Kiki's Nuggets of Gold

Only 30 years after their first and only championship appearance does the grass finally look greener on the rocky mountain side.

The lonely Denver Nuggets have had more struggles, heartbreak, and disappointment than Ryan Leafs short-lived career.

Many old-time fans saw the peak of Nuggets basketball in the mid-'80s with their highly explosive assault of scorers such as Adrian Dently, Michael Adams, Alex English and Fat Lever.

Then a couple of disastrous seasons killed the Nuggets in the early '90s, only to become a reborn Nuggets ball club under old pal Dan Issell.

That roster was filled by a young Dikembe Mutombo and a troubled shooter named Mahmoud Abdul Rauf.

The summit of this teams potential was reached when they upset the No 1-seeded Seattle Supersonics in the '94 playoffs.

Though only advancing to engage another David and Goliath series against the heavily favored Utah Jazz which ended in a Jazz win in game seven.

That was the last time the Nuggets made the playoffs since this previous year.

During the next nine excruciating seasons until their next playoff series the Nuggets have been the laughing stock of the NBA.

Though they did almost make the playoff in '99 and in 2000 with the help of a healthy Antonio Mcdyess and a quick Nick Van Exel.

In the following year, the Nuggets tied the leagues worst single season record going 11-71.

After many draft acquisitions failed to help them reach the height of stardom as some would have hoped, the Nuggets were left cold, nervous, and out of luck.

All across the city as they were in the midst of trading Joe Sakic from their beloved Colorado Avalanche, billboards read "Sell the Nuggets, Buy back Sakic."

So the city gave up on the Nuggets, the league gave up on the Nuggets, and so did the players.

Along came Kiki Vandagwhe, his brilliance and expertise helped catapult this team into playoff contention, though the credit is not all Kiki's.

In the third pick of the 2003-2004 draft the Nuggets pick up heralded freshman phenom from Syracuse Carmello Anthony.

Acquired Marcus Camby in a trade from New York, signed free agents Andre Miller, Earl Boykins, and Voshon Lenard to their growing roster.

They also kept the gargantuan one name Brazilian Nene.

New arena, new management, new uniforms, a new roster, a superstar to cheer for, fed light, life, and hope into a once dark and dreary abyss.

With the departure of Shaquille O'Neal from the Lakers and an eastern team winning the championship, the West has opened up to more than the usual suspects.

With the success that the Nuggets enjoyed last year only made them hungrier for more.

The Nuggets have enticed another big time player that will help shape the team along with Carmello into a perennial force in the west.

Kenyon Martin was dealt in a sign-trade deal with the Nets for three future first round picks to New Jersey.

He will be "Living in the city" for $90 million over seven years, and after coming off the best season of his career, is developing into his prime.

The front court of the Nuggets is ferocious, tenacious and intimidating.

K-mart, Nene, and Camby will set up a front line waiting to be dealt with.

Andre Miller is a great pass first shoot second point guard that relishes in the idea of throwing it up to 'melo or K-Mart to bring it home.

The Anthony-Martin, one-two punch may prove to be deadly come playoff time.