JWSport Jacek Waszak – Sport journalist
The Denver Nuggets basketball players have won the NBA championship. In the fifth game of the final series, they defeated the Miami Heat 94:89 at home and won 4-1 in the competition to four victories. The best player of the finals was selected Serbian Nikola Jokić of the Nuggets, who threw 28 points and had 16 rebounds in the last game.
This is the first championship title in the history of the Denver Nuggets, who have been competing in the NBA since 1976.
The Denver Nuggets won their first-ever NBA championship title when they defeated the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals,|.
The Denver Nuggets were founded in 1967 as the Denver Rockets and played in the ABA league. They enjoyed some success there, winning the division championship in 1970. The name was changed in 1974, in a bid to join the NBA, where a club called the Rockets was already playing. Even as the Nuggets, the team played its best season in the ABA – 1975-1976, when, under Larry Brown, it played in the league finals only once. After that season, the ABA ceased operations and the Nuggets, alongside three other clubs, joined the NBA. Here they continued their good run, winning two consecutive division titles, but failing to translate this into good play-off play.
I would also like to write to you that Denver is first and foremost a city of American football – the Denver Broncos club, especially through the great Payton Manning era, (2012-2015), has dominated the hearts of fans in recent times. I was at the Avalanche’s championship fete a year ago, but more fans came to celebrate the Nuggets’ success – looking at the numbers and media reports. Not just from the city, as people came from all over the state, as well as other states. Why? Because we waited 47 years for a title. You can see that slowly Denver is becoming a basketball city. You see people in the streets wearing Jamal Murray jerseys, Jokic jerseys of course, and for the past few seasons tickets to games have been sold out. We hope the fans’ love of basketball continues to grow.
But what a thriller it was, filled with fatigue and powerlessness. Denver settled for a good score and withstood the end of the game . Jimmy Butler absent offensively in the first half ripped off the reins in the fourth quarter, successive threes put in, but in the end the electricity, the talent, the conditions ran out.
The visitors were losing by a difference of 15 points by the break, as they were unable to stop LeBron James, who already had 31 points after two quarters and finished the game with 40, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
However, they more than made up for the loss in the third period, which they won with 36:16. In the last one they first allowed themselves to catch up twice (96:96, 102:102), but then Jamal Murray, who was fouled on a shot from beyond the arc, used all three free throws and Aaron Gordon improved with a dunk and it seemed safer.
A minute later Jokic hit a three-pointer for 110:104, but the hosts did not give up and 72 seconds before the final buzzer led to a 111:111 tie. However, the last word in this duel and the whole series belonged to the Serbian, who again gave the lead to the Nuggets. In the final seconds, twice James had a chance to turn the game around, but once he missed and once he was blocked by Gordon.
Results like in the days of Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing in 1994, yet Denver has never been renowned for its defensive prowess, quite the opposite. The Joker was to be rushed and harassed by a busy perimeter and a pick and roll game. The end result you see. The Heat were never able to properly punish their rivals for jamming up the middle. Even when they hauled Jokic to the top of the floor, at curtain height, Denver were still able to pawn the rim thanks to a massive physical advantage. They took away the South Beach team’s inside game, the foul game. These guys couldn’t carry the offensive load. Heavily pressured on both sides, playing above their means, they had to finish their actions with floaters, hitting series from the 7.24 metre line, from which they were also driven.
Tyler Herro, contrary to misleading announcements, did not appear on the floor (ah those fake-news, everything to confuse bettors). Miami once again lacked an offensive spark, yet the fourth quarter stood open, there were chances. Well, unfortunately, we invite you next year, but first of all the strong-wing should be strengthened. Bring in another efficient guy like Adebayo (20 points 12 rebounds) and we should play.
Nikola Jokić is the fourth European basketball player with the Finals MVP award. Before him, Frenchman Tony Parker (2007, San Antonio Spurs), German Dirk Nowitzki (2011, Dallas Mavericks) and Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo (2021, Milwaukee Bucks) won it. The Finals MVP coming from outside the USA was still only Nigerian Hakeem Olajuwon (1994 and 1995, Houston Rockets).
Nikola Jokić was selected. In the deciding game, the Serb recorded 28 points, hitting 12 of 16 shots from the game, as well as 16 rebounds. He scored as many as 10 points in the fourth quarter. In the five-match series, he averaged 30.2 points at 58 per cent efficiency from the game, 14 rebounds and 7.2 assists.
In the contest to five wins, the Denver Nuggets were clearly superior. They triumphed 104:93, 109:94, 108:85 and 94:89. The Miami Heat basketball players won only once – 111:108.d
NBA Finals 2023 . Results of all NBA Finals games:
Denver Nuggets – Miami Heat 4-1
2 June: Denver Nuggets – Miami Heat 104:93
5 June: Denver Nuggets – Miami Heat 108:111
8 June: Miami Heat – Denver Nuggets 94:109
10 June: Miami Heat – Denver Nuggets 95:108
13 June: Denver Nuggets – Miami Heat 94:89
Denver Nuggets – Miami Heat 94:89 (22:24, 22:27, 26:20, 24:18)
Denver Nuggets : (Nickola Jokić 28, Michael Porter Jr. 16, Jamal Murray 14 , Kentavious Caldwell 11, Bruce Brown 10, Christian Braun 7 , Jeff Green 4 , Aron Gordon 4
Miami Heat :Jimmy Butler 21,Bam Adebayo 20, Max Strus 12, Kyle Lowry 12, Caleb Martin 10, Gabe Vincent 6, Duncan Robinson 5, Kelvin Love 3,
The Nuggets enjoyed the title today. Rejoicing is Nikola Jokić and his colourful Serbian family. Rejoicing is Jamal Murray, Mike Malone, who, commentators pointed out, has dedicated his entire life to the NBA. Today, all of Colorado is playing. Deservedly so. This is perhaps the beginning of a great dynasty of the world’s best league.
The 5 NBA teams with the most championship titles won
HistoryNBA
Boston Celtic 17
Los Angeles Lakers 17
Golden State Warriors 6
Chicago Bulls 6
San Antonio Spurs 5
The following teams have never played in the NBA Finals: the Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Denver Nuggets.
NBA Championship MVP
2022-23 Denver Nuggets – Miami Heat 4-1 MVP Nikola Jokic
2021- 22 Golden State:Warriors – Boston Celtics 4-2 MVP Stephen Curry Golden State
2020 -21 Phoenix Suns Milwaukee Bucks 2–4 MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo
2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers -Miami Heat 4-2 LeBron James
2018-19 Toronto Raptors-Golden State Warriors 4-2 Kawhi Leonard, Raptors
2017-18 Golden State Warriors -Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 Kevin Durant, Golden State
2016-17 Golden State Warriors-Cleveland Cavaliers 4-1 MVP Kevin Durant, Golden State
2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers-Golden State Warriors 4-3 LeBron James, Cavaliers
2014-15 Golden State Warriors -Cleveland Cavaliers 4-2 Andre Iguodala, Warriors
2013-14 San Antonio Spurs-Miami Heat 4-1 Kawhi Leonard, Spurs
2012-13 Miami Heat-San Antonio Spurs 4-3 Lebron James, Miami
2011-12 Miami Heat -Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1 Lebron James, Miami
2010-11 Dallas Mavericks-Miami Heat 4-2 Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas
2009-10 Los Angeles Lakers -Boston Celtics 4-3 Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles
2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers-Orlando Magic 4-1 Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles
2007-08 Boston Celtics-Los Angeles Lakers 4-2 Paul Pierce, Boston
2006-07 San Antonio Spurs -Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 Tony Parker, San Antonio
2005-06 Miami Heat Dallas -Mavericks 4-2 Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
2004-05 San Antonio Spurs-Detroit Pistons 4-3 Tim Duncan, San Antonio
2003-04 Detroit Pistons- Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons
2002-03 San Antonio Spurs-New Jersey Nets 4-2 Tim Duncan, San Antonio
2001-02 Los Angeles Lakers-New Jersey Nets 4-0 Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles
2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers- Philadelphia 76ers 4-1 Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles
1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers- Indiana Pacers 4-2 Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles
1998-99 San Antonio Spurs – New York Knicks 4-1 Tim Duncan, San Antonio
1997-98 Chicago Bulls- Utah Jazz 4-2 Michael Jordan, Chicago
1996-97 Chicago Bulls -Utah Jazz 4-2 Michael Jordan, Chicago
1995-96 Chicago Bulls – Seattle SuperSonics 4-2 Michael Jordan, Chicago
1994-95 Houston Rockets – Orlando Magic 4-0 Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston
1993-94 Houston Rockets – New York Knicks 4-3 Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston
1992-93 Chicago Bulls – Phoenix Suns 4-2 Michael Jordan, Chicago
1991-92 Chicago Bulls – Portland Trail Blazers 4-2 Michael Jordan, Chicago
1990-91 Chicago Bulls – Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 Michael Jordan, Chicago
1989-90 Detroit Pistons – Portland Trail Blazers 4-1 Isiah Thomas, Detroit
1988-89 Detroit Pistons – Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 Joe Dumars, Detroit
1987-88 Los Angeles Lakers – Detroit Pistons 4-3 James Worthy, Los Angeles
1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers – Boston Celtics 4-2 Magic Johnson, Los Angeles
1985-86 Boston Celtics – Houston Rockets 4-2 Larry Bird, Boston
1984-85 Los Angeles Lakers-Boston Celtics 4-2 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles
1983-84 Boston Celtics – Los Angeles Lakers 4-3 Larry Bird, Boston
1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers – Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 Moses Malone, Philadelphia
1981-82 Los Angeles Lakers – Philadelphia 76ers 4-2 Magic Johnson, Los Angeles
1980-81 Boston Celtics – Houston Rockets 4-2 Cedric Maxwell, Boston
1979-80 Los Angeles Lakers – Philadelphia 76ers 4-2 Magic Johnson, Los Angeles
1978-79 Seattle SuperSonics – Washington Bullets 4-1 Dennis Johnson, Seattle
1977-78 Washington Bullets – Seattle SuperSonics 4-3 Wes Unseld, Washington
1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers – Philadelphia 76ers 4-2 Bill Walton, Portland
1975-76 Boston Celtics – Phoenix Suns 4-2 Jo Jo White, Boston
1974-75 Golden State Warriors – Washington Bullets 4-0 Rick Barry, Golden State
1973-74 Boston Celtics – Milwaukee Bucks 4-3 John Havlicek, Boston
1972-73 New York Knicks – Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 Willis Reed, New York
1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers – New York Knicks 4-1 Wilt Chamberlain, Los Angeles
1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks – Baltimore Bullets 4-0 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee
1969-70 New York Knicks – Los Angeles Lakers 4-3 Willis Reed, New York
1968-69 Boston Celtics – Los Angeles Lakers 4-3 Jerry West, Los Angeles
1967-68 Boston Celtics – Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers- San Francisco Warriors 4-2
1965-66 Boston Celtics – Los Angeles Lakers 4-3
1964-65 Boston Celtics – Los Angeles Lakers 4-1
1963-64 Boston Celtics – San Francisco Warriors 4-1
1962-63 Boston Celtics – Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
1961-62 Boston Celtics – Los Angeles Lakers 4-3
1960-61 Boston Celtics – St. Louis Hawks 4-1
1959-60 Boston Celtics – St. Louis Hawks 4-3
1958-59 Boston Celtics – Minneapolis Lakers 4-0
1957-58 St. Louis Hawks – Boston Celtics 4-2
1956-57 Boston Celtics – St. Louis Hawks 4-3
1955-56 Philadelphia Warriors – Fort Wayne Pistons 4-1
1954-55 Syracuse Nationals – Fort Wayne Pistons 4-3
1953-54 Minneapolis Lakers – Syracuse Nationals 4-3
1952-53 Minneapolis Lakers – New York Knicks 4-1
1951-52 Minneapolis Lakers – New York Knicks 4-3
1950-51 Rochester Royals – New York Knicks 4-3
1949-50 Minneapolis Lakers – Syracuse Nationals 4-2
1948-49 Minneapolis Lakers – Washington Capitols 4-2
1947-48 Baltimore Bullets – Philadelphia Warriors 4-2
1946-47 Philadelphia Warriors – Chicago Stags 4-1
