Denver Gazette beat writer Vinny Benedetto takes you around the NBA and inside the Nuggets locker room: NBA Insider LeBron James’ kingdom spans the NBA landscape almost without exception. Denver, however, has proved to be unconquerable. The Nuggets are the only team with a winning record (24-21) against James in the regular season, heading into Tuesday’s game against the Lakers at Ball Arena. Golden State joins the short list of strongholds when the playoffs are included with a 37-36 record against James’ teams. But Denver still owns the best winning percentage against King James with a 33-26 record. The 41-year-old, who is in a record-breaking 23rd year of his NBA career is running out of time to add the Mile High City to his territories. “That’s a cool stat,” Altitude Sports broadcaster Vic Lombardi told the Denver Gazette. “I think that’s one the Denver Nuggets organization should hold dear, because when he’s done playing, he’s going to have Ws against every franchise in the league but one.” Here’s how the Nuggets have fared against James in his various reigns: Just a kid from Akron 2003-10 Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James, left, and Denver Nuggets’ Carmelo Anthony talk during their game Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane) With a little different lottery luck, Denver could’ve been home to James’ first castle. The Nuggets and Cavaliers finished the 2002-03 season with matching 17-65 records and shared the best odds to have the opportunity to draft basketball royalty. The hometown Cavaliers were the lucky team, while Denver dropped to third, eventually selecting Carmelo Anthony. James edged out Anthony for the 2004 Rookie of the Year award, but the Nuggets went 2-0 against the Cavaliers with Anthony outscoring James 14-7 in the first meeting and 26-19 in the second. The era ended on Feb. 18, 2010, when Anthony capped a 40-point night with a game-winning jump shot in the final seconds to spoil James’ 43-point, 13-rebound, 15-assist performance. They were both wearing different uniforms the next time they met on the hardwood, but Anthony and the Nuggets went 10-4 against James’ Cleveland squads to start their career, including a 5-2 record in Denver. “Carmelo actually, early in his career, got the best of LeBron when Cleveland came here,” Lombardi said. “Carmelo went to the playoffs before LeBron. I remember LeBron at one of Carmelo’s playoff games. He came to watch.” Miami Vice 2010-14 Miami Heat forward LeBron James, right, works the ball inside as Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari, of Italy, covers in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Denver, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Things changed in 2010. James became one of the NBA’s villains after teaming up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, two other members of the 2003 draft class in Miami. That changed his reception in many NBA arenas, including Denver. “Early on, he was admired. We were awestruck like any fan,” Lombardi said. “In my humble opinion, fans got a little worn out by LeBron after he made the decision to leave Cleveland. The whole Miami thing and “The Decision,” that was a made-for-TV circus event, and everybody saw it for what it was.” James missed the Heat’s first game in Denver, a big Nuggets win behind 28 points from J.R. Smith and 21 from Anthony. Denver traded Anthony to the Knicks by thetime the Nuggets made their lone trip to Miami in the 2010-11 season. James won his first two championships in Miami and finished with a 3-3 record against the Nuggets as a member of the Heat, but Denver made a draft pick that changed everything in the summer of 2014. Return of the King 2014-18 Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James, right, drives past Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, from Serbia, in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) Nikola Jokic played his first game against James on Dec. 29, 2015. The Cavaliers won, 93-87, behind 34 points from James, while Jokic had 10 points, seven rebounds and an assist off the bench. Cleveland swept Denver that season and went on to dethrone the Warriors to win the franchise’s first championship. That helped flip the local fans back. “When he went (back) to Cleveland and won that title against the dynasty that was Golden State, I think a lot of fans looked and said ‘that’s pretty cool, man. He goes home and wins one for his hometown.’ Not many people have a chance to do that,” Lombardi said. “I think everyone was in his corner when he did that. I know I was.” Jokic and Jamal Murray got their first win against the King and his new guards, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, on March 27, 2017. Jokic had 16 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, while Murray had 15 points off the bench as a rookie. The Cavaliers and Nuggets split their two meetings in 2017-18, and James finished his second stint in Cleveland with a 5-3 record against Denver. It’s the only era of James’ career that included a winning record against the Nuggets. Lake Show 2018-present Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) The kingdom moved west for the first time in 2018, and James’ popularity in Denver dipped once again when he joined the Lakers. “When he decided to go all Hollywood, to that team, which has always been a thorn in the side of the Denver Nuggets organization, that team, that place, that changed the tune dramatically,” Lombardi said. Joining the Lakers provided more opportunities for James to expand his territories, but Jokic and Murray have held down the fort. Denver went 2-1 against James in his first season as a Laker. The only season James truly dominated Denver came in 2019-20. Los Angeles went 3-0 in the regular season and defeated the Nuggets in five games in the Western Conference Finals on the way to James’ fourth championship. The Nuggets fought back by sweeping the Lakers in the 2023 conference finals, and Jokic went on to claim the crown, delivering the franchise’s first championship. Denver beat the Lakers in five games in the 2024 playoffs, and enters Tuesday’s meeting with an 18-13 record against the Lakers since James joined the team. What I’m Thinking Jamal Murray didn’t have his first All-Star selection confirmed Monday, but he should still make plans to spend the break in Los Angeles. Nikola Jokic was the only Nugget voted to be an All-Star starter from the Western Conference alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic and Victor Wembanyama. Jokic finished first in the player vote and second in the fan and media voting. Murray was ninth in the media vote, 11th in the player vote and 14th among the fans. That wasn’t enough to crack the top five, but he should be a lock when the NBA’s coaches select seven more reserves from the Western Conference in the coming days. What They’re Saying Rebounding was a major issue for the Nuggets against the Wizards and Hornets over the weekend, and Nuggets coach David Adelman thought better individual defensive efforts would help the cause while the Nuggets are without Jokic and Jonas Valanciunas. “It’s just got to get better. It’s a glaring weakness right now,” Adelman said. “I love the effort in the second half. I know we couldn’t make a shot, but I thought the guys played super hard.” What I’m Following The Nuggets are still going to be down three starters when the Lakers come to town Tuesday. Jokic, Christian Braun and Cam Johnson remain out, as does Valanciunas. Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Tim Hardaway Jr. are probable for Denver. Los Angeles will almost be at full strength. Austin Reaves and Adou Thiero, both out, are the only players listed on the Lakers’ injury report. Kevin Durant hit a one-legged jumper to pass Dirk Nowitzki for sixth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. A tough season for Jalen Williams just got tougher. The Thunder wing will be reevaluated in a couple of weeks after suffering a right hamstring strain on Saturday. The Nuggets and Thunder play for the first time this season on Feb. 1. ...read more read less