The 1995–96 NBA season was the Nuggets' 20th season in the National Basketball Association, and 29th season as a franchise. During the off-season, the Nuggets acquired top draft pick Antonio McDyess from the Los Angeles Clippers, and acquired Don MacLean and Doug Overton from the Washington Bullets. However, the team got off to a horrible start losing eight of their first nine games, as LaPhonso Ellis missed the first 37 games of the season with a knee injury. Despite the slow start, the Nuggets would then recover winning eight of their next nine games leading to a 9–9 start, but later on lost six straight games in January slipping below .500 with a 20–27 record at the All-Star break.