This band of players who helped the franchise end its 16-year playoff drought has started heading in different directions.
Experienced shooting guard Hayden Allen has retired. Americans Akeem Wright and Antoine Tisby leave for the United States today.
Mark Dickel, the captain, will be 37 when the season tips off next year and has made no secret of his desire to start a coaching career in the United States.
Coach Alf Arlidge has had four years at the helm and is still undecided about his future role with the team.
Dickel's homecoming two years ago arguably did more to lift the Nuggets than any other single factor.
He was still trying to digest the Nuggets' disappointing fourth quarter in the loss to the Nelson Giants in the semifinal in Napier on Saturday when asked about his future plans.
''It feels a long way away when you start thinking about another season,'' Dickel said, although he added he was keen to return at this stage.
''But we have some talented [local] players who did not get much of a chance because we had a such good players. But with Hayden retiring - it is very hard to replace someone like that - we can try and play an Otago player in that spot.
''But we've got to get people to come back. We took a huge step this year, and are we able to do the same thing next year?
''Allen certainly will not be lured out of retirement. He is all done.
''I think it will take a while to sink in. It might not be until the first couple of games next season, to be honest,'' Allen said.
He was disappointed his 15-year career ended the way it did. The Nuggets played well for three quarters but came apart in the last period and were outscored 28-9.
''I guess when you lose like that, it is a sour way to end the season. We did well to make it through to the playoffs but if you want to be a team that contends all the time then you need to be able to win these ones.''
Arlidge plans to put his energy into coaching the year 9 King's High School team for the next wee while. His twin sons, Oscar and Zac, play for the side.
''That is it for me at the moment,'' Arlidge said.
There will be player reviews, of course, and a few ends to tidy up. Arlidge will not be rushed into a decision about his future, but he did indicate it might depend on ''what the players do''.
Nuggets power forward BJ Anthony has been rewarded for an outstanding season with a place in the all-star five. He was also named the most outstanding New Zealand forward.
Lindsay Tait, Josh Pace, Brian Conklin and Nick Horvath join Anthony in the all-star team. Paul Henare, who guided the Southland Sharks to a stunning breakthrough title, was named coach of the year.
