The Denver Nuggets clinched their first ever NBA championship on Monday night, following it’s Game 5 win over the Miami Heat at home and Barack Obama and Magic Johnson led the congratulatory messages.
It was the longest wait for an NBA trophy in the history of professional basketball. The Nuggets surpassed the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers that won their first NBA title only 45 years after the club was established.
The NBA came to Denver in 1967 — 56 years ago.
Straight after the Nuggets’ 94-89 win, many people and brands within the world of sports and elsewhere paid tribute to Nikola Jokic and his teammates for their historic season on social media.
‘Congrats to the Denver @Nuggets and the remarkable finals MVP Nikola Jokic for bringing home the franchise’s first NBA championship!’ Tweeted former US president (No. 44) Barack Obama.
Former US President (No. 44) Barack Obama led the charge of Nuggets tributes on Monday
Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, center left, celebrates Denver’s first NBA title with teammates
Five-time NBA champion Magic Johnson paid tribute to the entirety of Denver’s coaching staff
Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray celebrates in the locker room after winning Game 5
‘Congratulations to Denver Nuggets Owner Stan Kroenke!!’ shared five-time NBA champion Magic ‘Earvin’ Johnson in a series of tweets. ‘He won a Super Bowl with the Rams, the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche, and now a NBA Championship with the Nuggets!’
The basketball Hall of Famer also congratulated Nuggets president Tim Connelly, GM and former NBA player Calvin Booth, and head coach Mike Malone and his staff, as he commended their ‘excellent job coaching every series of the playoffs.’
‘Congratulations to Nuggets superstars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, and every individual Nuggets player, the entire city and the Denver fan base!!!’ Johnson added.
The Empire State building was illuminated in Denver’s light blue and gold colors for the later part of Monday night, with the landmark’s official Twitter account sharing: ‘THE @NUGGETS MAKE HISTORY! We’re shinning in Nuggets colors for the rest of the night in honor of their 1st @NBA Championship’
Johnson also singled out Murray and Jokic as well as the Nuggets fan base in a separate tweet
The Empire State Building shone in the Nuggets’ blue and gold colors late on Monday night
Hawks star Trae Young, whose team lost to the Heat in the first round, said Denver ‘deserved it’
Serbia’s national football team tweeted a photo of Jokic and French Open champion Novak Djokovic
Atlanta Hawks star, Trae Young, also paid tribute to the Nuggets for defeating the team that knocked his out of the first round in five games in April, tweeting: ‘Denver deserved it this year. Congrats to them.!’
The Serbian national football team congratulated this year’s Finals MVP and two-time league MVP (2021, 2022) Nikola Jokic, who hails from the city of Sombor, sharing a photo of the Nuggets center and Sunday’s 2023 French Open winner — Novak Djokovic — in front of their countries national flag.
‘On top of the world,’ the account wrote as a caption for its tweet.
Denver’s three other professional sports teams demonstrated solidarity by joining in on the celebration, with the Broncos leading the charge.
‘LET’S GO @nuggets,’ the three-time Super Bowl winners wrote. ‘Another trophy for the Mile High City! #BringItIn.’
Nike paid tribute to Jokic – one of its ambassadors – with a special message for the Finals MVP
The Denver Broncos and its quarterback Russell Wilson also congratulated the Nuggets
Denver’s two other sports teams, the Rockies (MLB) & Avalanche (NHL) praised the Nuggets
The Colorado Avalanche – Denver’s NHL team – joked: ‘OUR ROOMMATES ARE NBA CHAMPS! Congrats, @nuggets! #GoAvsGo #BringItIn.’
‘Your NBA Champions! Congratulations @nuggets #BringItIn,’ tweeted the Colorado Rockies – the state’s MLB team.
Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson also shared his own personal message, sharing: ‘Amazing Team! Congrats @Nuggets,’ later posting a picture of himself, his wife and singer Ciara, and their three kids, in Nuggets gear.
‘Such a special moment!’ Wilson tweeted. ‘Denver @Nuggets World Champs! #FamilyMemories @Ciara.’
Nike congratulated Jokic – one of its ambassadors – by dedicating a video just for him, in which it says: ‘So a Serbian guy walks into an arena. Wins an MVP. Wins another one. Helps lead his team to the playoffs. Then the Finals. Wins a ring. Brings a city together. And everyone is happy. That’s it. That’s the punchline.’
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