[2][3][4][5][6] During the off-season, the team acquired second-year guard Robert Pack from the Portland Trail Blazers,[7][8][9] and brought back Dan Issel as their new head coach; Issel starred for the Nuggets for ten seasons as a player.
[10][11][12] Under Issel, the Nuggets got off to a 7–7 start, but then suffered a 14-game losing streak from December 5, 1992 to January 5, 1993.
[13][14] At mid-season, the team signed free agent Tom Hammonds, who was previously released by the Charlotte Hornets.
[19] The progress of second-year star Dikembe Mutombo into one of the league's best defensive players was reason for hope, as he averaged 13.8 points, 13.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game, while Chris Jackson led the team in scoring averaging 19.2 points per game, which resulted in him being named the Most Improved Player of the Year.
[26] Following the season, Jackson would change his name to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf after converting to Islam two years ago,[27][28][29][30] and Todd Lichti and Anthony Cook, who missed the entire season with a knee injury, were both traded to the Orlando Magic.