The Nuggets secured their first championship on Monday night, completing a 4-1 series win over the Heat by a score of 94-89 in Game 5. The Nuggets joined the NBA in 1976 after the league’s merger with the ABA.
Nikola Jokic, the league’s two-time Most Valuable Player in the regular season, was named the MVP of the Finals, NBA Communications tweets. He had 28 points, 16 rebounds and four assists in the clinching victory. For the series, Jokic averaged 30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds and 7.2 assists.
Jokic and the team’s other star, Jamal Murray, carried the Nuggets throughout the playoffs. However, their role players made the biggest plays in Game 5.
Bruce Brown had the go-ahead putback in the late going and hit clinching free throws. In between, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had a key steal and made two clutch free throws.
Denver is well-positioned to make a run at back-to-back titles and beyond. Jokic, Murray, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. are all signed through at least the 2024-25 season. Caldwell-Pope has two more years left on his contract, though he can opt out next summer.
There’s a good chance Brown will go elsewhere. He will almost certainly decline his $6.8M option and the team doesn’t own his Bird rights. Jeff Green will be an unrestricted free agent, though the Nuggets have some quality young players on rookie contracts (Christian Braun, Peyton Watson.)
The Heat have some key players entering free agency, most notably Gabe Vincent, Max Strus and Kevin Love.
With the Finals decided, the offseason is officially underway. The draft will be held in 10 days with free agency beginning the following week.
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