The Denver Nuggets had a chance to win an NBA Championship for the first time in franchise history in their Game 5 matchup on Monday night. The Heat put up a great fight, but the Nuggets were ultimately too much in the closing moments of the game.
A number of players on the Heat had some very solid games, including Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler who each put up 20 points.
However, star center Nikola Jokić was just too much, putting up 28 points to go along with a whopping 16 rebounds to help his team come away with the historic win to end the 47-year championship drought.
"IT'S OVER! AT LAST, THE LONG WAIT IS OVER! AFTER 47 YEARS, THE DENVER NUGGETS CAN FINALLY CALL THEMSELVES NBA CHAMPIONS!"- Mike Breen 🏀🎙️🏆 #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/uMwqgnvaTm
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 13, 2023
As many expected, Jokić earned himself the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award, the first time that the award has been given out since Russell’s passing last July. He also becomes the lowest-drafted player to ever receive the award, a testament that speaks to his massive improvements over his career.
FINALS M-V-P 🏆
Nikola Jokić becomes the lowest drafted NBA player ever to win the Finals MVP award 👏 pic.twitter.com/ppZBuUoMSl
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 13, 2023
Many around the NBA world took to social media to congratulate the Nuggets for their championship victory.
Jamal Murray missed the last two postseasons rehabbing from a torn ACL.
He wondered if the Nuggets would trade him because he was “damaged goods”
He’s now an NBA Champion 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oqcZhYL1MK
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) June 13, 2023
& with that the 2022-23 season comes to a close.
Congrats, @nuggets pic.twitter.com/gmWadacKzP
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 13, 2023
Congratulations to the @nuggets on being the NBA championship team. Hard work and players being a part of something special… enjoy
— Ron Harper (@HARPER04_5) June 13, 2023
Nikola Jokic in the playoffs this season: 30 PPG; 13 RPG, 10 APG. He shined for the Nuggets every time out. Such an amazing story. Best second-round pick in NBA history.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) June 13, 2023
Who could ever forget the moment that the Nuggets’ fortunes changed and Denver drafted Nikola Jokic. pic.twitter.com/Q94ESA4nb0
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 13, 2023
This is an awesome ceremony…
One of the easiest teams ever to root and be happy for. Congrats Nuggets fans!🤝 pic.twitter.com/4bocSJIxVo
— Champion Picks (@ChampionPicks) June 13, 2023
This victory certainly raises a huge argument for Nikola Jokić truly being one of the top centers in NBA history. He notably has two regular season MVPs and is now a Finals MVP and an NBA Championship.
The win was also an emotional one for Nuggets star point guard Jamal Murray, who is just one year removed from missing the entire season due to a torn ACL. He let his emotions loose when asked what this win meant to him by ESPN’s Lisa Salters.
Nuggets star Jamal Murray gets emotional as he hears it from the Denver crowd during an interview with Lisa Salters. 🏀🏆 #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/yHSYhX75AD
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 13, 2023
Murray and Jokić are very clearly still in the prime of their careers, and if this postseason was any indication the Nuggets will be in contention to return to the NBA Finals next season.
