The 1984–85 Denver Nuggets season was their 18th season, and their ninth in the NBA.
In the playoffs, the Nuggets defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the First Round, then defeated the Utah Jazz in five games in the Semi-finals, before losing to the eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the conference finals.
See main article: 1984 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 42 | Willie White | G | Tennessee-Chattanooga | |
| 4 | 79 | Karl Tilleman | Calgary | ||
| 5 | 103 | Prince Bridges | Missouri | ||
| 6 | 125 | Willie Burton | Tennessee | ||
| 7 | 149 | Mark Simpson | Catawba College | ||
| 8 | 171 | Bill Wendlandt | Texas | ||
| 9 | 194 | Cecil Exum | F | | North Carolina |
| 10 | 215 | Dexter Bailey | Xavier (OH) | ||
Notes
| 1984-85 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAC | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | |
| Boston | 4–1 | – | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | |
| Chicago | 3–3 | 2–4 | – | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | |
| Cleveland | 3–3 | 0–6 | 4–2 | – | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | |
| Dallas | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | – | 2–4 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 1–1 | |
| Denver | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | – | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | |
| Detroit | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 0–2 | – | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | |
| Houston | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | – | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | |
| Indiana | 0–6 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | – | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | – | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 | |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 6–0 | – | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | |
| Milwaukee | 4–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 3–3 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | |
| New Jersey | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | – | 6–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | |
| New York | 3–3 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 0–6 | – | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–6 | |
| Philadelphia | 5–0 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | – | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | |
| Phoenix | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | – | 3–3 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | |
| Portland | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | – | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | – | 4–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–4 | – | 3–2 | 2–0 | |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | – | 1–1 | |
| Washington | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| | Golden State| W 125–121|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| | @ San Antonio| L 118–126|||| HemisFair Arena| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| | Chicago| W 129–113|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| | @ Kansas City| W 128–114|||| Kemper Arena| 3–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| | @ L.A. Clippers| L 104–107|||| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena| 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6|
8:30p.m. MST| @ L.A. Lakers| W 146–130| English (28)| Natt (8)| Lever (18)| The Forum
11,272| 4–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 7| | Portland| W 128–125|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 5–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 8| | Utah| W 147–135|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 6–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 9| | Phoenix| W 122–110|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 7–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 10| | Houston| W 119–102|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 8–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 11| | @ Seattle| W 124–114|||| Kingdome| 9–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 12| | @ L.A. Clippers| W 112–106|||| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena| 10–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 13| | Philadelphia| W 114–110|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 11–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 14| | L.A. Clippers| W 139–110|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 12–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 15| | @ Utah| L 97–116|||| Salt Palace Acord Arena| 12–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 16| | Utah| W 118–111|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 13–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 17| | @ New York| L 98–100|||| Madison Square Garden| 13–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 18| | @ Boston| L 107–123|||| Boston Garden| 13–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 19| | @ Detroit| L 115–122|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 13–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 20| | @ Cleveland| W 114–108|||| Richfield Coliseum| 14–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 21| | Portland| W 123–122|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 15–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 22| | @ San Antonio| L 105–126|||| HemisFair Arena| 15–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 23| | Kansas City| L 117–123|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 15–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 24| | Seattle| L 101–112|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 15–9|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 25| | @ Golden State| W 126–122 (OT)|||| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena| 16–9|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 26| | Detroit| L 129–148|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 16–10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 27| | Dallas| W 116–93|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 17–10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 28| | @ Houston| L 107–125|||| The Summit| 17–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 29| | San Antonio| W 130–119|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 18–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 30|
7:30p.m. MST| L.A. Lakers| L 123–135| English (31)| English (9)| English (8)| McNichols Sports Arena| 18–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 31| | @ Seattle
(at Tacoma, Washington)| W 115–108|||| Tacoma Dome| 19–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 32| | Houston| L 111–113|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 19–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 33| | @ Utah| L 108–118|||| Salt Palace Acord Arena| 19–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 34| | L.A. Clippers| L 115–127|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 19–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 35|
8:30p.m. MST| @ L.A. Lakers| W 126–124| English (41)| English (11)| Evans (9)| The Forum
13,024| 20–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 36| | New York| W 100–95|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 21–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 37| | Kansas City| W 143–121|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 22–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 38| | @ Milwaukee| L 116–140|||| MECCA Arena| 22–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 39| | @ Chicago| L 113–122|||| Chicago Stadium| 22–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 40| | Golden State| W 115–107|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 23–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 41| | Washington| W 108–106|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 24–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 42| | @ Portland| W 123–120|||| Memorial Coliseum| 25–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 43| | New Jersey| W 119–110|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 26–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 44| | Cleveland| W 144–127|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 27–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 45| | @ Utah| W 104–100|||| Salt Palace Acord Arena| 28–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 46| | Phoenix| W 128–100|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 29–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 47| | Dallas| W 121–110|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 30–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 48| | @ Houston| L 128–131 (2OT)|||| The Summit| 30–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 49| | @ Dallas| L 106–114|||| Reunion Arena| 30–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 50| | @ Phoenix| L 103–108|||| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum| 30–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 51| | Seattle| W 120–101|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 31–20|- align="center"|colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break|- style="background:#cfc;"|- bgcolor="#bbffbb"|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 52| | Atlanta| W 131–107|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 32–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 53| | @ Kansas City| W 138–123|||| Kemper Arena| 33–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 54| | San Antonio| W 129–119|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 34–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 55| | Boston| W 132–129|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 35–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 56| | @ Seattle| L 123–133|||| Kingdome| 35–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 57| | Phoenix| W 117–107|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 36–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 58| | @ Atlanta| W 106–94|||| The Omni| 37–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 59| | @ Washington| W 124–111|||| Capital Centre| 38–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 60| | @ Dallas| W 141–140 (OT)|||| Reunion Arena| 39–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 61| | Milwaukee| W 123–122|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 40–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 62| | Houston| W 133–131 (2OT)|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 41–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 63| | @ Kansas City| L 140–142|||| Kemper Arena| 41–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 64| | Indiana| W 126–116|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 42–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 65| | @ Houston| L 129–131|||| The Summit| 42–23|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 66| | @ Dallas| L 108–127|||| Reunion Arena| 42–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 67| | @ San Antonio| L 119–124|||| HemisFair Arena| 42–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 68| | Dallas| W 113–111|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 43–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 69| | @ Indiana| W 123–119|||| Market Square Arena| 44–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 70| | @ New Jersey| W 123–111|||| Brendan Byrne Arena| 45–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 71| | @ Philadelphia| L 103–124|||| The Spectrum| 45–26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 72| | Utah| W 104–89|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 46–26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 73| | Kansas City| W 133–115|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 47–26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 74| | Portland| W 129–117|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 48–26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 75|
7:30p.m. MST| L.A. Lakers| L 104–118| English (31)| English (12)| Evans (5)| McNichols Sports Arena
17,022| 48–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 76| | @ Phoenix| W 110–103|||| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum| 49–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 77| | San Antonio| W 118–109|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 50–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 78| | Golden State| W 130–125|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 51–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 79|
8:30p.m. MST| @ L.A. Lakers| L 119–148| English (28)| Kopicki (9)| Evans (9)| The Forum
17,505| 51–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 80| | @ L.A. Clippers| L 127–129|||| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena| 51–29|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 81| | @ Golden State| W 127–120|||| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena| 52–29|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 82| | Portland| L 112–117|||| Memorial Coliseum| 52–30
|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| | San Antonio| W 141–111| Alex English (33)| Elston Turner (8)| Fat Lever (11)| McNichols Sports Arena
12,128| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| | San Antonio| L 111–113| Alex English (29)| Wayne Cooper (10)| Fat Lever (13)| McNichols Sports Arena
17,022| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| | @ San Antonio| W 115–112| Alex English (27)| Calvin Natt (8)| Calvin Natt (8)| HemisFair Arena
8,799| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| | @ San Antonio| L 111–116| Alex English (27)| Alex English (8)| Fat Lever (7)| HemisFair Arena
8,621| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| | San Antonio| W 126–99| Alex English (33)| Calvin Natt (10)| Fat Lever (10)| McNichols Sports Arena
17,022| 3–2|-|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| | Utah| W 130–113| Alex English (31)| Fat Lever (16)| Fat Lever (18)| McNichols Sports Arena
11,918| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| | Utah| W 131–123 (OT)| Alex English (26)| Fat Lever (13)| Alex English (12)| McNichols Sports Arena
16,317| 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| | @ Utah| L 123–131| Calvin Natt (30)| Mike Evans (8)| English, Lever (5)| Salt Palace Acord Arena
12,178| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| | @ Utah| W 125–118| Alex English (40)| Wayne Cooper (14)| Calvin Natt (10)| Salt Palace Acord Arena
12,716| 3–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| | Utah| W 116–104| Alex English (30)| Wayne Cooper (11)| Alex English (6)| McNichols Sports Arena
17,022| 4–1|-|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1|
1:30p.m. MDT| @ L.A. Lakers| L 122–139| English (30)| Issel (8)| Evans (11)| The Forum
16,109| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2|
9:00p.m. MDT| @ L.A. Lakers| W 136–114| English (40)| Turner (11)| Turner (8)| The Forum
17,505| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3|
8:00p.m. MDT| L.A. Lakers| L 118–136| Natt (30)| Natt (7)| Turner (6)| McNichols Sports Arena
17,022| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4|
4:00p.m. MDT| L.A. Lakers| L 116–120| Natt, English (28)| Natt, English (8)| Turner (10)| McNichols Sports Arena
17,022| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5|
9:30p.m. MDT| @ L.A. Lakers| L 109–153| Cooper (23)| Schayes (9)| Lever (6)| The Forum
17,505| 1–4|-