Arena McNichols Sports Arena | Record 41–41 (.500) | |
Head coach Dan Issel, Gene Littles and Bernie Bickerstaff Place Division: 4th (Midwest)
Conference: 8th (Western) Playoff finish West First Round
(eliminated 0-3) Television Prime Sports Rocky Mountain, KTVD | ||
The 1994-95 NBA season was the Nuggets' 19th season in the National Basketball Association, and 28th season as a franchise. During the offseason, the Nuggets signed free agent Dale Ellis. Coming off their improbable playoff run, the Nuggets were bitten injury by the injury bug, losing LaPhonso Ellis for all but six games due to a preseason knee injury. Despite winning five of their first six games, head coach Dan Issel resigned with the team holding a 18–16 record. Under his assistant Gene Littles, the team struggled losing 10 of 13 games as Littles was replaced with General Manager Bernie Bickerstaff. Under Bickerstaff, the Nuggets would recover making a late push winning 20 of their final 32 games, sneaking into the playoffs with a 41–41 record, fourth in the Midwest Division. Dikembe Mutombo captured his first Defensive Player of The Year award, and was selected for the 1995 NBA All-Star Game.
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However, in the first round of the playoffs, the Nuggets were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in three straight games. This would be their final playoff appearance until 2004. Following the season, Rodney Rogers and Brian Williams were both traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, and Robert Pack was dealt to the Washington Bullets.
West First Round
(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Denver Nuggets: Spurs win series 3-0
Last Playoff Meeting: 1990 Western Conference First Round (San Antonio won 3-0)