Nikola Jokic produced an historic postseason as the Denver Nuggets clinched the NBA title.
The Serbian has won his - and the franchise's - maiden championship and his all-round domination saw him become the first player in NBA history to lead the playoffs in total points, rebounds, and assists. After being eliminated from the postseason in the first round last season, the Western Conference champions were determined to make an impression this year and that’s exactly what they did.
They produced one of the great playoff runs in history which included a 4-2 win over the Phoenix Suns and a sweep of the LA Lakers, before dispatching the Miami Heat in five games and winning the last contest 94-89. Jokic finished Monday night’s game with 28 points, 16 rebounds and four assists, before being awarded the NBA Finals MVP.
In his comments post-game, the 28-year-old, who averaged 30.2 points, 14 rebounds and 7.2 assists in the finals, was quick to praise his teammates for their collective efforts. "We are not in it for ourselves, we are in it for the guy next to us," Jokic said. "And that's why this (means) even more."
Leading by seven late in the fourth quarter, the Nuggets managed to fend off a late rally from the Heat, who turned the game around to lead 89-88 with two minutes remaining courtesy of 13 straight points by Jimmy Butler. But the excellent Bruce Brown scored a vital bucket to restore the Nuggets’ lead and the team would go on to make four straight free throws to secure an emotional and euphoric victory.
Jokic was delighted his side was able to rise to the challenge of winning a close-out game at home. "It was ugly and we couldn't make shots, but at the end, we figured it out," Jokic said. "I am just happy we won the game. That's why basketball is a fun sport. It's a live thing. You cannot say, 'This is going to happen'. There are so many factors. I'm just happy that we won the game. The job is done, we can go home now.”
Coach Michael Malone won the team’s first NBA title and while he is pleased they've ended the Nuggets’ barren NBA title run, he is hungry for more. "We're not satisfied," Malone told reporters.
"We accomplished something this franchise has never done before, but we have a lot of young, talented players in that locker room. And I think we just showed through 16 playoff wins what we're capable of on the biggest stage in the world."
After reaching the top of the championship mountain, Michael Malone’s men made sure to have some fun, especially his star duo of Jokic and Jamal Murray. A clip was posted on the NBA’s social media accounts of the Serbian throwing the point guard into a pool.
The center dragged his teammate to the edge of the pool before they both made a big splash. Jokic was also pictured celebrating with his daughter and wife Natalija Mačešić as confetti reigned down inside the Ball Arena to raucous cheers from a jubilant home crowd, as Denver’s 47-year wait for NBA title came to an end.
