By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic rode atop a firetruck with people who mean the world to him — his teammate Jamal Murray, his young daughter — and the NBA’s Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Jokic and the Denver Nuggets soaked in the moment and were soaked, too, by champagne spray on Thursday during a parade through downtown Denver to celebrate their first NBA title.
His daughter, Ognjena, stole the show as she sat in front of him, at times wearing Jokic’s championship hat. Jokic turned in some big assists, too, shielding her from champagne spray.
This celebration has been a long time in the making and swarms of fans showed up. It took 47 seasons in the NBA for the franchise to finally make Denver the home of the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
The Nuggets capped an impressive postseason by beating the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night. Denver 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.
It’s hitting me right now,” said coach Michael Malone, who was choking up as he was interviewed shortly after climbing off his firetruck for the parade. “This is an amazing experience.
“We’re not done yet.”
Coach Malone thanks the Denver fans as the parade rolls on… live on NBA TV and the NBA App!
📲 https://t.co/Y9eOWIeBoi pic.twitter.com/r7aRrOiQWE
— NBA (@NBA) June 15, 2023
“I’ve got a crazy idea,” added Malone, who was wearing a shirt that read, “Put this in your pipe and smoke it” with a picture of the trophy under it. “Let’s do this again. I want to be on another float. I want to be at another parade and do this thing again.”
