1983–84 Denver Nuggets season

The 1983–84 Denver Nuggets season was their 17th season, and their eighth in the NBA. The Nuggets head coach was Doug Moe and his assistant coach was Bill Ficke.

1983–84 Denver Nuggets season
Head coach	Doug Moe
Arena	McNichols Sports Arena
Results
Record	38–44 (.463)
Place	Division: 3rd (Midwest) Conference: 7th (Western)
Playoff finish	West First Round (lost to Jazz 2–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KWGN
Radio	KOA

In the playoffs, the Nuggets lost to the Utah Jazz in five games in the First Round.

Draft picks

Main article: 1983 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	15	Howard Carter	SG	United States	LSU
2	37	David Russell	SF	United States	St. John's
3	61	David Little		United States	Oklahoma
4	83	York Gross		United States	UC-Santa Barbara
5	107	James Braddock		United States	North Carolina
6	129	Glen Green		United States	Murray State
7	153	Maurice McDaniel		United States	Catawba College
8	175	Cliff Tribus		United States	Davidson
9	198	Bobby Van Noy		United States	Catawba College
10	218	Cleveland McCrae		United States	Catawba College

Roster

1983-84 Denver Nuggets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From PF 35 Anderson, Richard 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) UC Santa Barbara SG 32 Carter, Howard 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) LSU PF 33 Dennard, Kenny 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Duke SG 23 Dunn, T.R. 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 192 lb (87 kg) Alabama SG 10 Edmonson, Keith 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Purdue SF 2 English, Alex 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) South Carolina G 5 Evans, Mike 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Kansas State PF 24 Hanzlik, Bill 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Notre Dame C 44 Issel, Dan 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Kentucky SF 30 Roberts, Anthony 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Oral Roberts C 25 Robisch, Dave 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Kansas C 34 Schayes, Danny 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Syracuse PF 55 Vandeweghe, Kiki 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) UCLA PG 21 Williams, Rob 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Houston

Head coach Doug Moe Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Utah Jazz	45	37	.549	–	31–10	14–27	15–15
x-Dallas Mavericks	43	39	.524	2	31–10	12–29	19–11
x-Denver Nuggets	38	44	.463	7	27–14	11–30	16–14
x-Kansas City Kings	38	44	.463	7	26–15	12–29	16–14
San Antonio Spurs	37	45	.451	8	28–13	9–32	14–16
Houston Rockets	29	53	.354	16	21–20	8–33	9–21

#	Western Conference
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Los Angeles Lakers	54	28	.659	–
2	y-Utah Jazz	45	37	.549	9
3	x-Portland Trail Blazers	48	34	.585	6
4	x-Dallas Mavericks	43	39	.524	11
5	x-Seattle SuperSonics	42	40	.512	12
6	x-Phoenix Suns	41	41	.500	13
7	x-Denver Nuggets	38	44	.463	16
8	x-Kansas City Kings	38	44	.463	16
9	San Antonio Spurs	37	45	.451	17
10	Golden State Warriors	37	45	.451	17
11	San Diego Clippers	30	52	.366	24
12	Houston Rockets	29	53	.354	25

Notes

• z, y – division champions
• x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1983-84 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	KCK	LAL	MIL	NJN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAS	SDC	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	–	0–5	4–2	3–3	1–1	0–2	2–4	1–1	1–1	4–2	0–2	0–2	3–3	3–3	4–1	5–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–2
Boston	5–0	–	5–0	6–0	2–0	2–0	4–2	2–0	1–1	5–1	2–0	0–2	5–1	4–2	3–3	2–4	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–2
Chicago	2–4	0–5	–	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–5	2–0	0–2	3–3	1–1	0–2	2–4	2–4	2–4	2–3	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–4
Cleveland	3–3	0–6	4–2	–	1–1	0–2	1–5	1–1	1–1	2–4	0–2	0–2	1–5	2–3	1–5	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–1
Dallas	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	–	4–2	0–2	4–1	4–2	2–0	3–3	3–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–2	2–3	4–2	4–1	1–4	4–2	0–2
Denver	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–4	–	1–1	2–3	4–2	0–2	4–2	1–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–4	3–3	3–2	2–3	3–3	0–2
Detroit	4–2	2–4	5–1	5–1	2–0	1–1	–	1–1	1–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	3–2	1–4	4–2	3–3	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–3
Golden State	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–4	3–2	1–1	–	2–3	2–0	4–1	3–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–5	2–4	3–2	3–3	4–2	1–4	2–0
Houston	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	2–4	1–1	3–2	–	1–1	2–4	1–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–3	1–4	2–4	2–3	3–2	1–5	0–2
Indiana	2–4	1–5	3–3	4–2	0–2	2–0	2–4	0–2	1–1	–	0–2	1–1	1–5	1–5	2–4	0–5	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–4
Kansas City	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	3–3	2–4	1–1	1–4	4–2	2–0	–	0–5	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–3	2–3	5–1	3–2	1–4	3–3	2–0
Los Angeles	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–3	4–1	1–1	3–3	4–1	1–1	5–0	–	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–3	5–1	2–3	4–2	3–3	4–1	1–1
Milwaukee	3–3	1–5	4–2	5–1	2–0	1–1	2–3	2–0	1–1	5–1	2–0	0–2	–	4–2	4–1	2–4	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–1
New Jersey	3–3	2–4	4–2	3–2	1–1	1–1	4–1	1–1	2–0	5–1	0–2	1–1	2–4	–	3–3	3–3	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–2
New York	1–4	3–3	4–1	5–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	1–1	2–0	4–2	2–0	2–0	1–4	3–3	–	2–4	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	4–2
Philadelphia	1–5	4–2	3–2	4–2	1–1	1–1	3–3	1–1	2–0	5–0	2–0	1–1	4–2	3–3	4–2	–	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	4–2
Phoenix	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–3	3–2	0–2	5–1	3–2	1–1	3–2	3–3	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	–	2–4	5–0	4–2	2–4	1–4	2–0
Portland	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–2	4–1	1–1	4–2	4–1	1–1	3–2	1–5	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–2	–	4–1	4–2	4–2	1–4	1–1
San Antonio	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	2–4	3–3	1–1	2–3	4–2	2–0	1–5	3–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–5	1–4	–	4–1	2–3	4–2	1–1
San Diego	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–4	2–3	0–2	3–3	3–2	1–1	2–3	2–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–4	2–4	1–4	–	3–3	2–3	1–1
Seattle	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	4–1	3–2	1–1	2–4	2–3	1–1	4–1	3–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–2	2–4	3–2	3–3	–	1–4	1–1
Utah	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–4	3–3	1–1	4–1	5–1	1–1	3–3	1–4	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–1	4–1	2–4	3–2	4–1	–	1–1
Washington	2–4	2–4	4–2	1–4	2–0	2–0	3–3	0–2	2–0	4–1	0–2	1–1	1–5	2–4	2–4	2–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	—

Game log

Regular season

1983–84 game log Total: 38–44 (home: 27–14; road: 11–30)
October: 1–1 (home: 1–0; road: 0–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 28 Utah W 139–125 McNichols Sports Arena 1–0 2 October 29 @ San Diego L 128–141 San Diego Sports Arena 1–1
November: 8–7 (home: 5–3; road: 3–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 3 November 1 Dallas L 124–130 McNichols Sports Arena 1–2 4 November 3 @ Kansas City W 131–128 Kemper Arena 2–2 11 November 5 San Diego W 127–121 McNichols Sports Arena 3–2 6 November 8 Los Angeles L 124–133 McNichols Sports Arena 3–3 7 November 12 @ San Antonio L 107–126 HemisFair Arena 3–4 8 November 15 Boston L 124–140 McNichols Sports Arena 3–5 9 November 17 @Golden State W 131–120 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 4–5 10 November 18 Houston W 134–127 McNichols Sports Arena 5–5 11 November 19 Milwaukee W 133–126 McNichols Sports Arena 6–5 12 November 22 @ Portland L 116–156 Memorial Coliseum 6–6 13 November 23 San Diego W 133–114 McNichols Sports Arena 7–6 14 November 25 @ Utah L 124–126 Salt Palace Acord Arena 7–7 15 November 26 Phoenix W 107–104 McNichols Sports Arena 8–7 16 November 29 @ Atlanta W 105–96 The Omni 9–7 17 November 30 @ Milwaukee L 122–139 MECCA Arena 9–8
December: 5–10 (home: 4–3; road: 1–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 18 December 3 Seattle W 121–111 McNichols Sports Arena 10–8 19 December 6 @ New York W 117–112 Madison Square Garden 11–8 20 December 7 @ Philadelphia L 128–133 The Spectrum 11–9 21 December 9 @ Boston (at Hartford, CT) L 90–119 Hartford Civic Center 11–10 22 December 11 @ New Jersey L 130–141 Brendan Byrne Arena 11–11 23 December 13 Detroit L 184–186 (3OT) McNichols Sports Arena 11–12 24 December 16 Portland L 115–119 McNichols Sports Arena 11–13 25 December 18 New Jersey W 122–118 McNichols Sports Arena 12–13 26 December 20 @ Kansas City L 114–131 Kemper Arena 12–14 27 December 22 Indiana L 132–133 McNichols Sports Arena 12–15 28 December 23 @ Utah L 116–118 Salt Palace Acord Arena 12–16 29 December 26 @ Phoenix L 133–140 (OT) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12–17 30 December 27 @ Los Angeles L 116–118 The Forum 12–18 31 December 29 Philadelphia W 101–89 McNichols Sports Arena 13–18 32 December 30 Utah W 135–130 McNichols Sports Arena 14–18
January: 5–7 (home: 4–2; road: 1–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 33 January 3 Seattle L 109–110 McNichols Sports Arena 14–19 34 January 6 @ Portland L 129–144 Memorial Coliseum 15–20 35 January 7 Dallas W 141–117 McNichols Sports Arena 16–20 36 January 11 San Antonio W 163–155 McNichols Sports Arena 17–20 37 January 13 Los Angeles L 134–141 McNichols Sports Arena 16–21 38 January 15 @ Dallas L 107–126 Reunion Arena 16–22 39 January 17 @ Houston L 115–124 The Summit 16–23 40 January 18 @ San Antonio L 127–148 HemisFair Arena 16–24 41 January 20 Kansas City W 116–114 McNichols Sports Arena 17–24 42 January 21 Golden State W 126–115 McNichols Sports Arena 18–24 43 January 25 @ Indiana L 112–117 Market Square Arena 182–25 44 January 26 @ Chicago W 126–125 Chicago Stadium 19–25 All-Star Break
February: 6–10 (home: 3–4; road: 3–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 45 February 1 Los Angeles L 108–116 McNichols Sports Arena 19–26 46 February 3 @ Dallas W 114–111 Reunion Arena 20–26 47 February 4 @ Kansas City L 100–107 Kemper Arena 20–27 48 February 7 @ Seattle L 105–115 Kingdome 20–28 49 February 8 Dallas L 114–120 McNichols Sports Arena 20–29 50 February 10 @ Portland L 117–123 Memorial Coliseum 20–30 51 February 11 New York L 112–138 McNichols Sports Arena 20–31 52 February 14 Washington L 96–108 McNichols Sports Arena 20–32 53 February 16 Atlanta W 117–102 McNichols Sports Arena 21–32 54 February 17 @ Los Angeles W 141–138 The Forum 22–32 55 February 19 @ Seattle L 120–132 Kingdome 22–33 56 February 21 @ Golden State L 133–135 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 22–34 57 February 22 San Antonio W 127–121 McNichols Sports Arena 23–34 58 February 24 @ Phoenix W 117–100 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 24–34 59 February 25 Kansas City W 148–136 McNichols Sports Arena 25–34 60 February 28 @ Golden State L 137–140 (OT) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 25–35
March: 10–5 (home: 8–0; road: 2–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 61 March 1 Cleveland W 119–113 McNichols Sports Arena 26–35 62 March 3 Utah W 131–122 McNichols Sports Arena 27–35 63 March 6 Houston W 130–128 McNichols Sports Arena 28–35 64 March 9 @ San Diego L 126–134 San Diego Sports Arena 28–36 65 March 11 Portland W 149–123 McNichols Sports Arena 29–36 66 March 13 @ Washington L 103–108 Capital Centre 29–37 67 March 14 @ Detroit W 125–121 Pontiac Silverdome 30–37 68 March 16 @ Cleveland W 118–102 Richfield Coliseum 31–37 69 March 18 Chicago W 107–10425 McNichols Sports Arena 32–37 70 March 20 @ Phoenix L 120–146 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 32–38 71 March 21 Houston W 134–125 McNichols Sports Arena 33–38 72 March 23 Kansas City W 126–116 McNichols Sports Arena 34–38 73 March 24 @ Dallas L 101–119 Reunion Arena 34–39 74 March 27 @ Houston L 137–140 The Summit 34–40 75 March 30 San Antonio W 145–136 McNichols Sports Arena 35–40
April: 3–4 (home: 2–2; road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 76 April 1 San Diego W 129–103 McNichols Sports Arena 36–40 77 April 3 Seattle W 124–113 McNichols Sports Arena 37–40 78 April 5 Golden State L 124–128 McNichols Sports Arena 37–41 79 April 8 Phoenix L 121–126 McNichols Sports Arena 37–42 80 April 10 @ Utah (at Las Vegas, NV) L 120–135 Thomas & Mack Center 37–43 81 April 11 @ Houston W 130–110 The Summit 38–43 82 April 15 @ San Antonio L 154–157 HemisFair Arena 38–44
1983–84 schedule

Playoffs

1984 playoff game log
Western Conference First Round: 2–3 (home: 1–1; road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 17 @ Utah L 121–123 VanDeWeghe (33) Issel (10) Williams (8) Salt Palace Acord Arena 10,255 0–1 2 April 19 @ Utah W 132–116 Issel (33) Dunn (10) Williams (5) Salt Palace Acord Arena 12,413 1–1 3 April 22 Utah W 121–117 English (29) Dunn (10) English (6) McNichols Sports Arena 14,681 2–1 4 April 24 Utah L 124–129 Issel (32) English (10) English (6) McNichols Sports Arena 16,108 2–2 5 April 26 @ Utah L 111–127 Issel (25) English (11) English (9) Salt Palace Acord Arena 12,731 2–3
1984 schedule

Awards, records, and honors

• T.R. Dunn, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
• On December 13, 1983, the Nuggets played in the highest scoring game in NBA history, losing to the Detroit Pistons 186–184.

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

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG

References

• Nuggets on Basketball Reference