The team was founded as the Denver Larks in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, but changed its name to Rockets before the first season. It changed its name again to the Nuggets in 1974.

Thompson was known for his exceptional leaping ability that enabled him to become one of the game's premier dunkers in the 1970s, earning him the nickname of "Skywalker". Michael Jordan said, "The whole meaning of vertical leap began with David Thompson." And Bill Walton described him as "Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, and LeBron James rolled into one".

The highest-scoring regular season game in NBA history is the triple-overtime game between the Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets on December 13, 1983. The two teams combined to score 370 points, with the Pistons defeating the Nuggets 186-184.

Byron Beck was a hard worker known for his tenacious rebounding and efficient hook shot. He represented Denver in two ABA All-Star Games (1969 and 1976), and his #40 jersey was retired on December 16, 1977.

On March 9, 1985, Fat Lever went on stealing spree, setting an NBA record with eight takeaways in a single quarter. Lever would finish the game with ten steals, as part of a triple-double with 13 points and 15 assists as the Nuggets beat the Indiana Pacers 126-116 at McNichols Arena.

In 1982-83, Alex English won the league scoring title with an average of 28.4 points per game, while teammate Kiki Vandeweghe placed second, averaging 26.7 points.

Anthony sported the #15 through his college days at Syracuse and in his early years with the Denver Nuggets. He was forced to switch numbers once he joined the Knicks because the number 15 was retired by the Knicks in honor of Earl Monroe and Dick McGuire.

In 1992, Dikembe Mutombo starred in an Adidas advertisement that used the catchphrase "Man does not fly ... in the house of Mutombo", a reference to his prolific shot-blocking. The ad would prove prophetic as Mutombo led the league in blocks for the next three years with 336 blocks (1993-94), 321 blocks (1994-95), and 332 blocks (1995-96).

Larry Jones averaged 28.4 points per game and finished the regular season with a league-leading 2,133 points.

Lonnie Wright was the first player to play professional football and basketball in the same season. As a safety, he intercepted one pass for the Denver Broncos in the 1966 season and four more the following year.