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.
In the playoffs, the Nuggets lost to the Utah Jazz in five games in the First Round.
See main article: 1983 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | Howard Carter | SG | LSU | |
| 2 | 37 | David Russell | SF | St. John's | |
| 3 | 61 | David Little | Oklahoma | ||
| 4 | 83 | York Gross | UC-Santa Barbara | ||
| 5 | 107 | James Braddock | North Carolina | ||
| 6 | 129 | Glen Green | Murray State | ||
| 7 | 153 | Maurice McDaniel | Catawba College | ||
| 8 | 175 | Cliff Tribus | Davidson | ||
| 9 | 198 | Bobby Van Noy | Catawba College | ||
| 10 | 218 | Cleveland McCrae | Catawba College | ||
Notes
| 1983-84 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | 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 | — | |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| | Utah| W 139–125|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| | @ San Diego| L 128–141|||| San Diego Sports Arena| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| | Dallas| L 124–130|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| | @ Kansas City| W 131–128|||| Kemper Arena| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 11| | San Diego| W 127–121|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| | Los Angeles| L 124–133|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 7| | @ San Antonio| L 107–126|||| HemisFair Arena| 3–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 8| | Boston| L 124–140|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 3–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 9| | @Golden State| W 131–120|||| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena| 4–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 10| | Houston| W 134–127|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 5–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 11| | Milwaukee| W 133–126|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 6–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 12| | @ Portland| L 116–156|||| Memorial Coliseum| 6–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 13| | San Diego| W 133–114|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 7–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 14| | @ Utah| L 124–126|||| Salt Palace Acord Arena| 7–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 15| | Phoenix| W 107–104|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 8–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 16| | @ Atlanta| W 105–96|||| The Omni| 9–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 17| | @ Milwaukee| L 122–139|||| MECCA Arena| 9–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 18| | Seattle| W 121–111|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 10–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 19| | @ New York| W 117–112|||| Madison Square Garden| 11–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 20| | @ Philadelphia| L 128–133|||| The Spectrum| 11–9|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 21| | @ Boston
| L 90–119|||| Hartford Civic Center| 11–10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 22| | @ New Jersey| L 130–141|||| Brendan Byrne Arena| 11–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 23| | Detroit| L 184–186 (3OT)|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 11–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 24| | Portland| L 115–119|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 11–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 25| | New Jersey| W 122–118|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 12–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 26| | @ Kansas City| L 114–131|||| Kemper Arena| 12–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 27| | Indiana| L 132–133|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 12–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 28| | @ Utah| L 116–118|||| Salt Palace Acord Arena| 12–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 29| | @ Phoenix| L 133–140 (OT)|||| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum| 12–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 30| | @ Los Angeles| L 116–118|||| The Forum| 12–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 31| | Philadelphia| W 101–89|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 13–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 32| | Utah| W 135–130|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 14–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 33| | Seattle| L 109–110|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 14–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 34| | @ Portland| L 129–144|||| Memorial Coliseum| 15–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 35| | Dallas| W 141–117|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 16–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 36| | San Antonio| W 163–155|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 17–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 37| | Los Angeles| L 134–141|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 16–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 38| | @ Dallas| L 107–126|||| Reunion Arena| 16–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 39| | @ Houston| L 115–124|||| The Summit| 16–23|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 40| | @ San Antonio| L 127–148|||| HemisFair Arena| 16–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 41| | Kansas City| W 116–114|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 17–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 42| | Golden State| W 126–115|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 18–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 43| | @ Indiana| L 112–117|||| Market Square Arena| 182–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 44| | @ Chicago| W 126–125|||| Chicago Stadium| 19–25|- align="center"|colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break|- style="background:#cfc;"|- bgcolor="#bbffbb"|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 45| | Los Angeles| L 108–116|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 19–26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 46| | @ Dallas| W 114–111|||| Reunion Arena| 20–26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 47| | @ Kansas City| L 100–107|||| Kemper Arena| 20–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 48| | @ Seattle| L 105–115|||| Kingdome| 20–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 49| | Dallas| L 114–120|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 20–29|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 50| | @ Portland| L 117–123|||| Memorial Coliseum| 20–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 51| | New York| L 112–138|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 20–31|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 52| | Washington| L 96–108|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 20–32|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 53| | Atlanta| W 117–102|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 21–32|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 54| | @ Los Angeles| W 141–138|||| The Forum| 22–32|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 55| | @ Seattle| L 120–132|||| Kingdome| 22–33|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 56| | @ Golden State| L 133–135|||| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena| 22–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 57| | San Antonio| W 127–121|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 23–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 58| | @ Phoenix| W 117–100|||| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum| 24–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 59| | Kansas City| W 148–136|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 25–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 60| | @ Golden State| L 137–140 (OT)|||| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena| 25–35|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 61| | Cleveland| W 119–113|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 26–35|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 62| | Utah| W 131–122|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 27–35|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 63| | Houston| W 130–128|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 28–35|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 64| | @ San Diego| L 126–134|||| San Diego Sports Arena| 28–36|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 65| | Portland| W 149–123|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 29–36|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 66| | @ Washington| L 103–108|||| Capital Centre| 29–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 67| | @ Detroit| W 125–121|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 30–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 68| | @ Cleveland| W 118–102|||| Richfield Coliseum| 31–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 69| | Chicago| W 107–10425|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 32–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 70| | @ Phoenix| L 120–146|||| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum| 32–38|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 71| | Houston| W 134–125|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 33–38|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 72| | Kansas City| W 126–116|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 34–38|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 73| | @ Dallas| L 101–119|||| Reunion Arena| 34–39|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 74| | @ Houston| L 137–140|||| The Summit| 34–40|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 75| | San Antonio| W 145–136|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 35–40|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 76| | San Diego| W 129–103|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 36–40|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 77| | Seattle| W 124–113|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 37–40|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 78| | Golden State| L 124–128|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 37–41|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 79| | Phoenix| L 121–126|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 37–42|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 80| | @ Utah
| L 120–135|||| Thomas & Mack Center| 37–43|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 81| | @ Houston| W 130–110|||| The Summit| 38–43|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 82| | @ San Antonio| L 154–157|||| HemisFair Arena| 38–44
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| | @ Utah| L 121–123| VanDeWeghe (33)| Issel (10)| Williams (8)| Salt Palace Acord Arena
10,255| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| | @ Utah| W 132–116| Issel (33)| Dunn (10)| Williams (5)| Salt Palace Acord Arena
12,413| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| | Utah| W 121–117| English (29)| Dunn (10)| English (6)| McNichols Sports Arena
14,681| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| | Utah| L 124–129| Issel (32)| English (10)| English (6)| McNichols Sports Arena
16,108| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| | @ Utah| L 111–127| Issel (25)| English (11)| English (9)| Salt Palace Acord Arena
12,731| 2–3|-