Hoops Habit
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Every single NBA team’s Mount Rushmore of stars

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 2, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) look on in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) look on in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Denver Nuggets Mount Rushmore, Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony – Denver Nuggets Mount Rushmore (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

The Mount Rushmore of the Denver Nuggets

  • Carmelo Anthony
  • Alex English
  • Fat Lever
  • David Thompson

The Denver Nuggets’ Mount Rushmore features four of the most skilled scorers in NBA history. That all begins with Alex English. English ranks first in franchise history with 21,645 points in a Nuggets uniform, as well as No. 1 in assists, offensive rebounds, and games played.

Not to be confused with a player who posted empty numbers, English led Denver to nine postseason appearances and the 1985 Western Conference Finals.

Next on the list is the star of the Nuggets’ revival in the 2000s: Carmelo Anthony. Anthony led Denver to the Playoffs as a rookie in 2003, thus ending a drought that began in 1995—and he never missed the postseason a single time during the rest of his tenure.

Anthony famously led Denver to the 2009 Western Conference Finals, thus providing the Nuggets with their deepest run since 1985.

Dan Issel has the numbers, but it’s Fat Lever who gets the nod for the next spot on Mount Rushmore. He was a walking triple-double, an excellent defensive presence, and a leader who helped English lead Denver to consistent postseason appearances.

For what it’s worth: Lever ranks ninth in NBA history in triple-doubles, and famously shined in closeout games during the Playoffs.

Rounding out the list is the man who inspired Michael Jordan: David Thompson. The man known as Skywalker was one of the sport’s original high-flyers, scoring with grace and style as he received back-to-back All-NBA First Team selections as the star of the Nuggets.

Nikola Jokic may one day give these players a run for their money, but as of now, it’s Anthony, English, Issel, and Thompson on the Mount Rushmore.

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