In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene with media day just one week away. Among the topics discussed:

+ Jamal Murray is officially locked up. The Nuggets' star point guard signed a four-year, $208.5 million extension after an up-and-down summer that concluded with a sub-par showing at the Paris Olympics.  What does the deal mean for the Nuggets long-term? Was this a move the team had to make?

+ Looking back at the Olympics, Bennett talks about his experience watching Serbia and Team USA face off in the group stage of the Summer Games. Who impressed most in Paris? Is there anything that can be taken from those games that applies to this upcoming NBA season?

+ Our old friend Mike Singer has joined the Nuggets front office. A good addition? Or a great addition? 

+ The fellas draft all 30 NBA teams based upon how many wins they think each team will finish with.

Producer: AAron Ontiveroz

Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene with Russell Westbrook expected to soon join Denver in free agency. Among the topics discussed:

+ Russell Westbrook is bound to be a Mile High favorite, but does he have enough left at nearly 36 years old to help the Nuggets return to the NBA Finals? Ideally, who can play alongside Westbrook on the second unit?

+ Has the Nuggets’ starting five taken a step back this season with the loss of KCP? Are they deeper now than they were a year ago?

+ Rookie DaRon Holmes II ruptured an Achilles tendon in his first Summer League game. How much does this injury hurt Denver's plans? And what else can be gleaned from the Nuggets' performances in Las Vegas?

+ The Paris Olympics are almost here. Who is most likely to bring back a medal: Nikola Jokic or Jamal Murray?

Producer: AAron Ontiveroz

Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after NBA free agency opens and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope leaves for Orlando. Among the topics discussed:

+ Now that KCP has left the Nuggets for the Orlando Magic on a three-year deal, where does that leave Denver? Is Christian Braun ready for a bigger role? How will his exit cascade down through the rest of the roster?

+ There's been rumors about the Nuggets kicking the tires on Russell Westbrook as a possible addition. Would he be a good fit in Denver? Is Jamal Murray signing an extension?

+ Did Calvin Booth give up too much draft capital to move up and acquire DaRon Holmes with the 22nd overall pick of the NBA draft? How will Holmes slot into the lineup? Should Nuggets fans be worried that Booth has traded away so many picks, including the two second-rounders he had to send Charlotte to get off Reggie Jackson's salary?

+ Who has improved the most early on in free agency? Are the Oklahoma City Thunder suddenly the no-doubt favorites in the Western Conference?

Producer: AAron Ontiveroz

Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after the Boston Celtics took down the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals. Among the topics discussed:

+ How good are the 2023-24 Boston Celtics after capping off a dominant title run? Did the voters get it right giving the Finals MVP to Jaylen Brown over Jayson Tatum?

+ As the Nuggets continue to bring in draft prospects for visits, are there any names emerging for Denver's first-round pick? There's a lot of smoke with Dayton big man DaRon Holmes II. Could it be that the Nuggets made him a promise? Or might they be looking for a backup PG?

+ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's decision on opting out of the final year of his contract is coming up. Will the Nuggets guard wait until the last minute to make his decision?

+ Matt, Bennett and AAron draft the past 15 NBA champions to determine which teams rise to the top.

Producer: AAron Ontiveroz

Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene a day before the NBA Finals with plenty to talk about. Among the topics discussed:

+ The NBA Finals are here, with the Dallas Mavericks set to face the Boston Celtics. Is Luka Doncic the truth? Could he take the World's Best Basketball Player title from Nikola Jokic if he beats the Celtics in the Finals?

+ The fellas hold a quick and informal draft of the top players in the NBA Finals. How many of the top eight players are Celtics? And who ultimately wins the series?

+ Looking ahead to free agency: Who is likely and who is completely unlikely to join the Nuggets this summer? Does Denver have any chance of bringing an impact player into the fold without trading one of its marquee starters?

+ Is Jayson Tatum a top-five player? Is Joel Embiid still in the conversation?

Producer: AAron Ontiveroz

Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert are joined by esteemed author and former Nuggets beat writer Mike Singer. Among the topics discussed:

+ Mike weighs in on what went wrong for the Nuggets after they were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-3 in the Western Conference semifinals. Did Denver not have the depth needed to defend its title? Was this team compromised from the very start?

+ Bennett talks about head coach Michael Malone’s reluctance to rely on youth when the team needed an answer for the unrelenting T-Wolves.  Did the head coach run his players into the ground, as he suggested during an end-of-season news conference? Or did he not have a choice?

+ Mike talks about the work that went into producing his debut book: "Why So Serious? The Untold Story of Nikola Jokic." He shares never-before-heard anecdotes ahead of the book’s upcoming release.

+ After the passing of NBA legend Bill Walton, Mike and Bennett share personal stories of their interactions with the Basketball Hall of Famer.

+ Who wins the finals assuming the Dallas Mavericks eliminate the Timberwolves? The Boston Celtics await the outcome.

Producer: AAron Ontiveroz

Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated Denver in a stunning Game 7 comeback. Among the topics discussed:

+ Where did things go wrong for the Nuggets in the second half of Game 7? What could coach Michael Malone have done differently to stem the tide as Minnesota rallied from 20 points down to advance?

+ How much of the blame for what happened Sunday should be heaped upon the shoulders of superstars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray? What about the supporting players around them, in particular a cold-shooting Michael Porter Jr.?

+ What part of this result can be pinned on management? Did general manager Calvin Booth not give his head coach enough parts to successfully defend the title? What must be done to avoid this next season?

+ Lastly, Bennett talks about the chain of events that led to Michael Malone blowing up at him in the postgame press conference.

Producer: AAron Ontiveroz

Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after the Minnesota Timberwolves blew away Denver to take a 2-0 series lead. Among the topics discussed:

+ Jamal Murray threw in the towel and the heat pack. How does this affect the team, the struggling star and the Nuggets’ chances to dig out of a deep hole against a surging Minnesota team?

+ What answer is there for Anthony Edwards? With Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hobbled and struggling, Bennett contends Christian Braun might be the best bet.

+ Nikola Jokic is on the verge of his third MVP but took just 13 shots in the Game 2 loss. Does he need to do more?

+ The Minnesota defense ranked No. 1 this season and is proving its worth during an unbeaten playoff run -- even with Rudy Gobert missing Game 2. Are there avenues the Nuggets can explore to overcome the suffocating attack?

Producer: AAron Ontiveroz

Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after Jamal Murray hit yet another game-winner to eliminate the Los Angeles Lakers. Among the topics discussed:

+ Jamal Murray's postseason credentials continue to grow after the Nuggets guard hit his second game-winner in eight days. How concerned should the Nuggets be about his health? Or that his shot came and went throughout a hotly contested five-game series against the Lakers.

+ Michael Porter Jr. was arguably the most consistent offensive threat the Nuggets had all series. Can he maintain his hot streak as the Nuggets advance to take on Minnesota?

+ What are the key matchups against the Timberwolves? And how will lingering injuries affect Denver against a surging young team? Should Nikola Jokic be happy to finally rid himself of Anthony Davis?

+ Should the Nuggets feel concerned about the bench matchups against Minnesota?

+ Matt talks up his favorite NBA books then gets back on topic.

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after Jamal Murray's buzzer-beating game-winner over Anthony Davis and the Lakers. Among the topics discussed:

+ Jamal Murray has an all-time postseason resume that keeps growing. Is the killer over Davis the best of his shots to date?

+ Down 20 with 10 minutes to play in the third quarter, the Nuggets erupted to beat the Lakers for the 10th straight time. Will the Nuggets sweep or can L.A. muster something, anything to push the series to five games?

+ Do the Nuggets need to make any adjustments for Game 3 to avoid another double-digit deficit or is the game plan simply: Win by any means necessary?

+ Matt asks, yet again, who can challenge the Nuggets in the West? Bennett gives a revealing answer, while also shedding light on his mysterious NBA season awards ballot.

+ Bennett trolls loyal listeners, yet again, as he goes inside baseball and talks about a Toronto Blue Jays game.

Producer: AAron Ontiveroz

Music: “The Last Dragons” by Schama Noel