No one predicted the Nuggets would emerge from the Western Conference and reach the Finals.
Certainly no one saw them winning the championship — not at the start of the season, probably not at the start of the playoffs, and maybe not even a month ago.
But with a 3-1 series lead over the Heat, it feels like just a matter of time. Game 5 is Monday night in Denver.
The question now is, will rivals start trying to build as the Nuggets have done? They stuck with coach Michael Malone for eight seasons. Even when things weren’t great. They drafted standout center Nikola Jokic with the No. 41 overall pick in 2014 — and stuck with him, too. They took guard Jamal Murray at No. 7 overall in 2016. Then waited it out as he overcame a severe knee injury, suffered in the April 2021.
Between then and now, the Nuggets stayed the course, making trades that were never considered splashy to add to their stars. They certainly never set out to build a “super team” by landing stars from other clubs.
The front office and team ownership never once operated out of panic. Now, the Nuggets are proving that familiarity and stability can count for a lot.
“Every team collectively has to pick a path and stay true to it,” Malone told reporters. “I feel really fortunate our journey has been one of patience, one of drafting really well and developing those players and then adding the right pieces around them.”
It’s a lesson for both rival teams and their stars. The grass isn’t always greener over there. Sometimes, just staying true to what you’re building may be the best way to go.
Look no further than Denver for evidence.
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