The 2025-25 NBA season is over after the Knicks won the Larry O’Brien Trophy and snapped their 53-year championship drought thanks to WWE superstar .
Now it’s back to the drawing board for the rest of the league.
The Nuggets, who own the 26th overall pick in the NBA Draft, are looking to improve a team that was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2021-22 season. The draft will take place June 23-24.
NBA Draft: 12 prospects who could be in play for Nuggets with 26th pick
Here’s a look at who national draftniks are thinking will land in Denver.
USA Today | Bryan Kalbrosky | Updated June 15
Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech
"The Denver Nuggets tend to look for players with a strong assist-to-usage ratio because they rely on high-efficiency passing and off-ball movement. Texas Tech sophomore Christian Anderson is a potentially perfect fit. After moving from the two-guard to point guard, the All-Big 12 Most Improved Player recorded more than twice as many assists per 100 possessions as a sophomore compared to when he was a freshman. Anderson managed to do that while also scoring well on spot-up possessions and handoffs. Even though he is a bit undersized, there are few better offensive creators in this class than Anderson." .
Sports Illustrated | Derek Parker | Updated June 8
Zuby Ejiofor, F, St. John’s
"For years the Nuggets have attempted to add valuable frontcourt pieces to no avail, but likely would with a pick on St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor. Ejiofor has long been one of the best players in college basketball, having led the Red Storm in points, rebounds, assists and blocks this season. He’s among the most switchable defenders in the class, and has enough offensive juice as a hub to be a plus. Ejiofor can’t yet space the floor at a workable NBA level, but his passing and defense would do wonders for the Nuggets, be it alongside or in reserve of Nikola Jokic." .
The Athletic | Sam Vecenie | Updated June 8
Ebuka Okorie, G, Stanford
"This is another player with a wide range, as I’ve heard anywhere from right after the lottery to late first round. I think Okorie will be picked in the first round, and he would fit with the Nuggets. Denver needs a second ballhandler behind Jamal Murray, given that Tyus Jones was signed and entered the rotation quickly and will now hit free agency this summer. Okorie’s ability to pressure the rim could also blend nicely with Denver’s five-out structure and could allow him to play with Murray." .
Yahoo Sports | Kevin O'Connor | Updated June 16
Ebuka Okorie, G, Stanford
"The Nuggets need some variety to their half-court offense aside from having Nikola Jokić initiate everything. Well, here’s a guy who could help. Okorie is the best driving guard in the class, a 6-1 jitterbug who manipulates defenders with a tight handle, sudden changes of speed, and an advanced feel for the game. He's not an above-the-rim athlete, though, and not long ago he was a kid from New Hampshire who ranked outside the top 100 and committed to Harvard. Then Stanford found him, he flipped his commitment, and he proceeded to lead the ACC in scoring with eight 30-point games and a habit for hitting clutch shots. NBA teams will have to decide whether what carved up the ACC will survive against bigger, longer defenders." .
ESPN | Jeremy Woo | Updated June 15
Koa Peat, F, Arizona
"After opting to stay in the draft rather than return to Arizona, Peat seems to be trending toward the 20s, with teams continuing to express concern about his jump shot. His physicality and defensive versatility might appeal to a team like Denver, which has been able to creatively fit different skill sets around Nikola Jokic and needs to get more athletic along the frontline.
"The Nuggets should be taking a best-available approach as they work to improve their depth. They are working with cap constraints as Peyton Watson hits restricted free agency, a situation that could lead to Denver moving a veteran player to enable added flexibility." .
Other picks:
- Second round, 49th overall pick: Tyler Nickel, SG, Vanderbilt
SB Nation | Ricky O'Donnell | Updated June 8
Koa Peat, F, Arizona
"Peat had the toughest decision of the withdrawal deadline to make, but I actually think he made the right choice by staying in the draft. His money surely would have been bigger at Arizona for a hypothetical sophomore season, but he risked falling off the NBA radar completely if he didn’t improve in important areas. There should still be room for him at the end of the first round with much of the depth in this class getting drained by NIL dollars. His intersection of weight, passing, and offensive rebounding will be interesting even if his shot is completely busted right now." .
The Associated Press | Aaron Beard and Brian Mahoney | Updated June 16
Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas
"The 6-3, 190-pound freshman is a defense-stretching scorer (15.6) alongside top pro prospect Darius Acuff Jr. He shot 47.9% from 3-point range (56 of 117) after Christmas, a 25-game stretch spanning the Razorbacks’ run to the SEC Tournament title and the NCAA Sweet 16." .
