The Denver Nuggets have been quiet this offseason in terms of their roster, but they did make one major addition to their coaching staff.
In a press release, the Nuggets announced the signing of Dave Joerger as an assistant coach. Joerger will serve as head coach David Adelman‘s top assistant next season.
“The Denver Nuggets have hired Dave Joerger as an assistant coach on Head Coach David Adelman’s staff, Ben Tenzer, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, and Jonathan Wallace, Executive Vice President of Player Personnel, announced today.”
Joerger joins an already loaded Nuggets coaching staff that already includes J.J. Barea, John Beckett, Rodney Billups, Chase Buford, Jared Dudley, Mike Moser, Andrew Munson, Ognjen Stojakovic and Elvis Valcarcel.
According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, the Nuggets front office wanted to add an assistant with head coaching experience to Adelman’s staff. Joerger was initially linked to Denver back in June.
Before signing with the Nuggets, Joerger was being considered by Melbourne United in Australia and Paris Basketball in France.
Dave Joerger’s Coaching Career
GettyDave Joerger of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts during the first half of the basketball game against Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center April 12, 2016, in Los Angeles, California.
After playing college basketball at Concordia and Minnesota State-Moorhead, Dave Joerger began his coaching journey with the Dakota Wizards of the International Basketball Association as an assistant.
Joerger became the Wizards’ head coach in 2000, remaining with the team until 2004 and throughout the merger of the IBA with the International Basketball League and Continental Basketball Association.
The NBA came calling three years later, with the Memphis Grizzlies hiring Joerger as an assistant. He became the Grizzlies’ head coach in 2013, amid the run of the franchise’s “Grit and Grind” era.
Joerger was dismissed in 2016 despite leading the Grizzlies to three playoff appearances. He was hired by the Sacramento Kings, serving as head coach from 2016 to 2019.
The Kings never made the playoffs during his tenure. He compiled a record of 245-247 in six seasons. He was 9-13 in the postseason.
In 2020, Joerger was hired as an assistant by the Philadelphia 76ers under head coach Doc Rivers. He joined the Milwaukee Bucks after Rivers was hired to take over following the firing of Adrian Griffin.
Denver Nuggets This Offseason
GettyPeyton Watson #8 of the Denver Nuggets reacts after making a three-point basket against the Sacramento Kings in the second half at Golden 1 Center on December 11, 2025 in Sacramento, California.
The Denver Nuggets have been fairly quiet in free agency, adding Marvin Bagley III, Alpha Diallo and Lonnie Walker IV. They also re-signed Tyus Jones and matched Spencer Jones‘ offer sheet from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In terms of departures, Tim Hardaway Jr. signed with the Miami Heat, while Jalen Pickett joined the Los Angeles Clippers. They also waived Jonas Valanciunas, who signed with Zalgiris in his home country of Lithuania.
Bruce Brown Jr. is still an unrestricted free agent, while Peyton Watson is a restricted free agent. Watson has been linked with the Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Nuggets are in active talks with the three teams for a possible sign-and-trade.
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