DENVER — There are traditional, tried-and-true methods of rebuilding a team. There is the draft-and-wait philosophy, which has the Oklahoma City Thunder poised for a long stay among the N.B.A.’s elite. There is the future-is-now credo that propelled the Boston Celtics from a 15-year rut without a 50-victory season to 234 wins over the last four years, two finals appearances and a title.

Then there is the way the Denver Nuggets rebuilt. A season ago, the Nuggets waited as one rumor after another regarding the perennial All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony was floated into public discussion. All the while, their fans fretted and fidgeted, only too eager to share their fear that an inability to trade Anthony would send them into the same abyss the Cleveland Cavaliers found themselves after LeBron James left for Miami.

That the Nuggets are 9-5 offers early evidence that their patience is already reaping dividends. So, too, is the development of Danilo Gallinari, the 6-foot-10 forward whom the Nuggets insisted on acquiring from the Knicks in a 13-player, four-draft-pick, three-team deal that also involved the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Chemistry and cohesion are already evident.

“We have a group of unselfish players,” said guard Arron Afflalo, one of three current starters who was with the team before the trade. “That alone will allow you to have some type of camaraderie. The group that had been here was here for about four or five years. From that standpoint, there was an awareness of who you were on the court with. But from a selfish mentality to the willingness to grow and learn together, this group is very good.”