Nuggets Coach David Adelman Faces Crucial Six-Week Stretch

Adelman's mild-mannered approach will be tested as Nuggets fight for playoff positioning

Feb. 26, 2026 at 10:56pm

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Nuggets coach David Adelman faces a crucial six-week stretch that will determine if the team made the right decision in promoting him 10 months ago. After a strong start without injured star Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets have struggled since his return, raising questions about Adelman's ability to lead the team with high expectations. The next six weeks, which include key games against rivals like the Thunder and Timberwolves, will show if Adelman's calm, analytical style is the right fit to guide the Nuggets to a deep playoff run.

Why it matters

The Nuggets were constructed to win a championship this season, not just make the playoffs. Adelman's promotion from interim coach was based on the belief that his lighter touch was a better fit to achieve that goal. If the Nuggets fail to regain their homecourt dominance and secure a top playoff seed, it will bring that decision into doubt and put Adelman's coaching abilities under intense scrutiny.

The details

The Nuggets have gone 5-6 since Jokic returned from injury after going 10-6 without him, raising questions about Adelman's ability to get the most out of the team's stars. His mild-mannered approach, which was celebrated during the team's early-season success, has come into question during recent blowout losses. Adelman will need to prove he can push the right buttons with his veteran-laden roster and get them to play with the necessary urgency down the stretch.

  • The Nuggets face the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves this weekend.
  • The Nuggets' starting lineup is expected to be intact as early as next Thursday.
  • The Nuggets have 23 games remaining, with roughly half expected to include Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson.

The players

David Adelman

The Nuggets' head coach, who was promoted from interim coach 10 months ago based on the belief that his lighter touch was a better fit to lead the team to a championship.

Nikola Jokic

The Nuggets' star player, who missed time due to injury earlier in the season.

Michael Malone

Adelman's predecessor as Nuggets head coach, known for his more abrasive coaching style.

Aaron Gordon

A key Nuggets player who is expected to return to the lineup for roughly half of the remaining 23 games.

Peyton Watson

A young Nuggets player who has contributed during the team's recent injuries, and is expected to play a larger role down the stretch.

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What they’re saying

“When you have a job like mine, you just do it the best you can, you be as honest as you can with these guys because the whole point of this is to help them succeed. If they succeed, we all succeed. That's how I look at it.”

— David Adelman, Nuggets Head Coach (Denver Post)

“That is how it is supposed to be. Because this is our team. Nobody else is going to come and do the job for us. If we want to be better, we need to be honest with ourselves.”

— Nikola Jokic (Denver Post)

“You like coaches like that. You don't like coaches who beat around the bush and won't tell you like it is. If I come out slow, I need him to get on my (butt) a little bit. I think as a team we like it.”

— Bruce Brown, Nuggets Player (Denver Post)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This stretch will determine if the Nuggets made the right decision in promoting Adelman, as his mild-mannered approach will be tested with high expectations and the team's stars needing to reach their ceiling together. Adelman's ability to push the right buttons and get the Nuggets to play with urgency down the stretch will be crucial in determining if he is the right coach to lead them on a deep playoff run.