[1] During the off-season, the team signed free agent All-Star guard Walter Davis.
[7][8][9] At mid-season, the team traded Jay Vincent and Calvin Natt to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Dave Greenwood and Darwin Cook,[10][11][12][13] and held a 25–23 record at the All-Star break.
[14] Despite losing six of their final eight games, the Nuggets finished in third place in the Midwest Division with a 44–38 record,[15] while posting a very successful 35–6 home record at the McNichols Sports Arena.
In addition, Davis played a sixth man role, and contributed 15.6 points per game off the bench, while Danny Schayes provided with 12.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, and Wayne Cooper averaged 6.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game.
[23] However, in the playoffs, due to injuries to Lever (thigh bruise), Adams (hamstring), and Schayes (sprained ankle),[24][25][26][27] the Nuggets were swept by the Phoenix Suns in three straight games in the Western Conference First Round.