Denver Nuggets are an American professional basketball team of the Western Conference of National Basketball Association (NBA) based in Denver, Colorado.
Franchise history The franchise was known as the Denver Rockets when it entered the ABA in 1967. The same year, an NBA expansion franchise named the San Diego (now Houston) Rockets began play. After seven seasons, and with entry into the NBA looming, Denver team officials renamed the club. "Nuggets" refer to the 19th century mining boom in Colorado, when people rushed to the area, hoping to make their fortunes by panning gold and silver nuggets. It also draws a connection to the defunct Denver Nuggets that played one season (1949-50) in the NBA. The Nuggets joined the NBA in 1976 when four ABA teams merged into the NBA.
