Nikola Jokic has become an NBA champion. The Denver Nuggets made history on Monday, defeating the Miami Heat in five games and joining the ranks of NBA title winners. This victory removes the Nuggets from the list of teams that have never won a championship, leaving only 10 franchises without a title after this glorious night in Colorado.
Jokic’s Journey to Glory
Jokic’s journey to glory began after being drafted 41st in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft. At the time, the Serbian was asleep at his parents’ home. Those watching the draft in the United States didn’t hear his name because, at the moment his NBA story began, a Taco Bell commercial was airing. Thus, this final series has been one of vindication.
Murray’s Emotional Return
Perhaps the most emotional moment came from Jamal Murray, a player who cried tears of joy. In 2021, he suffered a torn left patellar tendon. After undergoing surgery, he began a lengthy recovery process that kept him away from the sport until October 2022. On Monday, he turned the final page of that injury chapter.
In order to make history, the Nuggets had to change their script in the fifth game. Although Denver won three games by double-digit margins, Miami had been a powerhouse in closing out games. Prior to this night, the Florida team had outscored Denver 114 to 94. This evening, the Nuggets had to neutralize Jimmy Butler and prove that defense also wins championships.
Five games seemed to have taken their toll on the volcanic Butler. After earning a reputation as a miracle worker, Miami’s star barely showed up in the do-or-die match. He missed two free throws at the start, which seemed to foreshadow a quiet night. Accustomed to attacking and driving, Butler often chose to pass to his open teammates for three-pointers. In three quarters, he scored just eight points, leaving his team’s offense in the hands of Bam Adebayo (20), Max Strus (12), and Kyle Lowry, who sank four three-pointers but missed one with less than a minute on the clock, which could have changed the course of the night.
Miami led the scoreboard for the first three quarters. They started like a hurricane, convinced they could extend the epic run that marked a historic advancement – they were only the second team to make it from the eighth seed in a conference to the finals. A testament to the tough competition they’ve faced is the fact that Max Strus played in his 105th game tonight. One has to go back to the Lakers and Celtics showdown 13 years ago to find someone who has seen as much action in a single season.
Denver seemed stunned by the frantic pace set by Miami from the start. They lost three possessions in the first few minutes, which turned into 14 turnovers in the entire game (compared to Miami’s eight). The team began to heat up, and along with them, the 19,500 spectators. The electric atmosphere inside the Ball Arena was not only due to the players but also a mascot, a mountain lion named Rocky. In addition to Jokic, the Nuggets have the NBA’s star entertainer. The acrobat has been with the team since the days of Dikembe Mutombo. Last year, it was revealed that his salary is $625,000, a figure that far exceeds that of other mascots. To justify his salary, Rocky prevents the crowd from slipping into a beer and hot dog stupor with juggling and backwards half-court shots.
A three-pointer from Jamal Murray tied the game in the third quarter, forcing Butler to enter survival mode in what were the final minutes of his season. He sank a three-pointer that put Miami within four points of the Nuggets in the last quarter. Seconds later, he dribbled to the corner to attempt another shot amidst double coverage. The referees called a foul. Mark Malone, the local team’s coach, asked for a review of the play, believing that Butler had sought contact. With nerves of steel and nearly twenty thousand souls against him, Butler made three free throws. He was defeated just like he played all the playoffs, fighting until the last minute. In the final quarter, he scored 13 points.
A New Legacy in the West?
The series began on June 1st without stirring up too much passion in the United States. Perhaps because NBA fans would have preferred a final showdown between the conference losers, the Celtics and Lakers, both of whom have a rich history in basketball. Also, because Boston and Los Angeles are much more iconic cities compared to small Denver and chaotic Miami. However, the final has given clear signs that fans may be witnessing the birth of a new legacy.
“Want more? Want more?” shouted Coach Mark Malone to the fans after having lifted the trophy. The crowd hadn’t left their seats, and confetti rained down. On an improvised platform on the court, the franchise that began playing in the ABA, basketball’s rebel league, now wonders if this is the first of many. Jokic is 28, Aaron Gordon is 27, Murray is 26, and Michael Porter is 24. All of them have at least two more years on their contracts, which raises the question of whether a new giant has been born in the West tonight.
This Monday, there was a nod to those Nuggets who played nine seasons in the ABA, which innovated with three-pointers, allowed a more physical style, and featured a tricolor ball. Four teams were absorbed by the NBA in 1976. Davis Skywalker Thompson, one of the legends of that team, was present at the stadium to take an honorary free throw. He missed his chance tonight, but everyone remembers his 73-point game in the late eighties. Only Kobe Bryant and Wilt Chamberlain have scored more points in a single performance. However, Skywalker never brought a title to the team. That honor belongs to the Nuggets of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
