Over the basketball history of the organization, the Denver Nuggets never managed to succeed in their quest for an NBA Championship. The ongoing struggle for a title finally ended in victory as Nuggets star Nikola Jokic led Denver to a title. The decisive Game Five saw Jokic score 28 points and secure 16 rebounds en route to being named Finals MVP.
The Nuggets earned a Number 1 seed over the course of the regular season and looked the part of the top team in the playoffs, never going to a Game Seven once. Series victories over Minnesota, Phoenix, and the Lakers saw Denver claim the Western Conference title.
After losing in the first play-in game for the 2023 NBA Playoffs the Miami Heat went on quite a run, first defeating the Bulls. The Heat then went through Milwaukee, New York, and finally Boston on their path through the East – primarily led by superstar Jimmy Butler.
Unfortunately for the Heat, their incredible run fell just short. Butler did manage 21 points in Game Five but some questionable decision-making down the stretch impacted the game. Still, Butler proved a force throughout Miami’s playoff run with several clutch performances.
What’s Next After the NBA Championship?
Each team hopes to return to the finals in 2024 but as always, the off-season provides barriers to overcome. For Miami, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo will not be going anywhere. The cast around them, including Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry, could end up getting moved. Miami should be a playoff team in 2024 but a decline may be on the horizon.
The good news for Denver basketball fans: Jokic’s contract sees the Serbian superstar locked in with Denver through the 2027-28 season. As long as the winner of three straight regular season MVP awards remains healthy, the Nuggets remain a threat. The core of the Nuggets squad will be back in the 2023-2024 season with Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. also not going anywhere.
It may be way too early to predict the 2023-2024 season but you can bank on the Nuggets being a factor for the NBA Championship once again.