[1] To improve defensively, the Nuggets selected 7'2" Georgetown center Dikembe Mutombo with the fourth overall pick in the 1991 NBA draft, and also selected Mark Macon out of Temple University with the eighth pick.
[2][3] Mutombo was a native of Zaire, and spoke nine languages (English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and five African dialects).
The team also re-signed Walter Davis after a brief stint with the Portland Trail Blazers,[4][5] and acquired Winston Garland from the Los Angeles Clippers.
[6][7] Mutombo had an immediate impact as the Nuggets showed improvement with an 8–8 start to the season, then holding a 17–26 record at the end of January.
[14] Following the season, Davis retired, while Anderson and Garland were both released to free agency, and head coach Paul Westhead was fired.