Sports Illustrated commemorates the first NBA Championship of the Denver Nuggets.
ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED • THE NUGGETS PATIENTLY BUILT TO THEIR FIRST NBA TITLE, AND THEY NOW LOOK LIKE THEY COULD BE SET UP FOR MORE
The Season • THE NUGGETS’ COLLECTION OF STAR TALENT AND ROLE PLAYERS MESHED BEAUTIFULLY AS THE TEAM ROLLED THROUGH THE REGULAR SEASON WITH THE BEST RECORD IN THE WEST
The Playoffs • THE NUGGETS KNOCKED OFF THE TIMBERWOLVES, THE SUNS AND THE LAKERS TO WIN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FRANCHISE HISTORY
ROARING START • AFTER STUMBLING TOWARD THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON, DENVER CAME OUT HOT TO VANQUISH MINNESOTA
OUTSHINING THE SUNS • DURANT AND BOOKER MADE PHOENIX A HOT POSTSEASON PICK, BUT JOKIĆ AND MURRAY STEPPED UP TO STEAL THE SHOW
OVER THE HUMP • THE NUGGETS HAD NEVER BEEN TO THE NBA FINALS OR BEATEN THE LAKERS IN A PLAYOFF SERIES—UNTIL NOW
A New High • DENVER LEFT NO DOUBT ABOUT WHICH WAS THE BETTER TEAM AS IT DISSECTED MIAMI IN FIVE GAMES AND CLAIMED THE FIRST NBA TITLE IN FRANCHISE HISTORY
The Heroes • A CENTER WHO SEES ALL THE ANGLES, A GUARD WHO IS HIS PERFECT RUNNING MATE AND A FORWARD WHO FOUND HIS ROLE ALL HELPED LEAD DENVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP RUN
NIKOLA JOKIĆ • THE TWO-TIME MVP IS AT ONCE A SINGULAR TALENT AND THE END PRODUCT OF THE BASKETBALL TRAINING METHODS AND VALUES OF HIS NATIVE SERBIA
JAMAL MURRAY • THE NUGGETS SHOWED PATIENCE WITH THE TALENTED GUARD THROUGH GROWING PAINS AND A MAJOR INJURY, AND HE REWARDED THEM BY COMING UP BIG WHEN IT MATTERED MOST
AARON GORDON • THE FORMER MAIN MAN IN ORLANDO BECAME THE BEST VERSION OF HIMSELF AS A COMPLEMENTARY ATTACKER ON OFFENSE AND A PERIMETER PEST ON DEFENSE
The History • IT TOOK THE NUGGETS NEARLY A HALF CENTURY TO WIN THEIR FIRST NBA TITLE, BUT THEY HAVE LONG ENTERTAINED FANS WITH SOME OF THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED STARS IN THE LEAGUE
ALL-TIME GREATS • THE LIST OF NUGGETS’ FRANCHISE LEGENDS INCLUDES PROLIFIC SCORERS, INTIMIDATING SHOT-BLOCKERS AND A COUPLE OF GUYS NICKNAMED “SKYWALKER” AND “FAT”
DAN ISSEL • THE BELOVED LONGTIME NUGGET DIDN’T LOOK THE PART OF A TOP-FLIGHT CENTER, BUT THOSE WHO WENT AGAINST HIM KNEW JUST HOW TOUGH HE COULD BE
ALEX ENGLISH • THE GREATEST SCORER IN FRANCHISE HISTORY ATTACKED THE HOOP WITH MOVES THAT HAD A DISTINCTIVE FLOW, MUCH LIKE THE VOLUMES OF POETRY HE PUBLISHED
LAST SHOT
