--- title: Nuggets Trail NBA Schedule Release | 5th Hashtag Sports Awards description: The Hashtag Sports Awards recognize excellence in fan and consumer engagement across sports entertainment. image: https://www.hashtagsports.com/hubfs/awards/shortlist-2023/nuggets-trail.jpg --- # Nuggets Trail NBA Schedule Release [Denver Nuggets](https://www.nba.com/nuggets) 2023 Nominee ✨ - Best Use of Motion Graphics or Animation ###### Share [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hashtagsports.com%2Fawards%2Fshortlist-2023%2Fnuggets-trail) [** ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hashtagsports.com%2Fawards%2Fshortlist-2023%2Fnuggets-trail&text=Nuggets+Trail+NBA+Schedule+Release+%7C+5th+Hashtag+Sports+Awards) [** ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hashtagsports.com%2Fawards%2Fshortlist-2023%2Fnuggets-trail) ABOUT THIS ENTRY While brainstorming for the highly-anticipated NBA schedule release, our team wanted to create a video to showcase our schedule that aligns with the Nuggets, the city of Denver, and the Rocky Mountain region. We landed on the idea of tying in these aspects through a Nuggets version of the video game, The Oregon Trail. How does this represent “Excellence in Engagement”? This was our first "long form animation" piece from our content team. We wanted to test our limits and creativity with the NBA schedule release. We wanted to show our fans that this kind of content is possible from their favorite team and that we could go a step further than a static graphic. ![nuggets-trail-2](https://www.hashtagsports.com/hs-fs/hubfs/awards/shortlist-2023/nuggets-trail-2.webp?width=1634&height=1244&name=nuggets-trail-2.webp) Objective We wanted to use the inspiration and concept of the throwback video game, The Oregon Trail, to bring the Denver Nuggets' schedule to life in a creative and engaging way. We came up with marquee matchups and "obstacles" that our top 3 players would face along the journey to the playoffs. We wanted to tie in sports and video games for this highly anticipated release. Strategy & Execution This was a complete team effort to tie the biggest games on our schedule into a throwback video game. We collaborated and brainstormed as a team to come up with what the “video game” would look like and how the Nuggets brand would tie into the look and feel. Some of the critical features we showcased were the storyline and “obstacles” the characters faced along the way. For each match-up on our schedule, we determined what our players would "face" on the trail on their way to each game and what they would have to "defeat" to get to the next opponent. Our designers had to create each background, character, and element with the same feel as The Oregon Trail, which took a lot of time and attention to detail. From our graphics team to our motion designer, this "game" came to life and allowed our future season “story” to be told in a captivating way with the style and flare of a video-game. **Organizations** - Denver Nuggets **Credits** **[Hali Oughton](https://www.linkedin.com/in/halioughton/)** Director, Social Media & Digital Content Kroenke Sports & Entertainment **[Jared Harding](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredlharding/)** VP & Executive Producer Kroenke Sports & Entertainment **[Bryan Smith](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-smith-078a98158/)** Manager of Digital Design Kroenke Sports & Entertainment **[Daniel Slovis](https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-slovis/)** Digital Graphic Coordinator Kroenke Sports & Entertainment **[Matheus Peulen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matheus-peulen-b8685b1a2/)** Sr. Graphic Designer Kroenke Sports & Entertainment **[Jaelyn Hershberger](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaelyn-hershberger/)** Motion Graphic Designer Kroenke Sports & Entertainment **[Henry Collins](https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-buford-collins/)** Social Media Coordinator Kroenke Sports & Entertainment **[Megan Goldin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-goldin/)** Content Strategist Kroenke Sports & Entertainment **[Sizhe Liu](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sizheliu/)** Digital Content Strategist Kroenke Sports & Entertainment **[Sarah Pineda](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahpineda/)** Manager, Social Media & Digital Content Kroenke Sports & Entertainment **[Francesco Todaro](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ftodaro/)** Director, Digital Video/Creative Production Kroenke Sports & Entertainment **[Shayna Glazer](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shayna-glazer-8b972a179/)** Manager, Digital Video Production Kroenke Sports & Entertainment **[JT Brown](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jt-brown-633a54229/)** Digital Video Editor Kroenke Sports & Entertainment **[Austin Carriere](https://www.linkedin.com/in/austincarriere/)** Digital Video Producer/Editor Kroenke Sports & Entertainment #### Celebrate in NYC Join us for the 5th Hashtag Sports Awards™ on the evening of June 14, 2023 as we celebrate finalists and reveal the winners of this year's awards live during the show.   [![RESERVE SEATS](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/834568/c79439a7-e53f-4aa9-9d60-2b68caf80d89.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/834568/c79439a7-e53f-4aa9-9d60-2b68caf80d89)