The Denver Nuggets have officially conquered the NBA mountaintop after a grueling 94-89 victory over the Miami Heat in game five of the 2023 NBA Finals at Ball Arena on June 13, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets officially clinched their first-ever title in 47 years behind Nikola Jokić’s all-time performance, solidifying themselves as one of the NBA’s best teams in recent history.
The 28-year-old Serbian-born center delivered a finals performance that’s one for the ages after averaging a compelling 30.2 points per game, 14.0 rebounds per game, and 7.2 assists per game on 58.3% shooting from the field and 42.1% from behind the arc. This finals performance alone propelled Jokić to new heights and set a higher standard for himself as he entered the top-5 center of all time conversation.
His counterpart, Jamal Murray who missed a whole season last year due to an ACL injury, came out flying in this finals series as he averaged 21.4 points per game, 10 assists per game, and 6.2 rebounds per game on a 45/38.7/92.9 shooting splits. This Nuggets dynamic duo proved to be too much for the 8th seeded Heat to handle, amassing massive problems on both ends of the floor.
Jokić again flirted with the NBA’s record books as he became the first player in NBA history to lead the whole playoffs in total points, rebounds, and assists. Not even the likes of all-time great all around playoff performers like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were able to achieve this feat – truly a testament to his greatness.
Many did not believe that the Nuggets were going to win it all this season since they’ve had a long history of coming up short in the past. In the 2018-19 playoffs, the Nuggets were bested in the West Semis, losing to the Trailblazers in seven games. The following year, they finally reached the West Finals but fell short against LeBron and the Lakers in five games. During Jokić’s first MVP season, they got swept at the hands of the Suns in the second round, and lost to the Warriors in five games in the first round the following year where Jokić also won another MVP award.
However, Jokić may have lost his MVP campaign this season, but he’s got the hardware that each player desires the most of, the Larry O’Brien trophy. He silenced his biggest doubters, carried the team on his back and ultimately won his first of many championships and Finals MVP awards.
Jokić may be drafted as the 41st overall pick in the 2nd round during a Taco Bell commercial, and he may not be the most intimidating center that most players and even fans would’ve thought of. They said he was too slow and too soft, but the Joker is no joke. He is the new King of the NBA.