire [sic] Williams". United Press International. August 19, 1993. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
31. "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Nuggets-Magic Trade". The New York Times. August 20, 1993. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
32. Shelton, Gary (August 22, 1993). "Down on Luck, Lichti Can Use Some Magic". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved May 29, 2023.