Michael Malone, Nikola Jokic And Jamal Murray. The “Big Three” of nuggets bring denver to his first title after a dominating season and playoffs.
Before offering themselves the scalp of the Heat during the Finals, the neo-champions quickly took off in their conference, extricating themselves from a jungle of opponents stuck in a historic parity. Despite surprise-filled playoffs in both East and West, it was ultimately the best team in the West that triumphed. As often, the champion was also in the Top 3 of his conference…
Each in their own way, Mike Malone, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray have in any case been decisive in this quest for the title and their celebration, after their narrow Game 5 victory against Miami, spoke volumes about the path traveled by these Nuggets to reach NBA highs…
Jamal Murray’s tears, symbolic for the Nuggets
On April 12, 2021 in San Francisco, in a Chase Center empty of spectators, Jamal Murray collapsed while going to the “layup” in the last minute of a regular season game against the Warriors.
He broke his cruciate ligaments and shed a lot of tears in the following days, while he remained away from the courts for… 539 days, missing the entire 2021/22 season.
More than two years later, tears of joy were visible on the cheeks of the Canadian in the wake of his first NBA title, ending these Finals 2023 with 21.4 points, 10.0 assists and 6.2 rebounds on average (at percentages success of 45/39/93).
” It’s hard to put into words what I felt on the podium, it’s hard now, I can’t keep it all inside “, he repeated in a press conference. ” It all came together, my journey, celebrating with the guys, enjoying the moment, my injury, my rehabilitation, my doubts… It’s what I’ve worked for all my life! »
This Denver team had to suffer blow after blow. Besides Jamal Murray’s knee, Michael Porter Jr. has had back surgery twice since joining the league, robbing him of his rookie year and most of last season. And, like Murray, “MPJ” was decisive this season, during the playoffs and in Game 5, finishing with 13 rebounds on the clock.
Despite many obstacles and failures, the leaders of the Nuggets preferred to play continuity, when they could have fired Michael Malone or transferred Jamal Murray. Their title confirms that this strategy weighs heavily when it comes to winning a title. Before them, the Warriors or the Bucks also built their team via the Draft.
While star transfers and coaching changes are frequent in the NBA, the Colorado franchise has opted for winning stability.
” The experience we have had is central to our evolution, but you must be able to learn from these experiences. Experience alone does nothing, unlike what you make of it “Summarized Nikola Jokic, regarding the injuries his team has faced in recent years.
The joy of Michael Malone
The image of Michael Malone, carried in triumph by the Jokic brothers with an indelible smile engraved on his face, will undoubtedly remain as one of the symbols of Denver’s victory. Behind this smile hides in fact a vision that the coach and his leaders had had since the arrival of Aaron Gordon in March 2021. But this bet, ultimately winning, took a long time to become so.
“Coach Mike” landed with the Nuggets in June 2015, after being fired a few months earlier (and to everyone’s surprise) by the Kings. The same summer, a Serbian pivot drafted in the second round the previous year, in complete anonymity, also arrived in the Rockies. A year later, Jamal Murray was drafted.
Slowly, but surely, Denver understood that these two players had something special…
” Pat Riley said something many years ago. I hung it in my office when I was the coach of Sacramento and it talks about the evolution of players and teams in the NBA said Michael Malone. ” [Ça parle] how you go from unknown to promising, from promising to winning, from winning to title contender, from title contender to champion and, the last step is champion to dynasty. »
After two failures in 2017 then 2018, it will however be necessary to wait four seasons, and 2018/19, to see the Nuggets snag the playoffs. They will then reach the conference finals in the Orlando “bubble” in 2020, after coming back from two 1-3 losses and to win their first two series.
” Sometimes your dream is delayed for a few years, but we persevered and added the missing pieces… »
There was undoubtedly a sacred fire in this young team… unfortunately filtered by repeated injuries. Nikola Jokic may have chained incredible performances, winning two MVP trophies in 2021 then 2022, the Nuggets just had no chance in the playoffs.
” Michael [Porter Jr.] is still a young player, he will continue to improve. Get him back, but also Jamal [Murray]that’s really what I had in mind a few years ago, when we got Aaron Gordon “explained Michael Malone. ” Sometimes your dream is delayed a few years, but we persevered and added the missing pieces. It’s an incredible feeling. »
The smile of “Coach Mike” is that of a slightly crazy inventor who had seen all the potential of his group before anyone else and who relished not having to repeat loud and clear what he was witnessing every days. Denver is there thanks to its duo of stars and “role players” carefully chosen over the years, so its future is just as bright as the smile of its coach…
” When I was transferred, we all saw immediately that we could accomplish something special “, reported Aaron Gordon. ” All the pieces of the puzzle were there and then, of course, there were injuries. But we signed [Bruce Brown] And [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope] and, with these recruitments, it was over! »
The seriousness of the Nuggets illustrated by Nikola Jokic
30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds and 7.2 assists average. Here is the line of stats, to say the least incredible, of Nikola Jokic during his first Finals. Enough, of course, for him to unanimously win the coveted Series MVP trophy.
After the triumph of his team, the “Joker”, who had held his people at arm’s length in this Game 5, remained in the background. First, he went to greet all the members of the Heat, before celebrating this title with his family. His job was done.
” We were good at our job, we won the trophy. It’s great but it’s not just that in life “, recalled the neo-MVP of the Finals. ” Okay, I won. Sorry, we won. But it’s not the most important thing in my life. Nobody likes their job, maybe some do, but they’re liars (he laughs). The greatest thing we’ve managed to accomplish is what we thought we were capable of that no one else, outside of our dressing room, thought was possible. That’s the most thing I remember from this season. »
The work and seriousness of Nikola Jokic are central to the success of the Nuggets. Despite his allergy to the spotlight, the two-time regular season MVP was willing to accept this role, and support it on his (broad) shoulders.
When he was mocked for his defense, he made the necessary progress to no longer be a liability to his teammates. When his physical condition was pointed out, he worked hard to change and arrive ready to assume the status of a “franchise player”. He carried this team in the absence of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. and then he transformed into an indefensible machine, choosing when to attack for him and when to serve his partners, without reluctantly to become a scorer when necessary.
” I’ve said this many times in the past but Nikola, even tonight, just feels like he’s playing another game. He has never changed despite all his success and he will never change: it’s just his nature “, tenderly described Michael Malone. ” I love Nikola. For eight years. I love jamal [Murray]. Since seven years. We had a lot of ups and downs, but we never gave up. »
Through Michael Malone, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, the Nuggets laid the foundation for a future winner, perhaps even a future dynasty. They persevered through tough times, never losing sight of their potential, and eight years later, eight years of hard work, tears and joy, Denver finds itself on top of the NBA. And intends to stay there.
Interview in Denver.
| Shots | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | bp | Int | CT | party | Points |
| Nikola Jokic | 69 | 33.7 | 63.2 | 38.3 | 82.2 | 2.4 | 9.4 | 11.8 | 9.8 | 3.6 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 24.5 |
| Jamal Murray | 65 | 32.8 | 45.4 | 39.8 | 83.3 | 0.7 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 6.2 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 20.0 |
| Michael Porter, Jr. | 62 | 29.0 | 48.7 | 41.4 | 80.0 | 1.0 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 17.4 |
| Aaron Gordon | 68 | 30.2 | 56.4 | 34.7 | 60.8 | 2.4 | 4.1 | 6.6 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 16.3 |
| Bones Hyland | 42 | 19.5 | 39.9 | 37.8 | 86.6 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 12.1 |
| Bruce Brown, Jr. | 80 | 28.5 | 48.3 | 35.8 | 75.8 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 11.5 |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | 76 | 31.3 | 46.2 | 42.3 | 82.4 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 10.8 |
| Reggie Jackson | 16 | 19.9 | 38.3 | 27.9 | 83.3 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 7.9 |
| Jeff Green | 56 | 19.5 | 48.8 | 28.8 | 74.4 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 7.8 |
| Zeke Nnaji | 53 | 13.7 | 56.1 | 26.2 | 64.5 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 5.2 |
| Deandre Jordan | 39 | 15.0 | 76.5 | 100.0 | 45.8 | 1.3 | 3.8 | 5.2 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 5.1 |
| Vlatko Cancar | 60 | 14.8 | 47.6 | 37.4 | 92.7 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 5.0 |
| Christian Brown | 76 | 15.5 | 49.5 | 35.4 | 62.5 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 4.7 |
| Thomas Bryant | 18 | 11.3 | 48.5 | 44.4 | 72.2 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 4.6 |
| peyton watson | 23 | 8.1 | 49.2 | 42.9 | 55.0 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 3.3 |
| Ish Smith | 43 | 9.3 | 39.7 | 16.7 | 50.0 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 2.5 |
| davon reed | 35 | 9.0 | 31.3 | 36.4 | 75.0 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 2.3 |
| Jack White | 17 | 3.9 | 42.1 | 33.3 | 66.7 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 1.2 |
