Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets made history for the loyal city of Denver Monday night, collecting the franchise’s first-ever championship by beating the Miami Heat 94-89.
Denver had a well-crafted starting lineup led by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who scored twenty-eight points, going 12-16 from the field. Jokic also walked away with the Finals MVP award. Right-hand man Jamal Murray played well all playoffs, averaging 26 points and seven assists. Michael Porter Jr. also contributed mightily, scoring sixteen points and thirteen rebounds in Game 5 to put away Miami.
When asked about their winning accomplishment, Murray says they have “proved all the doubters wrong.” Coming into the season, FOX had the Nuggets at +1800 to win the NBA Championship.
Head Coach Michael Malone put it all together. Malone, who has been with the Nuggets since 2015, sees more championships in the offing. “We aren’t satisfied,” he shouted during the post-game celebration.
That probably won’t happen without Jokic. At 28, the Serbian star is eyeing more championships and climbing the list of the greatest centers in the history of the NBA. He is already only one of eleven players who have won two MVPs and a championship. But there are concerns about his excitement level, including not wanting to attend the team’s parade celebration.
While we don’t want to question Nikola’s love for the game, the big question is how long this superstar will continue to play. Other things matter to Jokic, including his love of horses, swimming, and (most importantly) spending time with his family.
For now, let’s celebrate the Nuggets’ incredible playoff run. This team deserved to go all the way and should be one of the favorites to repeat in 2023-24.
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