Thousands of Nuggets fans arrived Thursday to Denver’s Civic Center Park to celebrate the team’s first-ever NBA championship after the team defeated the Heat earlier this week.
Nikola Jokic amused fans and reporters after his team’s Game 5 win when he said he ‘need[s] to go home’ to see his horses.
But the two-time MVP was at the parade with his family alongside the other Denver players and coaches that made the historic title win happen.
Jokic is coming off an historic playoff performance, where he became the first player to lead the league in total points (600), rebounds (269) and assists (190) in a single postseason.
The two-time NBA MVP added more hardware to his resume, too, capturing the Finals MVP.
Nikola Jokic (right) and Jamal Murray are seen on top of a vehicle during the Nuggets’ championship celebrations
Fans went wild as Jokic drove by them in Denver, as champagne sprayed in the air during the title celebration
Fans look on during the Nuggets victory parade and rally after winning the 2023 NBA Championship at Civic Center Park
Thousands of fans packed the area after the Nuggets won their first NBA Championship, beating the Heat in five games
A fan holds a cutout of Nikola Jokic, who starred in the postseason and led the playoffs in points, rebounds and assists
The limelight-averse Jokic had said he lost his Finals MVP trophy after the team’s 94-89 win over the Heat on Monday.
But the the center apparently found it as it was displayed on top of the vehicle he was on Thursday.
With the season now officially closed, Jokic will soon head home to Sombor, Serbia, to spend time with his family and return to his other passion – horse racing.
He’s hoping to make it back in time to attend a harness race on Sunday.
Jokic sweetly held and kissed his young daughter during the parade, while others from the Nuggets were more in party mode.
Guard Kentavious-Caldwell Pope had a beer-chugging contest with a fan, and also did Stone Cold Steve Austin’s patented beer smash, crushing two cans of beer on his face before tossing the cans in the street.
Even coach Michael Malone got in on the action as he sprayed champagne on Nuggets fans.
Malone also had a brash prediction for his Denver group.
‘We’re not done yet,’ he said atop a vehicle. ‘We some greedy b******s, baby. We getting another one.’
The Denver coach also got a bit introspective on the emotional day, choking up in a different interview.
‘Life’s about moments. And what we just accomplished, 47 years in the making,’ he said, thanking the fans of the team for their support and patience.
‘I got a crazy idea, let’s do this s***t again.’
The Nuggets capped off an impressive postseason by beating the Heat in the Finals on Monday in Game 5.
The Nuggets finished 16-4 in the playoffs, which was tied for the second-best mark by an NBA champion since the first round was expanded to best-of-seven in 2003.
San Antonio also was 16-4 in 2007, and Golden State went 16-1 in 2017.
Jokic had spoke of wanting to return to his native Serbia after the game but stuck around for the parade to celebrate
Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. sets on top of a vehicle during the Nuggets’ victory parade on Thursday
Christian Braun attends the Denver Nuggets championship parade with a WWE belt on his shoulder on Thursday
Denver Nuggets mascot Rocky is seen on a truck during the Denver Nuggets victory parade and rally on Thursday
A young fan celebrates during a rally and parade to mark the Denver Nuggets first NBA basketball championship
A fan holds up a mock Larry O’Brien trophy, which is given to the NBA Champions, during the parade on Thursday
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
