The 2026-27 season is finally here for the Denver Nuggets. After a long offseason in which they saw the loss of Peyton Watson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown, and more, the Nuggets are bringing a fresh look to the new season, kicking things off on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Nuggets' expectations heading into this season are a bit lower than usual, but they are more than capable of competing for a championship. Of course, it is a long season, and the priority is to just get to the playoffs healthy, but here are a few storylines we can monitor as soon as opening night.

Can DeRozan save the bench?

Oct 11, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard/forward DeMar DeRozan (10) controls the ball in the second quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

After losing Watson and Hardaway Jr., hope was lost for the Nuggets' bench unit.…