The Denver Nuggets celebrated their first NBA title with a downtown parade in Denver. Nikola Jokic, the team’s star player, rode on a firetruck alongside his teammate Jamal Murray and his family. The parade attracted swarms of fans who had been waiting for the franchise to bring the Larry O’Brien Trophy home for 47 seasons.
During the parade, an officer was struck by a firetruck and suffered a serious leg injury, and a shooting occurred in the downtown area later in the day. The police stated that they did not believe the shooting was associated with the celebration and that it was likely sparked by a drug deal gone wrong.
The Nuggets had an impressive postseason, finishing with a 16-4 record and defeating the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. Coach Michael Malone, who was emotional during an interview after the parade, expressed his desire to do it all again and be part of another championship celebration.
The Nuggets’ championship and the parade also paid homage to the team’s ABA roots and honored all the players who had worn the team’s iconic rainbow uniforms throughout its history.
The Broncos, the NFL team in Denver, wrapped up their offseason program on the same day, and veteran safety Kareem Jackson mentioned that the Nuggets’ championship served as inspiration for them.
Nikola Jokic, who had a historic playoff performance, winning the Finals MVP, will now have some time off to spend with his family and indulge in his other passion, horse racing. The city of Denver celebrated a championship parade for the second consecutive June, with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche being honored the previous year for their Stanley Cup win.