Nuggets Win

Nuggets win, Nuggets win! What does it mean to be a part of pro sports franchise that wins their first championship? The biggest group affected by far are the fans of the team. I’m a casual fan and enjoyed watching the Nuggets championship run this year on television. My friend Martin at 5280 Loans is a big fan, and a long-time season ticket holder. He loves the Nuggets and has been with them through thick and thin. I’m sure he was downtown all night, over the moon about his team winning the championship. He will be camping out on the parade route Wednesday night, while I’ll be making sure I avoid the traffic down there on Thursday.

The next largest group are the retired players, coaches, and employees. We lost three Super Bowls when I played for the Broncos. As someone who is still identified as a Bronco, I felt a huge sense of relief and accomplishment when the Broncos won the franchise’s first Super Bowl. We’re not the Vikings or the Bills, we’re Champions! Seeing David Thompson, Bill Hanzlik, coach George Karl, former Nuggets and Broncos trainer Jim Gillan at the game, and all the other former Nuggets employees at the game and around the world, I can relate to their excitement about the win. Even though they don’t work for the organization this year, they’re still Nuggets, and now they’re NBA Champion Nuggets.

The most involved, and smallest group are the players, coaches, employees, and the families of the Nuggets organization this year. I can’t tell you what it feels like to be on the winning side of a championship from first-hand experience, but I know enough Super Bowl Champions to tell you that they were surprised at how quickly the focus changes to next year. How are we going to repeat? Players retire. New guys are drafted. Assistant coaches and players are hired away. One of the first things out of Coach Malone’s mouth after the win was, “we aren’t satisfied with one championship.” In the long-term the winners share a bond with their teammates that lasts through the years, but so do the losers. You’ve seen each other at you best, and at your worst, have relied on each other, have sacrificed for each other, and have shared dreams of greatness. As a competitor it’s awesome to win any game. The bigger the stakes the bigger the win. As a professional basketball player, the only time you know ahead of time when the season is over, is when you don’t make the playoffs, or when you’re in the 7th game of the Championship series. For everyone else it’s a sudden end. It’s a long season, and with the playoffs you add multiple do or die, extra physical playoff series on top of it. I’m sure the Nuggets family is tired. Nikola Jokic wants to spend some time with his family and his horses back in Serbia. During the season and playoffs these guys need to fit life in around their careers. I remember asking my son to do something soon after the season had ended, and him saying I’ve got to go ask Mom. Apparently, I wasn’t around enough during the season to be considered a parent. It’s nine days until the NBA draft. Who’s a free agent? Who should we lock up with a new contract? How many Championships does it take for a franchise to be called a dynasty? Congratulations

on a Championship season Nuggets! Players don’t worry about next season until it’s here. Enjoy your win, your family, and friends this off season. Go Nuggets!

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