The Denver Nuggets are not having the season that they were hoping for this season but that was to be expected considering that they are missing two of their three best players.

Jamal Murray has not played a game this season and Michael Porter Jr went down in the earlier part of the season and has yet to return. It is still questionable if either of these players are going to return for this Nuggets team but there are many rumors that they could potentially return for the playoffs. If both of these players can return, they're going to find a lot of success because that is one of the best big threes in the NBA with Nikola Jokic.

Although the Nuggets have not found the type of success that they were hoping for this season, they are still three games over .500 at 24-21 this season and hold the Western Conference sixth seed. They've been able to do so because Nikola Jokic is once again playing at an mvp-type level and they have also had some other guys who have really stepped up for this team. Guys like Will Barton, Monte Morris, Aaron Gordon, and others have all played a major role in trying to help Nikola Jokic win games for the Nuggets.

Because of the little bit of success that they have found this season while being injured, there are clearly many other reasons why they have been able to do so despite having arguably the best player in the NBA. Let's take a look at the three biggest unsung heroes of this year's Denver Nuggets team.

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Nuggets Unsung Heroes 2022

3, Will Barton

Will Barton hasn't done anything too crazy for this Nuggets team but he has still been more than serviceable while both of the other stars are out. On the season, he is currently averaging 15.3 points per game, which would be the second most in his long career, along with 4.8 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. Not only has he been able to score the basketball at an above-average level, but he is also shooting 37% from 3-point range on nearly six attempts per game. while shooting 43.4% from the field.

It is going to be interesting to see the type of role that Will Barton does have when the other two players do return, but they have to remember that he has really stepped up for them and they can't just let him not get the type of opportunities that he has gotten recently just because the other stars are back.

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Obviously, when Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr are back, the offense is going to rely heavily on them and rightfully so. Both of those guys are two of the best scorers in the NBA, but they also must realize that Will Barton has done a great job this season in terms of scoring the basketball and they can look for him to be that fourth scoring option on a championship-caliber team.

2. Monte Morris

Monte Morris is going to be an interesting name to look at during the NBA trade deadline because if the Nuggets do feel like they are going to get back their two stars for the playoffs, he could be somebody who could be moved just because he isn't going to get anywhere near as many minutes that he has gotten the season. He is currently averaging 12.6 points per game as well as 4.1 rebounds while shooting 37.3% from three-point range on over four attempts per game. He is also been highly efficient from the field as he is currently shooting 47%.

It would be highly questionable for them to decide to get rid of him because every championship-caliber team needs a backup guard who can come in and give them serviceable minutes. All Monte Morris has proven this season is that he can be more than a serviceable backup point guard and the Nuggets need to take that into consideration. Although it could be likely that they do decide to get rid of him if they think that they need a different type of piece, it might not make the most sense for the future of this team.

1. Fancundo Campazzo

Fancundo Campazzo isn't somebody who does anything special out there on the court but he has been a great defensive player for this team as he is currently averaging over a steal per game. He's one of those guys who's always seen throwing his body on the ground and just trying to make any type of play for his team to win. Every championship-caliber team needs a guy like this.