1998–99 Denver Nuggets season

The 1998–99 NBA season was the 23rd season for the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association, and their 32nd season as a franchise. Due to a lockout, the regular season began on February 5, 1999, and was cut from 82 games to 50.

After their dreadful season, where they finished with the league's worst record at 11–71, the Nuggets received the third overall pick the 1998 NBA draft, and selected center Raef LaFrentz from the University of Kansas. During the off-season, the team re-signed former Nuggets forward Antonio McDyess after one season with the Phoenix Suns, acquired All-Star guard Nick Van Exel from the Los Angeles Lakers, acquired second-year guard Chauncey Billups from the Toronto Raptors, and acquired second-year forward Johnny Taylor, and power forward, and top draft pick Keon Clark out of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas from the Orlando Magic.

Despite the return of McDyess, the Nuggets still continued to struggle under new head coach Mike D'Antoni, losing eight of their first nine games of the regular season. Things would get worse as LaFrentz suffered a knee injury after only just twelve games, and was out for the remainder of the season, averaging 13.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Without their top draft pick, the Nuggets lost their final seven games of the season, finishing in sixth place in the Midwest Division with a 14–36 record. The Nuggets had the worst team defensive rating in the NBA.

McDyess had a stellar season averaging 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Van Exel averaged 16.5 points and 7.4 assists per game, and Billups provided the team with 13.9 points per game. In addition, second-year forward Danny Fortson stepped into the team's starting lineup in LaFrentz's absence, averaging 11.0 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, while Eric Williams and Cory Alexander both contributed 7.3 points per game each off the bench, and Bryant Stith provided with 7.0 points per game.

This was also the Nuggets' final season playing at the McNichols Sports Arena, before moving to the Pepsi Center the following season. Also following the season, Fortson, Williams and second-year guard Eric Washington were all traded to the Boston Celtics, and D'Antoni was fired as head coach.