The Denver Nuggets are NBA champions for the first time in the franchise’s 47-year history. After beating the Miami Heat, 94-89, in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday, the Nuggets hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy and started their celebration after a dominant performance. Nikola Jokic was awarded Finals MVP after averaging 30.2 points, 14 rebounds and 7.2 assists over the series. After years of injury-filled seasons for key players and disappointing playoff losses, the Nuggets have finally reached the mountaintop.
Denver’s championship has been a long time coming, in fact it’s the last remaining team from the former ABA to even make it to the NBA Finals. And while the Finale itself was a rather one-sided affair, that doesn’t mean the Nuggets’ title run was devoid of intrigue. Denver even shattered records, broke streaks, and did things that had never been done before in NBA Finals history.
In honor of the Nuggets’ title run, here’s a numerical breakdown of their journey to becoming NBA champions.
1
- Jokic becomes the first player in NBA history to lead the league in points, rebounds and assists during a single postseason
- Jokic and Jamal Murray are the first pair of teammates to average at least 25 points, five assists and five rebounds in a single postseason
- Jokic is the first center in NBA history to lead his team in scoring while winning a championship since Shaquille O’Neal in 2002
2
- Jokic is the second player in NBA history to average 30+ points per game and 8+ assists and win a championship (Michael Jordan, 1991)
4
- Number of losses in Denver’s title run, second fewest playoff losses in past 20 years
5
- Nuggets rookie Christian Braun becomes fifth player in league history to win NBA and NCAA titles in consecutive years (won in 2022 with Kansas)
6
- Jokic became the sixth player in the last 50 years to average 50+ points, assists and rebounds in the NBA Finals
8
- Jokic is the eighth different player in league history to win an MVP or Finals MVP in three consecutive seasons
10
- Number of triple-doubles Jokic had during the postseason, the highest in NBA playoff history
13
- Jokic becomes 13th player in NBA history with multiple MVPs and an NBA championship
44
- Most playoff series played by a franchise before winning its first championship
46
- Most seasons as an NBA franchise before winning its first title
300
- Jokic and Murray become the first pair of teammates to jointly provide 300 assists in a single postseason
522
- Jamal Murray: Most points scored in a postseason without an All-Star selection
1,000
- Jokic and Murray are the first pair of teammates to combine 1,000 points in a single postseason
Nuggets NBA Championship Gear Released
The Nuggets have won their first ever NBA title. You can now buy Nuggets Championship shirts, hats, jerseys, hoodies and more to celebrate the historic victory. Buy Nuggets NBA Championship Gear here now.
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