The 2023 NBA Draft is nearing, so after months of draft discourse and debate, fans will finally know who will be the newest members of their team.

For the San Antonio Spurs, that seems a given. The Spurs won the No. 1 overall pick in May’s draft lottery, giving them the golden opportunity to select star French center Victor Wembanyama.

After Wembanyama comes Scoot Henderson (G League), Brandon Miller (Alabama) and more several highly touted rookies who could make a difference for whichever team they end up on.

NBA Draft Jun 16

2023 NBA first-round mock draft: What happens after Victor Wembanyama?

NBA Draft Jun 22, 2022

Ranking the 10 Best No. 1 Draft Picks in NBA History

But when will all of this transpire? Here’s a breakdown:

When is the 2023 NBA Draft?

The 2023 draft will take place on Thursday, June 22.

What time is the 2023 NBA Draft?

The event will start at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. San Antonio will be on the clock shortly after.

What is the 2023 NBA Draft order?

Here are the first 14 selections in the draft:

1. San Antonio Spurs

2. Charlotte Hornets

3. Portland Trail Blazers

4. Houston Rockets

5. Detroit Pistons

6. Orlando Magic 

7. Indiana Pacers

8. Washington Wizards

9. Utah Jazz

10. Dallas Mavericks

11. Orlando Magic (via Chicago)

12. Oklahoma City Thunder

13. Toronto Raptors

14. New Orleans Pelicans

You can check out the full draft order here.

When was the first ever NBA draft?

The first ever NBA draft occurred in 1950, which came after the organization rebranded itself from the Basketball Association of America (BAA). Chuck Share, a center from Bowling Green, went No. 1 overall to the Boston Celtics.

Is the NBA draft always in June?

Yes, the NBA draft is typically held around the end of June following the conclusion of the postseason and is one of the key starting points of the offseason.

A uniform from Chamberlain’s 1959-60 rookie season with the Philadelphia Warriors sold at auction over the weekend for $1.79 million through SCP Auctions, becoming the most expensive game-worn, vintage (pre-1980) NBA jersey ever sold.

Chamberlain was drafted third overall by the Warriors in the 1959 NBA Draft, and he wasted no time rewriting the league’s history books.

Wilt the Stilt averaged a league-leading 37.6 points and 27.0 rebounds per game in 1959-60 and shattered the NBA’s single-season scoring record. He became the first player in league history to be named Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. Wes Unseld is the only other NBA player to accomplish the feat.

As for the rookie uniform, SCP Auctions said that Chamberlain wore the jersey and shorts combination for every home game during the 1959-60 campaign. The company says it was procured “directly from Wilt Chamberlain decades ago by his close friend who would become a trusted collector in the hobby,” and multiple authenticators also confirmed that the stains on the jersey are Chamberlain’s blood.

While Chamberlain’s rookie uniform set vintage records, it is far from the most expensive NBA jersey of all time. A game-worn Michael Jordan jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals in his “Last Dance” season with the Chicago Bulls sold for $10.1 million last September.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Less than a week after leading the Denver Nuggets to their first NBA championship, Jokic was back in his hometown of Sombor on Sunday to enjoy his big passion of horse racing.

Thousands of his supporters in the usually sleepy northern Serbian town of some 47,000 people also converged on the local horse racing track where Jokic was watching his family-owned horses compete in harness races. Many had T-shirts with Jokic’s portrait, some reading “Be the Next Champion” and “Sombor, the Town of Champions.”

A billboard reading “Welcome Home MVP” showed Jokic with his No. 15 Nuggets jersey, also depicting galloping horses.

After winning the NBA title, Jokic was concerned about whether he could return home in time for Sunday’s races after the team’s victory parade in Denver on Thursday. He joked that he would ask Nuggets president Josh Kroenke to lend him the team plane to make sure he arrived on time.

NBA Finals Jun 14

Nikola Jokic had no idea where his NBA Finals MVP trophy was

NBA Finals Jun 13

Nikola Jokic's Hometown in Serbia Celebrates Denver Nuggets' Championship

NBA Finals Jun 13

Nikola Jokic is not thrilled about attending Denver Nuggets' championship parade

This was a special day for the Sombor hippodrome. Beer and barbecue stands were in full swing, and so was the celebratory mood with people waiting in long lines to attend.

Jokic arrived late to the track, followed by local media. Famously shy and laconic, he was not in a talkative mood and declined to talk to journalists, passing them by as he entered the racetrack.

Appearing in the stands from time to time amid members of his family and friends, he watched every race his family’s stable participated in, then disappeared out of sight. He was in the company of his wife and daughter, brother, father and friends.

The crowd erupted with applause and joy when Jokic first appeared, wearing a polo shirt that had the “Dream Catcher” inscription after the name of the first horse that he purchased years ago.

His father Branislav said Jokic wouldn’t be answering questions from reporters.

“He told me ‘Dad, I have had enough of publicity during these past few days,’” Branislav Jokic said. “And I believe him.”

Jokic developed a strong passion for horses and horse racing in his youth and it nearly took him away from basketball when he was a kid, his father said.

Denver clinched the NBA title on Monday by beating the Miami Heat 94-89, with Jokic posting 28 points and 16 rebounds and collecting the trophy for the most valuable player of the NBA Finals.

Jokic, nicknamed Joker by his fans, is coming off a historic playoff performance, where he became the first player to lead the league in total points (600), rebounds (269) and assists (190) in a single postseason.

Williams played for six teams — Philadelphia, Toronto, the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston, the Los Angeles Clippers and Atlanta. He last played in the 2021-22 season with the Hawks.

Out of 1,123 regular-season games played over 17 seasons, Williams came off the bench in 1,001. He scored 13,396 points off the bench, which is 2,117 more than Jamal Crawford and 2,249 more than Dell Curry.

Williams and Crawford are the only three-time recipients of the Sixth Man award in league history.

Williams was the 45th pick in the 2005 NBA draft. Out of the 60 players taken that year, only Chris Paul scored more points in the NBA than Williams — who went straight to the league out of high school.

He finishes his career with 15,593 points, 131st in NBA history.

Wembanyama is likely headed to the San Antonio Spurs when the 2023 NBA Draft gets underway on Thursday, June 22 after the franchise won the top selection via the lottery. But how soon he steps onto the hardwood for NBA competition is the real question.

The 2023-24 regular season doesn’t begin until late October — with preseason sprinkled in before that — so July’s Summer League competitions would be the first possible route to see Wembanyama against a form of NBA competition.

Sometimes youngsters don’t compete in Summer League because their level has gone beyond needing to show they belong — which makes sense for Wembanyama — but the 19-year-old may have hinted at his plans after the Metropolitan 92’s game against Monaco on Thursday.

The 7-foot-5 (in shoes) center was asked during a handshake if he would appear in Summer League, to which he replied with: “A little bit.”

If so, there are three Summer League tournaments beginning in early July: the Sacramento California Classic from July 3-5, Salt Lake City Summer League from July 3-6 and the main Las Vegas Summer League from July 7-17.

San Antonio, though, is only in the field for the Sacramento and Las Vegas editions.

NBA Draft Jun 16

2023 NBA first-round mock draft: What happens after Victor Wembanyama?

Victor Wembanyama May 18

Watch 7-Foot-5 Victor Wembanyama Do Toe Workout That Went Viral

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in early June the league doesn’t mind which of the two Wembanyama would play in.

“All summer leagues are NBA Summer Leagues,” Silver told The Associated Press. “I’m very supportive of the Sacramento summer league. I remember when (Kings owner Vivek Ranadive) first came to the league and said this was something he wanted to do. I said, ‘As long as you have enough other teams who support it and players who want to play in it, it’s a good thing.’”

Longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein reported on his Substack, citing sources, that the Spurs hope Wembanyama “will indeed be a participant to some degree in summer league play in Las Vegas.”

Regardless of where Wembanyama takes the floor, countless fans will look to tune in for a glimpse of the league’s future.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

A group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall, including North Carolina rapper J. Cole, took over Jordan’s stake, relegating him to a minority shareholder of the team. According to Wojnarowski, Jordan will oversee basketball operations through Thursday’s NBA draft and the start of free agency on July 1.

Jordan is arguably the game’s greatest player and he cemented that legacy with the Chicago Bulls from 1984-98. He helped the Bulls to six NBA championships, decorating himself with innumerable accolades along the way. During his post-retirement career, he opted to test the waters with ownership.

Here’s how Jordan’s timeline with the Hornets began and ended.

• Almost 17 years ago to the day (June 15), Jordan bought a minority stake in the then-Charlotte Bobcats. As part of the deal, he oversaw basketball operations with the title “Managing Member of Basketball Operations.”

• On Feb. 17, 2010, Jordan and his ownership group bought a majority share in the Bobcats. He became the league’s only Black owner, a title he’s held to this day.

• During the shortened 2011-12 season, the Bobcats posted the worst winning percentage in NBA history (.106, 7-59 record).

• In the 2019 offseason, Jordan sold a minority share of the team to Gabe Plotkin and Daniel Sundheim.

• Coming soon in 2023, Jordan will sell his majority share of the now Charlotte Hornets to Gabe Plotkin and Daniel Sundheim.

Jordan went 423-600 while owner of the Hornets; the fourth-worst record during that span. They made the playoffs twice over his 13-year tenure, losing in the first round of both appearances.

But James seemingly didn’t find it very funny.

The Los Angeles Lakers star appeared to respond to the Denver Nuggets coach’s retirement barb in an Instagram post on Friday.

“In Europe for the last past few weeks minding my business and I hear I’m on your mind that much huh??? I mean I guess I can see why,” James wrote as the caption of the post. “But Wave the flag on these lames!! Please make being player cool again cause the lame machine is at an all-time high. Enjoy your light but just know I’m the SUN. I stay on forever!”

During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday, the Denver Nuggets championship-winning coach took a jab at James.

Denver Nuggets Jun 15

Recapping coach Michael Malone's epic showing at Nuggets' championship parade

NBA Finals Jun 14

Nikola Jokic had no idea where his NBA Finals MVP trophy was

“Speaking of the Lakers, I just want you guys to know, this is breaking news, I’m thinking about retiring,” Malone quipped. “So don’t tell anybody.”

Malone was, of course, mocking James for floating the potential of retirement immediately following the Nuggets’ sweep of the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. Some criticized James for taking attention away from Denver clinching its first Finals appearance by surprisingly putting his playing career in doubt. And it seems Malone, who was outspoken about the media’s coverage of the Lakers during the conference finals, may have shared similar feelings.

The first Nuggets-Lakers game of the 2023-24 NBA season was already going to be must-see TV. But this James-Malone beef adds yet another level of intrigue to the matchup…as long as neither actually retires.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The Spurs winning the draft lottery was their one-way ticket back up the Western Conference ladder following a multi-year cold spell, and Gregg Popovich getting to coach a generational prospect in Wembanyama feels unfair. 

At least that’s what 29 other teams have thought about after losing out on the Wembanyama sweepstakes, and now have to pivot to what to do next in terms of roster construction. Do you keep your pick(s) and believe in the player you’re drafting or trade back and reassess? 

That’s the dilemma every front office not in San Antonio will be facing when the 2023 NBA Draft gets underway on Thursday, June 22. 

NBA May 16

5 Winners, Losers From 2023 NBA Draft Lottery

NBA Draft May 16

NBA Twitter Reacts to Spurs Winning Victor Wembanyama Sweepstakes

So, what should teams do when the draft commences? Let’s take a look at all 30 first-round picks, with the first one being obvious:

*Note: This mock draft includes straight picks – no potential trades – for teams currently holding said selections as of June 16, 2023.

1. San Antonio Spurs: C Victor Wembanyama, Metropolitans 92

As already mentioned, the first pick is a no-brainer for the Spurs. Measuring 7-foot-5 in shoes, the French center is a type of prospect never seen before in the NBA. Wembanyama, 19, can put the ball on the floor and create at an elite level for his age, while possessing exceptional defensive skills in terms of shot-blocking/anticipating and lateral movement when guarding the perimeter. San Antonio has its face of the franchise, now it needs to smartly build out the rest.

2. Charlotte Hornets: G Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite

Here’s where the draft gets quite tricky, and what happens could see dominoes fall in subsequent selections. Charlotte is in the fit vs. talent conundrum. If Wembanyama wasn’t in this class then Henderson is the next best prospect. But the Hornets already have a potential elite guard in LaMelo Ball and likely would be better off with forward Brandon Miller, the next best option, instead, considering Charlotte’s lack of depth there. But when you have the No. 2 overall pick, it’s always about drafting the best talent. Fit can be sorted later, especially if Ball’s injury history proves more problematic than it already is. Scoot should go No. 2.

3. Portland Trail Blazers: F Brandon Miller, Alabama

In an ideal world, Portland finally pulls the plug on the Damian Lillard experiment and lets him compete for a ring elsewhere while rebuilding the roster. But the Trail Blazers have seemed to be following the wrong trails for a while now, so we don’t know what they’ll do with this pick. If Scoot falls, that changes the equation. But for now, Miller is the next best prospect in this draft and has the potential to be a do-it-all forward with elite intangibles; he just doesn’t immediately move the needle for Lillard to win in Portland.

4. Houston Rockets: G/F Cam Whitmore, Villanova

Houston’s pick likely depends on what they feel happens regarding James Harden. Does he return to the city after his time in Philadelphia? The Rockets are loaded with youngsters that haven’t jelled yet, but Ime Udoka was brought in to steer the team in a better direction. Whitmore comes in here because Houston already has on-ball players and big men, so a wing with a ceiling feels appropriate. Whitmore, 18, has intriguing scoring upside and would have time to develop as a versatile option.

5. Detroit Pistons: F/C Jarace Walker, Houston

The Pistons lost hard in the lottery and now have to settle for a non-top-three prospect despite having the worst record last season. But now they have to optimize their hand, which sees them taking Walker at No. 5 after driving through the guard route the last few years. Walker, 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, can develop into an intriguing small-ball center with his early prowess in the pick-and-roll game, and if his 3-point shooting (34.7% on 2.8 attempts) can improve in consistency, that’d be even better for the new Monty Williams-led team.

6. Orlando Magic: G Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite

The Magic have constructed a roster loaded with versatile long forwards and centers, but the jury is still out at the guard positions. Jalen Suggs, a former No. 5 overall pick, hasn’t found his form just yet, but grabbing another guard with more upside than Markelle Fultz – with Cole Anthony as the backup – feels right. Amen, the first of the Thompson brothers, comes first due to his 6-foot-6 height and 7-foot wingspan as a lead guard. He’ll need to make a drastic leap on his long-range shooting and cut down his assist-to-turnover ratio, but his intangibles screams Orlando. 

7. Indiana Pacers: F Taylor Hendricks, UCF

Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin solidified themselves as a backcourt for the future: a playmaker and a scorer. Myles Turner also proved himself a solid fit as a stretch 5. The real issue for Indiana is finding a wing/forward who can move the needle for their future playoff aspirations, which is where Hendricks, 19, comes in. His profile, at 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, screams 3-and-D prototype, where he can make an immediate impact as he shot 39.4% on 4.6 3-point attempts at UCF. His defensive instincts both on and off the ball should translate quickly, but he’ll need to improve his off-the-bounce game offensively to take the next step. That, and his jumper’s release point starts too low. If he wants to expand his scoring bag, his shooting mechanics have to go higher. But Indiana feels like the best infusion of fit and talent.

8. Washington Wizards: G Anthony Black, Arkansas

The Bradley Beal trade rumors are starting to swirl at a convenient time. Is Washington planning to end the Beal era and retool? (Looking at you, Portland.) If so, going with a guard to potentially pair with Johnny Davis makes sense. Black’s shooting and floor spacing are reasonable concerns, but at 6-foot-6, he gives optimal size as a lead guard with superb playmaking skills in this class. Maybe a non-shooter pairing with Davis – another non-shooter – doesn’t make a ton of sense, but pure point guards in this draft have that similarity. Ausar Thompson is another option, though more athletic, but struggles with the shooting component like his aforementioned brother, Amen.

9. Utah Jazz: F Gradey Dick, Kansas

This probably feels high for Dick, but he feels like a Jazz player. A 6-foot-6 wing who hit 40.3% from deep on six attempts on a roster lacking players of his profile? It feels right for Utah considering it has guard options already and doesn’t need another big man with Lauri Markkanen’s breakout year and Walker Kessler thriving. Bilal Coulibaly, Wembanyama’s Metropolitans 92 teammate, is an interesting swing name here, too. 

10. Dallas Mavericks: G/F Keyonte George, Baylor

Given the draft class and what Dallas needs, it doesn’t feel likely it keeps this pick. Maybe Dallas trades back or packages it in a trade, but for now, going with a combo guard is the pick. George commands the ball and isn’t afraid to shoot, though separation and long-range consistency are on the to-do list to improve. He gives Luka Doncic an on-ball option while being reliable off of it, though the Mavericks need more ready-now players than prospects. 

11. Orlando Magic: F Bilal Coulibaly, Metropolitans 92

Coulibaly feels like the exact kind of prospect the next team would swing on (spoiler alert: it’s the Thunder), but Orlando is already taking a guard in this draft and doesn’t exactly need to go for a big man. Coulibaly, 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, gives them an intriguing profile at the forward spot they don’t have, and they can be patient with his development, too. There’s still plenty of rawness to his game on both ends – he’s not a high volume shooter nor a playmaker – but he’s the kind of player who can transform into a hidden gem if the development staff gets it right. With two picks in the top 11, Orlando should swing on this pitch.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder: C Dereck Lively II, Duke

Chet Holmgren’s development is the chief priority for the Thunder at center, but since they have a wealth of prospects elsewhere, going for another center could be the path. Lively is 7-foot-1 with a 7-foot-7 wingspan and averaged 2.5 blocks a game as a freshman last season in just 20 minutes. Offensively, he’s primarily a lob threat with great mobility. Even if he never becomes anything beyond that, he’s a solid profile to call off the bench in the non-Holmgren minutes.

13. Toronto Raptors: G Jalen Hood-Schifino, Indiana

Selecting a guard is largely dependent upon Fred VanVleet’s future, which doesn’t seem like it’ll be in Toronto anymore. Why Hood-Schifino pops up is because he’s 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan. If we know anything about the Raptors’ roster construction, it’s that they love rangy players who can guard multiple positions. Ding ding ding. Hood-Schifino, 20, is extremely raw in his offensive game – he’s not an elite 3-point shooter or scorer in the paint. But Toronto has shown it can elevate players to new heights, and he might be their type of guard.

14. New Orleans Pelicans: G Cason Wallace, Kentucky

If Lively is gone by this pick, it’ll be interesting for New Orleans with Jonas Valanciunas on the wrong side of 30 and Zion Williamson’s injury history. Their frontcourt depth beyond that is murky, and that might not be addressable this early in the draft so they’ll need to look at moving back. But for this exercise, Wallace could make sense as a 6-foot-2 guard with a 6-foot-8 wingspan. C.J. McCollum is usually the lead ball-handler, so Wallace, who is already solid off the ball, can learn and grow behind him and possibly become a lead playmaker down the line. Kobe Bufkin is another name who could work here. 

15. Atlanta Hawks: F Jett Howard, Michigan

Saddiq Bey gave Atlanta a much-needed shooting lift after coming over via trade from Detroit, but the Hawks should look for more around Trae Young. Big men is another area worth looking at, but Howard, 6-foot-8, is one of the best shooters in this class and could slot in sooner rather than later. He attempted 7.3 3s per game last season and made 36.8% of them as a 19-year-old. He might not fare well defensively against quicker players, but there’s always room for a player of his profile, and Atlanta, after having drafted forwards Jalen Johnson and A.J. Griffin recently, needs someone to hit. 

16. Utah Jazz: G Kobe Bufkin, Michigan

Back-to-back Michigan prospects sees Bufkin, 19, go to Utah. At 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan, Bufkin is more of a combo guard who can compete for minutes off the bench with a shot at becoming a starter down the line. At this point the Jazz don’t need a specific type of player seeing their roster is quite crowded, so going for the best available talent – if they don’t trade back – is an ideal choice. Bufkin is a solid on- and off-ball prospect on both ends of the floor who feels like a sixth-man impact player on this Jazz side.

17. Los Angeles Lakers: G/F Jordan Hawkins, UConn

Do the Lakers look to the future or prioritize LeBron James’ needs in the short term? Retirement questions aside, James led the team to a Western Conference Finals berth but just didn’t have the scoring around him to move the needle against the soon-to-be champions in Denver. There are other reasons for that, but next is UConn sharpshooter Jordan Hawkins, who, at 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-7 wingspan, is an ideal 3-and-D profile to surround James with. Hawkins drilled 38.8% of his 3s on 7.6 attempts and thrived via spot-ups and movement, so he’ll be a hot commodity around this range. If he grows his on-ball ability offensively, there’s an intriguing player in the making.

18. Miami Heat: G/F Brice Sensabaugh, Ohio State

Where Miami goes will be interesting to watch. They were a Tyler Herro away from possibly making the Finals more competitive, though not having more effective big men behind Bam Adebayo also played a role in their downfall. They also have key free agents like Gabe Vincent to retain, too. All in all, Sensabaugh makes sense for the Heat considering he’s all about scoring: 3s, in the post, mid-range, you name it. There are tunnel vision concerns and defensive mobility questions – and Miami relies on selfless passers and switchable defenders – but they need more players like Jimmy Butler who can go and get a bucket when needed. Sensabaugh fits that mold.

19. Golden State Warriors: C Noah Clowney, Alabama

The Warriors have illustrated a trend of drafting young in recent years, but that strategy hasn’t exactly paid off considering they needed more ready-now pieces to consistently contend. Clowney and Dariq Whitehead were two names that emerged with that line of thought, even though they may look to go older – like Kris Murray – in 2023. Clowney is the pick here, though, because Golden State desperately needs more size down low. Clowney, 6-foot-10, brings that along with great mobility and a willingness to shoot 3s. He’s not 19 yet, but he checks multiple boxes for this team.

20. Houston Rockets: G Nick Smith Jr., Arkansas

Like Utah above, Houston at this stage should look for the best talent. Luckily for Houston, Smith wouldn’t be a problem considering he’s also a potential lead guard, something it doesn’t exactly have yet. Smith should also draw more buzz higher up, but he’s a 6-foot-5 guard with a 6-foot-8 wingspan with athleticism and attractive shooting skills. There needs to be more work done with his off-ball abilities, but his upside on both ends of the floor is quite enthralling for a team like the Rockets to gamble on.

21. Brooklyn Nets: G/F Dariq Whitehead, Duke

The Nets have back-to-back picks here, so they have leeway on one of their picks and should take major swings. Grabbing Whitehead feels like one, despite a foot injury setting him back both statistically and developmentally. Brooklyn is in the midst of a rebuild and needs more project players to tap into, particularly ones who can create their own offense. Whitehead, 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, has shown those flashes at Duke and could be a real steal depending on if he falls even lower or goes around this range.

22. Brooklyn Nets: C James Nnaji, Barcelona

Nnaji, who is turning 19 soon, is starting to rise on some boards and it’s easy to see why. Brooklyn doesn’t have much after Nic Claxton, but Nnaji is 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-7 wingspan who has displayed elite traditional abilities from a center despite playing very few minutes in Spain. That may just be his ceiling, but give him time and there are riveting tools there where he could become a high-end starter at the 5 spot.

23. Portland Trail Blazers: F/C Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana

A Clowney or Nnaji type of prospect would be good for Portland here considering they don’t have a big man behind Jusuf Nurkic, which has been a roster problem for a while now. Tristan Vukcevic, though a big jump at the moment, should be considered here, but it’s Jackson-Davis for now. At 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, he’s a small-ball center who can score in multiple ways down low and snag rebounds with his strength. He averaged 20.9 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in college, and although those numbers don’t always matter when evaluating NBA fit, his age (23) and already-developed skills would be an immediate bench option if keeping Lillard is the move.

24. Sacramento Kings: F Kris Murray, Iowa

It seems logical to bring the Murray brothers to Sacramento. Keegan, last year’s No. 4 overall pick, flourished to help the city end its lengthy playoff drought and proved the lights weren’t too bright in the playoffs, too. The Kings need more size from their wings to take the next step, and Kris, almost 23, brings that at 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan. His 3-point shooting (33.5% on 6.8 attempts) needs improvement to be considered a 3-and-D player, but that would be great value for Sacramento with this pick. Olivier-Maxence Prosper is another one to consider due to his defensive abilities, but his shooting currently is worse than Murray’s. 

25. Memphis Grizzlies: G/F Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Marquette

Speaking of Prosper, the Grizzlies are losing Dillon Brooks in free agency. Drama aside, it’s the right move as his limitations as a starter proved costly. But they can retain some of his traits with Prosper, a soon-to-be 21-year-old forward. Prosper isn’t exactly an offensive threat yet (similar to Brooks), but his defensive abilities could ensure a spot in the rotation sooner rather than later with the potential to add a scoring bag over time. Memphis’ developmental team is a great fit. 

26. Indiana Pacers: F/C Leonard Miller, G League Ignite

Miller, at 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, is another small-ball center prospect who has shown a willingness to extend his game beyond the perimeter. Indiana already has big men who can do that, but Miller, 19, is also adept in the paint, too, so he’d provide them a solid option at the 4 and 5 spots. 

27. Charlotte Hornets: G/F Maxwell Lewis, Pepperdine

The Hornets have plenty of question marks, but if they take Scoot at No. 2, taking a shot on a wing here could make sense. Lewis, almost 21, is 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wingspan and did a little of everything at Pepperdine. He’s not a lead guard, but he shouldered a heavy offensive load and posted strong numbers that indicate he could develop into a secondary or tertiary scorer over time. His floor as a 3-and-D prospect is high, and that for Charlotte with this pick would be a massive pickup. 

28. Utah Jazz: F G.G. Jackson, South Carolina

Utah is back and the philosophy from its previous pick carries over: Take a shot at a potential gem given the range of the pick. Jackson, 18, is the youngest player in the draft and is 6-foot-8 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan and 214 pounds. There’s already a lot to like about that given there’s plenty of room to grow, which then takes us to the on-court fit. He had an underwhelming year as a former top-ranked high school prospect, but he’s a 3/4 hybrid who can create for himself and handle the ball. He needs time to polish everything, but teams operating with patience should be looking at him closely, not just Utah.

29. Indiana Pacers: G Colby Jones, Xavier

Indiana’s philosophy carries over here, too. Jones makes plenty of sense for the Pacers, even more so if they trade Buddy Hield. He’s a 6-foot-5 guard with a 6-foot-8 wingspan with ready-now two-way skills to compete for a rotation spot at 21 years old. He’s not a volume 3-point shooter or a knockdown one at that, but going 37.8% on 3.3 attempts is something to work with on top of his paint scoring and ball-handling abilities. 

30. LA Clippers: G/F Julian Strawther, Gonzaga

The Clippers love their wings who are rangy and can shoot. Strawther, 21, fits those bills as a 6-foot-6 wing with a 6-foot-9 wingspan who makes his 3s on high volume (40.8% on 5.3 attempts) while quietly improving as an on-ball threat. He’s also sound defensively despite the steals and blocks not jumping off the screen, but he possesses the size and quickness to guard at least three positions. For a team like the Clippers, that’s highly valuable, and there’s a chance he can compete for minutes now in a make-or-break year for the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George duo in Southern California.

The league said the suspension will begin at the start of the 2023-24 regular season and that he will need to meet certain conditions before he can return to the court.

“Ja Morant’s decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting given his similar conduct in March for which he was already suspended eight games,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “The potential for other young people to emulate Ja’s conduct is particularly concerning. Under these circumstances, we believe a suspension of 25 games is appropriate and makes clear that engaging in reckless and irresponsible behavior with guns will not be tolerated.

“For Ja, basketball needs to take a back seat at this time. Prior to his return to play, he will be required to formulate and fulfill a program with the league that directly addresses the circumstances that led him to repeat this destructive behavior.”

Morant had already been suspended from all Grizzlies team activities pending the league’s review after he was shown waving a firearm while sitting in the passenger seat of a car during an Instagram Live video on May 13. The league determined that Morant “intentionally and prominently” displayed the gun during that video.

That incident came just two months after Morant broadcasted himself flashing a gun while in a Denver club on Instagram Live. Morant was subsequently suspended for eight games by the NBA. He also stepped away from the Grizzlies and entered a counseling program.

“I’ve had time to reflect and realize how much hurt I’ve caused,” Morant said in a statement on Friday. “I want to apologize to the NBA, the Grizzlies, my teammates and the city of Memphis. To Adam Silver, Zach Kleiman and Robert Pera — who gave me the opportunity to be a professional athlete and have supported me — I’m sorry for the harm I’ve done. To the kids who look up to me, I’m sorry for failing you as a role model. I promise I’m going to be better. To all my sponsors, I’m going to be a better representation of our brands. And to all of my fans, I’m going to make it up to you, I promise.

“I’m spending the offseason and my suspension continuing to work on my own mental health and decision making. I’m also going to be training so that I’m ready to go when I can be back on the court. I know my teammates are going to hold it down and I’m so sorry I won’t be out there with you at the beginning of the season.

“I hope you’ll give me the chance to prove to you over time I’m a better man than what I’ve been showing you.”

Morant, 23, was the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2021-22 and has two All-Star nods. He signed a five-year, $193 million contract extension with the Grizzlies last offseason.

The NBA legend has agreed to sell his majority stake in the Hornets after 13 years as the team’s owner, the team announced on Friday.

A group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall will purchase Jordan’s stake for an approximate $3 billion valuation, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported. Plotkin is a minority owner of the Hornets and Schnall is currently a minority owner of the Atlanta Hawks. Daniel Sundheim, who joined Plotkin in buying a significant minority stake in the team from Jordan in 2020, is also part of the group.

Jordan will remain in charge of the Hornets’ basketball operations through the 2023 NBA Draft and into the start of free agency on July 1, Wojnarowski reported. He will keep a minority stake in the team once the sale is approved by the NBA’s Board of Governors.

Jordan paid $275 million for the majority stake in the then-Charlotte Bobcats in 2010. He has been in charge of the franchise since and has been the NBA’s only Black majority owner.

While Jordan is known as one of the NBA’s greatest players and winners from his time with the Chicago Bulls, his Hornets teams have struggled immensely. Charlotte has made just two playoff appearances since Jordan became the owner and failed to reach the second round. The team is in the midst of a seven-season playoff drought and earned a 27-55 record in 2022-23.

The Hornets got some lottery luck exactly one month ago. The team had the fourth-best odds of getting the No. 1 pick and a chance to select Victor Wembenyama. While the San Antonio Spurs won the Wembanyama sweepstakes, the Hornets will be on the board next after jumping up to the No. 2 pick.

The Nuggets coach had himself a day at Thursday’s championship parade in Denver, though he might not be able to remember it come Friday.

Malone arrived at the parade wearing a hilarious shirt that played off his “put that in your pipe and smoke it” line from Denver’s conference finals matchup against the Lakers.

The 51-year-old had himself a few throughout the event, from chugging drinks on the bus to taking shots with players on the stage.

Malone also chugged a White Claw he caught from a fan and returned the favor by passing our beers to the crowd.

He even sprayed some champagne on fans.

There were some great Malone moments from behind the microphone as well. First, he got emotional during an interview with Altitude Sports as he described how the championship triumph had finally hit him.

He then went from emotional to impassioned as he looked ahead to defending the championship crown. Malone declared to Altitude Sports: “We’re not done yet. We’re some greedy b*******, baby. We’re some greedy b*******. We’re getting another one.”

He later made another declaration, this time telling the parade-goers that sixth man Bruce Brown, who could hit free agency in a couple of weeks, would be part of the Nuggets’ repeat bid next season.

“Is [Bruce Brown] going anywhere? Hell no. Hell no,” Malone exclaimed. “We’re running this s*** back. We’re running this s*** back. Hell yeah. C’mon, get loud. Get loud.”

Simply a championship parade performance for the ages.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

In a sitdown interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews that was released on Wednesday, the Denver Nuggets center revealed that he didn’t know where the prestigious piece of hardware was. Jokic said he last left it in Nuggets equipment manager Sparky Gonzalez’s room, but it was no longer there.

“I really don’t know,” Jokic said of the trophy’s whereabouts. “I left it in Sparky’s room and it’s not there anymore. So, I don’t know. But hopefully it can arrive in my house.”

It’s not surprising at all that the Joker had a ‘hopefully it turns up’ kind of attitude about the trophy. Remember, this is the same player who reacted to winning the Finals by saying, “We can go home now,” did an emotionless champagne pop in the locker room and was distraught upon learning the Nuggets were having a championship parade this week.

NBA Finals Jun 13

Nikola Jokic is not thrilled about attending Denver Nuggets' championship parade

NBA Jun 13

Watch: Nikola Jokic's emotionless champagne pop after Nuggets' NBA Finals win

It turned out there was no need for him to worry about it, either. Andrews later reported that the trophy was in the Nuggets’ possession and ready for Thursday’s parade in Denver.

The big question now is whether Jokic can make it through the parade without misplacing the trophy again.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Denver trailed the Miami Heat at halftime of Game 5 but rallied to win 94-89, with two-time league MVP Jokic posting 28 points and 16 rebounds and collecting the trophy for the most valuable player of the NBA Finals.

Every shot, rebound or block the Serb center made sparked loud cheers and shouts in a decrepit sports hall in the small and otherwise sleepy northern Serbian city near the borders with Croatia and Hungary where fans watched the game on a large screen.

The loudest ovation came when the typically humble and stone-faced Jokic said in a post-game, on-court interview: “It’s time to go home.”

Soon, those fans who spent sleepless nights watching the NBA Finals will see him in person as he returns home to take care of his racehorses.

For the small Balkan state of just over 6 million people, June has been a month few will ever forget. A Serbian sweep gave Jokic his first NBA ring and tennis star Novak Djokovic a record-setting 23rd Grand Slam singles title when he won the French Open on Sunday.

“It’s just amazing,” Jokic’s father Branislav, who runs a local harness racing club on the outskirts of Sombor, said in an interview. “I don’t think this great accomplishment can ever be repeated again.”

The stables are called the Dream Catcher after the name of the first racehorse that Jokic ever purchased years ago, as he developed a strong passion for horses and horse racing.

Not far away is a basketball court where Jokic first trained near his elementary school, which features a large wall painting of him in a Nuggets’ No. 15 jersey and an inscription: “Don’t be Afraid to Fail Big.”

Branislav Jokic, wearing a blue Denver Nuggets jersey, said that nobody could have predicted Nikola’s success as a basketball player as he progressed from a small-town talent, “who was a bit overweight at one point,” to moving to the regional league and then signing his first contract with the Nuggets.

“He had something special within him. I rarely mention it today, but I simply knew that he would be a good basketball player,” he said. “But as to what heights he would reach, nobody could have known then.”

Branislav Jokic said that although his son has trained hard to reach the top level, his mind was always set on a love of horses.

“He started growing, both in height and in size, and he started to become aware that he could be a basketball player, but he had a great desire in those days. He would say, ‘Dad, I want to become a horseman.’ And I used to tell him: ‘Son, become a basketball player first, and you’ll become a great horseman later,’” Branislav Jokic said.

Jokic became the lowest drafted player — 41st overall in the second round in 2014 — to win the MVP of the finals. He also became only the third second-round pick to win the award.

Jokic also became the first player in NBA history to lead the playoffs in points scored, rebounds and assists. With 600 points, 269 rebounds and 190 assists in total, he led in all three categories.

Jokic and Djokovic, once-in-a-generation athletes who grew up about a 2 1/2 hour-drive apart in a country not much more populous than Colorado, have been in the hunt to win titles and reach records that stamped their names in the history books.

“Sport is something that is special in Serbia. We have Novak, who is probably the best ever, Novak is the best ever for us, now we have an NBA champion,” Jokic said in a news conference. “It’s a very good feeling to be a Serb now.”

A league once dominated by centers in the 1960s and 1970s shifted focus to athletic wings and long-range shooters in the modern era. But now, the last three regular season MVP awards have been won by centers and Nikola Jokic just put together a historic playoff run.

A center hadn’t won league MVP since 2000 before the Denver Nuggets’ big man won it in 2021 and 2022. Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid finished second to Jokic both years before the two swapped spots in the voting for 2023.

Now that Jokic has added a championship and Finals MVP to his resume, it’s fair to start measuring him against the all-time greats. The center position is loaded with legends, dating all the way back to some of the league’s first stars. Jokic is an untraditional big man, where he has the size and power but often prefers getting teammates involved while racking up triple-doubles.

Taking into account the 28-year-old Serbian’s fresh title run, here’s a look at the 10 greatest centers in NBA history:

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Averages and accolades: 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.6 blocks, six-time champion, six-time MVP, 19-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA, 11-time All-Defense, second all-time leading scorer

Abdul-Jabbar is perhaps the most decorated player in the history of basketball. In addition to all the accolades listed above, the man formerly known as Lew Alcindor won three straight NCAA championships at UCLA to go along with three straight consensus All-Americans. The NCAA even outlawed dunking between 1967 and 1976 because of his dominance, which is how he refined the signature skyhook. In the NBA, Abdul-Jabbar starred for 20 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers.

2. Bill Russell

Averages and accolades: 15.1 points, 22.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 11-time champion, five-time MVP, 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA

The greatest winner in NBA history, the late great Russell won 11 titles in his 13-year career. He wasn’t the scorer that some of his rivals were, but he was the best defender of his era (and possibly ever). The crux of Russell’s career is that blocks and steals weren’t yet an official statistic and there were no All-Defensive Teams until after he retired. The Boston Celtics legend has the NBA Finals MVP trophy named after him, even though he didn’t win any himself because it wasn’t implemented until his final season in 1969 (when it was awarded to Jerry West of the losing Lakers over Russell and John Havlicek).

3. Wilt Chamberlain

Averages and accolades: 30.1 points, 22.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, two-time champion, four-time MVP, 13-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA

On paper, there’s no reason Chamberlain shouldn’t be ahead of Russell — but basketball isn’t played on paper. The two competed in the same era, and Chamberlain’s offensive numbers top Russell’s in every category. Well, let’s dig a little deeper. Chamberlain and Russell faced off in the playoffs eight times, with Russell winning seven of those series. Year after year, it was Russell getting the better of Wilt. Chamberlain’s gaudy numbers clearly make him an all-time great — he’s just a tick below his rival. Chamberlain’s titles came in 1967 with the Philadelphia 76ers and in 1972 with the Lakers (after Russell retired).

4. Shaquille O’Neal

Averages and accolades: 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.3 blocks, four-time champion, 2000 MVP, 15-time All-Star, 14-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defense

The man of many nicknames, Shaq was a beast from the moment he entered the NBA with the Orlando Magic. The Magic defeated Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in the 1995 playoffs en route to the NBA Finals on the back of their Superman. O’Neal’s prime years came with the Lakers, as he was the 1A to Kobe Bryant’s 1B. Los Angeles three-peated from 2000 to 2002 with O’Neal winning Finals MVP each year. Later in his career, Shaq had a title run with a young Dwyane Wade in Miami and played with LeBron James in Cleveland.

5. Hakeem Olajuwon

Averages and accolades: 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 3.1 blocks, two-time champion, 1994 MVP, 12-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, nine-time All-Defense, two-time DPOY

No one is more thankful for Michael Jordan’s baseball career than Hakeem Olajuwon. The Dream led his Rockets to the Finals in 1986 during his second season, losing to Larry Bird’s Celtics. Houston didn’t return to the Finals until 1994 when Olajuwon helped defeat the New York Knicks for the first of back-to-back titles. Olajuwon was one of the greatest two-way players in league history. His signature Dream Shake was a thing of beauty, as defenders often jumped at the wrong pump fake.

6. David Robinson

Averages and accolades: 21.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 3.0 blocks, two-time champion, 1995 MVP, 10-time All-Star, 10-time All-NBA, eight-time All-Defense, 1992 DPOY

The Admiral was appropriately nicknamed after attending school at Navy and missing his first two seasons due to military service from 1987 to 1989. Once he got on the floor for the Spurs, Robinson quickly proved his worth. He averaged at least 23 points per game in each of his first seven seasons before an injury-plagued 1996-97 campaign, which delivered the Spurs the No. 1 pick and a young power forward named Tim Duncan. Robinson and Duncan became one of the league’s best big man duos, winning two titles in Robinson’s later years (1999 and 2003, which was his last season).

7. Moses Malone

Averages and accolades: 20.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.3 blocks, one-time champion, three-time MVP, 13-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA, two-time All-Defense

Malone’s peak was among the most dominant in league history. During a five-year stretch from 1978-79 to 1982-83, he averaged 26.8 points and 15.4 rebounds per game while winning three MVPs and a title. The 1983 Finals MVP meshed perfectly with Julius Erving, as both were ABA stars who then shined in Philadelphia. His number is retired by both the Rockets and Sixers.

8. Nikola Jokic

Averages and accolades: 20.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.2 steals, one-time champion, two-time MVP, five-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA

Nobody knows what comes next, but Jokic has the potential to jump even higher on this list before he retires. He just wrapped up his eighth NBA season after being drafted at No. 41 overall in 2014. Almost immediately, it became clear that Jokic was a special player. His unique passing ability for a seven-foot, nearly 300-pound behemoth is mesmerizing to watch. A few more MVP-level seasons and deep playoff runs could catapult the Joker up this list.

9. Patrick Ewing

Averages and accolades: 21.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.4 blocks, 11-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defensive

Ewing is in a league of his own among the 10 players on this list, but not for a reason he wants. He’s the only player listed to never win a title. The Knicks made a number of deep playoff runs with Ewing leading the way — Jordan and the Bulls just often got in the way. Ewing lost to Jordan in five of his 12 playoff runs with the Knicks, including twice in the conference finals. The Knicks made the Finals in 1994 (losing to Olajuwon’s Rockets) and 1999 (losing to Robinson’s Spurs, though Ewing didn’t play in the series due to injury).

10. Bill Walton

Averages and accolades: 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.2 blocks, two-time champion, 1978 MVP, two-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA, two-time All-Defensive, 1986 6MOY

Walton is the greatest “what if” on this list. His numbers don’t warrant discussion among the all-time great centers. But what he accomplished despite chronic foot injuries is nothing short of remarkable. He won two championships in college at UCLA in 1972 and 1973, then quickly led the Portland Trail Blazers to a title in his third pro season after two injury-plagued years. The injuries only worsened as he hit what should’ve been his prime, playing only 14 games from 1978 to 1982. His career concluded with the Celtics as he won Sixth Man of the Year and emptied his tank for the 1986 NBA champions.

The Denver Nuggets stars led the franchise to its first NBA title on Monday with a Game 5 win over the Miami Heat.

Following some on-court festivities, Jokic kept the celebration tossing murray into a pool:

Jokic and Murray have been teammates since 2016, and they were the two best players on the biggest stage for the Nuggets. Jokic was named Finals MVP after averaging 30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game during the series, while Murray also averaged a double-double with 21.4 points and 10.0 assists per game.

While the dive into the pool was a fun moment, the Finals celebration often looked like a chore for Jokic. Among the highlights were an emotionless champagne pop in the locker room and disappointment that he has to stick around in Denver for a championship parade on Thursday instead of going home.

Murray, on the other hand, showed more emotion after completing a long road to the NBA Finals. His first championship came after he missed the entire 2021-22 season with a torn ACL.

With one championship under their belt, Jokic and Murray will have another title – and possibly another dive into the pool – on their minds next season.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Well, unless you’re Nikola Jokic.

The two-time league MVP and now first-time Finals MVP had a historic postseason run en route to the Denver Nuggets winning the 2023 NBA title, their first in their 47-year franchise history.

The 28-year-old led all playoff players in points, rebounds and assists while averaging 30.2 points, 14 rebounds, 7.2 assists in the Finals alone. After Denver won Game 5 at home against the Miami Heat on Monday to clinch the title, emotions ran high all around Ball Arena.

Except for one moment involving Jokic. As the Nuggets gathered in the locker room to pop champagne and celebrate, Jokic was seen on the broadcast away from the team and popping a bottle with completely zero emotion in a hilarious video:

The full video saw Jokic drinking from the bottle for a few seconds before placing it back on a table as the camera cut to the more animated Nuggets’ players bathing in the champagne. Then it cut back to Jokic’s amusing moment.

NBA Finals Jun 13

NBA Twitter hails Nikola Jokic, Nuggets for historic Finals win

Denver Nuggets Jun 13

Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke gives odd interview after NBA Finals triumph

Perhaps Jokic’s reaction isn’t too surprising given he had been voicing his desire to go home for a while.

Right after the final buzzer sounded, Jokic told ESPN in an immediate on-court postgame interview that the “job is done, we can go home now.”

Then in his postgame presser, he was asked if he was looking forward to the championship parade. He looked over to the public relations team on the side of the podium for an answer before being told it was on Thursday. He then facepalmed and said, “No, I need to go home.”

After the parade, Jokic will have plenty of time to go back to Serbia for the next few months and celebrate everything he and the Nuggets achieved this season: getting to go home.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Sports teams owned by the American billionaire have now combined for four titles since February of last year. The Los Angeles Rams kicked things off in 2022 with a Super Bowl win followed by the Colorado Mammoth capturing the National League Lacrosse crown and the Colorado Avalanche hoisting the Stanley Cup later that year.

And the Denver Nuggets became the latest Kroenke-owned franchise to reach the mountaintop on Monday night. Nikola Jokic and Co. defeated the Miami Heat in five games to end the Nuggets’ 47-year wait for a first title.

NBA Finals Jun 13

NBA Twitter hails Nikola Jokic, Nuggets for historic Finals win

NBA Finals Jun 12

Denver Nuggets defeat Miami Heat to win first NBA championship

But the 75-year-old Kroenke began his latest championship celebration in an awkward fashion.

During the Larry O’Brien Trophy presentation at Ball Arena in Denver., Kroenke was the first member of the franchise to be interviewed by ESPN’s Lisa Salters. And, for some reason, he answered her questions by talking into her ear instead of directly into the microphone.

It’s unclear why Kroenke gave the interview like that, and the odd scene left NBA Twitter puzzled.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

“It’s good, it’s good. The job is done now. We can go home now.” Those were Jokic’s words in his interview immediately after the Game 5 whistle sounded on Monday, which officially stamped the Denver Nuggets as 2023 NBA Finals champions.

Denver topped the Miami Heat 4-1 in the best-of-seven series, with Game 5 being a nerve-wracking 94-89 finish that the Nuggets needed to fight until the 10-second mark of the fourth quarter to certify their dominant postseason performance.

The top-seeded Nuggets bested the No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves, No. 4 Phoenix Suns and No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference before handling the eighth-seeded Heat, with Jokic and Jamal Murray, among others, steering the ship in commanding fashion.

Jokic, specifically, became the first ever player in NBA postseason history to lead all players in points, rebounds and assists. Not bad for someone who was drafted during a Taco Bell commercial.

Here’s how social media reacted to Jokic, Murray and the Nuggets’ historic Finals win as they secured their first title in their 47-year franchise history:

While the Nuggets were on the right side of the praise, fans didn’t forget the incredible run the Heat had to become the second ever No. 8 seed to reach the Finals. Miami received its flowers, too:

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The Nuggets captured their first championship in franchise history after defeating the Miami Heat 94-89 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday at Ball Arena in Denver.

Nikola Jokic put the finishing touches on a historic postseason performance with 28 points, 16 rebounds and four assists. Jokic, the 41st pick in the 2014 draft, averaged 30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in the series and became the lowest drafted player to ever win NBA Finals MVP.

“The job is done,” Jokic told ESPN after the win. “We can go home now.”

Neither team was in championship form to start the game, with the Heat struggling from the field and the Nuggets failing to protect the ball. The Heat, after making two of their first four shots, missed their next 10 as the Nuggets went on a 12-0 run. Adebayo then powered a 14-2 Heat run, converting consecutive three-point plays to give Miami a 22-18 lead. Adebayo finished the quarter with 14 points and six rebounds, including a late putback that sent the Heat into the second with a 24-22 advantage. 

Butler, after going 0-for-3 in first as Heat shot 35.7 percent, scored the first six points of the second for Miami. The Heat’s lead reached double figures when Duncan Robinson hit a three and then converted a driving layup off a feed from Adebayo to make it 39-29 with 7:17 left in the half.

After a pair of threes by Kyle Lowry thwarted a Denver run, Butler intercepted a Jokic cross-couirt pass and went coast-to-coast for the dunk to push the lead back to eight at 47-39. 

Adebayo continued to attack Jokic in the paint, converting a floater off a hesitation dribble in the closing minutes to help give Miami a 51-44 lead at the half.

Adebayo had 18 points and nine rebounds as the Heat built their first-half lead despite shooting just 38.8 percent overall and 4 of 15 from deep. The Nuggets shot 45.5 percent overall in the half but went just 1-for-15 from three, with Jokic converitng the lone make, and had 10 turnovers.    

A corner three by Jamal Murray, just the Nuggets’ second three on 18 attempts, evened the score at 60-60 with 6:44 left in the third. 

Michael Porter Jr.,after using a reverse between-the-legs dribble in transition for a game-tying layup, hit a three to put the Nuggets up 69-66, their first lead since it was 18-16 in the first.

A three by Lowry with 33 seconds left in the third put Miami ahead 71-70 heading into the final quarter.

The Nuggets opened the fourth on a 7-2 run to take a 77-73 advantage before Lowry hit another three to pull Miami within one. After a bucket by Jokic, Aaron Gordon blocked a Lowry jumper, leading to a pull-up by Murray to put the Nuggets up 81-76 with 6:42 left.

With the Heat down seven, Butler hit a three and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope responded with a three of his own. Butler followed with another three to cut the deficit to four, and on the next possession was fouled on an attempt from deep. The call was upheld after review and Butler hit all three free throws to make it 86-85 with 3:21 left. 

Butler then hit a pull-up to cap an 8-0 run and put the Heat in front at 87-86. Jokic answered with a layup to give the Nuggets a one-point advantage. Butler, after a Miami offensive rebound, was fouled on the drive and hit both free throws, scoring 13 straight Miami points for an 89-88 Heat lead. 

Bruce Brown then put the Nuggets in front for good with a putback off a Murray missed jumper that made it 90-89 with 1:31 to go. 

Max Strus missed a three on the ensuing possession and, after Jokic missed a layp, Butler’s pass was intercepted by Caldwell-Pope, who then hit two free throws for a 92-89 lead with 24.1 seconds left. 

Following a Miami timeout, Butler’s contested turnaround three was off the mark. Brown grabbed the rebound and hit both free throws with 14.1 seconds left to seal it. 

The Nuggets’ climb to the top of the league took decades, from Alex English to Dikembe Mutombo to Carmelo Anthony and so on. 

The team entered the NBA in 1976 after nine seasons in the ABA, during the last of which they were denied their first championship after losing in the finals to Julius Erving and the New York Nets before the merger. 

Prior to this season, the Nuggets’ greatest postseason accomplishment since joining the NBA was becoming the first No. 8 seed to upset a No. 1 seed when they stunned the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round of the 1994 playoffs — fitting considering the top-seeded Nuggets were playing the eighth-seeded Heat in the Finals.

Denver entered the playoffs having lost all four of their appearances in the Western Conference Finals, last falling to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA bubble in 2020. That streak officially came to an end this season. 

The Nuggets, after finishing with the best record in the West at 53-29, defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games during the first round and then beat the Phoenix Suns over six games in the second round. They then swept LeBron James and the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals to reach the NBA Finals for the first time.

There they overpowered the Heat, who like those before them, had no answer for the unicorn that is Nikola Jokic.

The Nuggets drafted Jokic with a second-round pick in the 2014 draft and he went on to become a back-to-back MVP in 2021 and 2022.

While leading the Nuggets to the title, he set a single-season playoff record with 10 triple-doubles, topping Wilt Chamberlain’s previous record of seven, en route to becoming the first player in NBA history to be the postseason leader in points, rebounds and assists.

Jamal Murray, two years after suffering a torn ACL, had a historic postseason of his own, drawing statistical comps to Magic Johnson. The 26-year-old point guard became the first player to have at least 10 assists in his first four Finals games and joined Johnson as just the second player to have at least 10 assists in four consecutive Finals games. Murray had 14 points, eight assists and eight rebounds in the championship-clinching victory.

With the core of the team all in their twenties and under contract through 2025 – and with general manager Calvin Booth showing no front office complacency by making trades for draft picks on the morning of Game 4 – the team is in position to defend their title.

And enjoy the view from the top of the mountain.  

“We’re not satisfied,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone told reporters after the game. “We accomplished something this franchise has never done before. But we have a lot of young, talented players in that locker room and I think we just showed through 16 playoff wins what we’re capable of on the biggest stage in the world.”

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Burnie — more specifically, the man who occupies Burnie’s costume — briefly sought medical attention Friday night after taking two punches from McGregor during a third-quarter stoppage of Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Heat and the Denver Nuggets.

The Heat said Saturday that the employee, who was not identified, received pain medication and was resting at home.

NBA Finals Jun 9

Heat on brink of losing NBA Finals as Nuggets conquer Game 4

NBA Jun 8

Who are the best No. 8 seeds in NBA playoff history?

McGregor was there as a promotional gimmick for a pain-relief spray — and was booed by many in the Miami crowd even before the bit started. The flame mascot was wearing oversized boxing gloves and a robe akin to what a fighter would wear entering the ring for a bout. McGregor hit Burnie with a left hook, knocking him down, then punched the mascot again after he hit the floor.

McGregor then tried to “spray” the mascot with the pain-relief product, while several members of the Heat’s in-game promotional team dragged Burnie off the court.

McGregor hasn’t fought since injuring his left leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. His last win came in January 2020.

The Denver Nuggets once again dominated Miami 108-95 at the Kaseya Center in Game 4 on Friday, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead. One more win for Denver and it will become NBA champions for the first time in franchise history.

Miami had stayed in the game at halftime after two even quarters, trailing 55-51. But the momentum started swinging in the third and fourth quarters, where the Nuggets’ collective firepower was just too much for the Heat to contain.

Denver outscored Miami 31-22 in the third quarter, and though the Heat rallied in the fourth to keep the game state close, the Nuggets’ role players just could not be stopped down the stretch, primarily Bruce Brown Jr.

NBA Jun 8

Who are the best No. 8 seeds in NBA playoff history?

The Heat were led by Jimmy Butler’s 25 points and Bam Adebayo’s 20. Kyle Lowry, Kevin Love and Duncan Robinson all added double-digit points, but they were on the lower end (13, 12 and 12, respectively) compared to what Denver’s role players produced.

While Nikola Jokic dropped 23 and Jamal Murray had 15, Aaron Gordon came alive with his best performance of the playoffs, going for 27 on 11-for-15 shooting, six rebounds, six assists and two steals. Brown then off the bench supplied 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting.

Miami’s unlikely heroes from prior series continued their poor run of form in Game 4, too. Gabe Vincent logged just two points on 1-for-6 shooting (0-for-4 from deep) in 19 minutes while Max Strus went scoreless in 19 minutes, going 0-for-4 overall, including three missed triples. Caleb Martin added some points late in the game to total 11, but it took 12 shots to do so in what has been a rough series for him against Denver’s wings.

It didn’t help that Denver shot 50% from deep on 14-for-28 shooting, whereas Miami mustered just 8 of 25 for 32%. The paint battle was much closer this time as Denver edged Miami 48-46, but the real disparity came from beyond the arc. The Nuggets also scored 17 points off 15 Heat turnovers, whereas Miami managed eight points off eight Denver mistakes.

The series now heads back to Denver, which could be the last game of the 2022-23 season if the Nuggets win and make it a 4-1 gentleman’s sweep.

On the message the Heat are going into the game with, head coach Erik Spoelstra said it’s all about how they return to Florida for Game 6, a situation they’ve been in already this postseason.

“We’ve done everything the hard way, and that’s the way it’s gonna have to be done again,” Spoelstra said. “All we’re going to focus on is getting this thing back to the 305. Get this things back to Miami and things can shift very quickly.”

Game 5 is slated for Monday, June 12, with tip-off time set for 8:30 p.m. ET.

Prior to their run to the NBA Finals in 2023, only one No. 8 seed before them had reached the ultimate stage – and that happened in 1998-99.

Miami has eliminated the No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks, No. 5 New York Knicks and No. 2 Boston Celtics in its path to facing the top-seeded Denver Nuggets from the Western Conference, with stars in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo receiving crucial help from usual role players in Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Duncan Robinson and more.

NBA Apr 20, 2022

NBA Playoffs: How Many Times Has a No. 8 Seed Upset a No. 1 Seed?

Miami Heat Jun 1

Everything to Know About Miami Heat Forward Caleb Martin

So, even if they eventually lose to the Nuggets for the title, they’ve already cemented themselves as one of the best No. 8 seeds in NBA playoff history.

Who are some others? Let’s take a look:

Miami Heat, 2023

To continue off Miami’s story is a must given the recency of its journey. Remember, Tyler Herro went down with a broken right hand in the first-round series against Milwaukee. That’s a 20-points-per-game guard the team doesn’t have at its disposal.

The Heat would go down as the greatest eighth-seed team in league history if they pull off an NBA Finals upset, but they’ll still be considered one of the best if they don’t.

New York Knicks, 1999

Before the Heat, there were the Knicks in the 1999 playoffs. The Jeff Van Gundy-led squad started off the lockout-shortened season on the right foot, but injuries to key players, most on the older side, saw them grab the No. 8 seed come playoff time. From there, they upset No. 1 Miami in a best-of-five series, then swept No. 4 Atlanta 4-0 in the second round. 

Next came the Reggie Miller-led No. 2 Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, which already seemed like a tough matchup before Patrick Ewing’s Game 1 injury dampened the odds. However, New York found a way and won the series 4-2. The top-seeded San Antonio Spurs won the Finals via a gentleman’s sweep, but it nonetheless was a run to be proud of for the Knicks given the circumstances. 

Memphis Grizzlies, 2011

After the 2023 Heat and 1999 Knicks, no other No. 8 seed advanced past the second round. From there, each No. 8 seed to win a playoff series was one and done.

Next, then, come the 2011 Grizzlies, who upset the top-seeded Spurs and completely disregarded their consistent regular-season play.

Zach Randolph, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol were the stars of the show in the era just before 3-point dominance, while gritty veterans in Tony Allen, Shane Battier, Sam Young and more all played vital roles in the 4-2 series upset. They weren’t exactly a one-hit wonder, either, as they took the No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder – boasting the young group of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka – to seven before losing 4-3.

Golden State Warriors, 2007

The “We Believe” era started here. The Warriors were 25 games behind the Dallas Mavericks, who had cruised to 67 wins, in the standings. Dallas had aspirations of returning to the NBA Finals after losing to the Heat in the series the season prior, but Golden State proved nothing is guaranteed in the NBA, even when you collect 67 regular-season wins in dominant fashion. 

Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson and Jason Richardson all averaged 40 minutes per game and posted crucial scoring totals, with Matt Barnes, Monta Ellis and Mickael Pietrus all chipped in, too. Golden State won the series 4-2, with three of those wins being by double-digit figures. They would fall via a gentleman’s sweep in the second round, however, to the Utah Jazz. 

Honorable mention: Philadelphia 76ers, 2012

The 2012 Sixers are the only other No. 8 seed to have won a playoff series, which came against the Chicago Bulls. That was the series in which Derrick Rose, a young league MVP with a bright playing career ahead, tore his ACL, and Chicago didn’t recover without him.

Philadelphia pushed the No. 4 Boston Celtics to seven games in the second round but lost.

Jokic dropped 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists, the first 30-20-10 game in NBA Finals history, as the Nuggets took a 2-1 series lead thanks to a 109-94 win.

The first quarter was as even as it could be for both sides as it ended 24-24, but it foreshadowed what was to come with Jokic already logging 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists. But while Jokic will understandably grab the headlines, the Heat struggled to contain his running mate Jamal Murray, too.

Murray by the end of the first quarter recorded eight points and three assists en route to finishing the game with a triple-double of his own: 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Miami went into halftime trailing 53-48, keeping the game state close thanks to Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo reaching double-digit scoring figures. Caleb Martin also chipped in eight points in 16 minutes off the bench after struggling mightily the first two games, but Gabe Vincent couldn’t make an impact of his own due to three tacky fouls going against him.

NBA Finals Apr 15, 2022

What's the lowest seed to ever win the NBA Finals?

Towards the end of the third quarter was when Miami’s engine started to run out against Jokic and Murray. Denver began getting production out of its role players while the Heat’s still struggled to get into the game.

Denver seized a commanding 21-point lead in the fourth when it went up 93-72, with rookie Christian Braun coming alive at a pivotal time. Miami made one last push in the final minutes, but it wasn’t enough.

Butler led Miami with 28 points on 11-for-24 shooting while Adebayo added 22 points and 17 rebounds on 7-for-21 shooting. Vincent went 2-for-10 overall (1-for-6 from deep) for seven points in 32 minutes while Max Strus struggled, too, going 1-for-7 overall (1-for-4 from deep) for three points in 24 minutes.

Braun proved to be the difference maker for the Nuggets, contributing 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting off the bench in a game where Michael Porter Jr. only tallied two points in 21 minutes on 1-for-7 shooting overall.

On Braun’s game, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone praised the Kansas product’s mentality and humble work ethic that shined on the big stage.

“It speaks to Christian’s confidence,” Malone said. “It speaks to him being a winner…he just has stayed ready throughout the year…That kid never gets too high or too low. I could just feel the confidence oozing off of him.”

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra lauded the eliteness Jokic and Murray displayed on the night but also factored in Miami’s inability to produce down low or stop it the other way. Miami allowed 60 points in the paint to just 34 of its own.

“They just pummeled us in the paint,” Spoelstra said on Denver’s 60-point showing. “They didn’t even have to shoot threes.”

Denver went just 5-for-18 from deep, good for 27%. On most nights in today’s NBA that usually results in a loss, but Miami did itself no favors by going 34-for-92 overall, a mere 37%.

“We do have to credit their size, but we’ve proven we can finish in the paint at our best,” Spoelstra said on Miami’s struggles down low. “Definitely some things we got to flag down.”

If the Heat want to better their odds of winning the series and tie it at 2-2 before heading back to Denver on Monday for Game 5, they’ll need a collective effort at home and, once again, nail the basics offensively while limiting the Nuggets’ opportunities the other way. With the form Jokic and Murray are in, it’ll take some stopping.

Game 4 is slated for Friday, with tip off set for 8:30 p.m. ET.

The team will reportedly waive the veteran point guard this summer, which will make 38-year-old Paul an unrestricted free agent, according to TNT’s Chris Haynes.

When the Suns acquired Kevin Durant at the trade deadline, fans around the league saw Phoenix as clear championship favorites. But with injuries to Durant and Paul, the team’s chances to develop chemistry on the floor began to dwindle.

In 59 regular season games, Paul registered a career-low 13.9 points and suffered one of the worst shooting seasons of his career.

While the team did make the playoffs, Paul’s groin injury in Game 2 against the Denver Nuggets in the Conference Semifinals was the last time he put on a Suns uniform, as he missed the team’s final four postseason games.

The future Hall of Famer still has plans to continue playing in the league and is looking to join a championship-contending team, according to Haynes.

With Paul’s departure from the team, Cameron Payne is the current front-runner to perform as the team’s starting point guard heading into the 2023-24 season.

Paul was due to earn $30.8 million next season but was only owed $15.8 million if waived by the June 28 deadline.

Paul, who spent the past three seasons in Phoenix, averaged 15.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 9.5 assists over the course of his time with the Suns.

The Los Angeles Lakers are already seen as favorites to land Paul, who was involved in a prior trade to the Lakers that was vetoed by late commissioner David Stern before the 2011 NBA season.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Two months ago, the league and the National Basketball Players Association came to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Led by new NBPA president CJ McCollum, the deal has some positives and negatives for both groups. Either way, it’s clear that team building is going to look a lot different moving forward.

Here’s what you need to know about the new changes in the NBA and how it could impact teams:

What is the new CBA in the NBA?

The NBA and NBPA reached an agreement on the new CBA on April 1, which means there will be no lockouts in the foreseeable future. The league and players announced the deal and it was later ratified by league governors and players on April 26. On July 1, 2023, the new CBA will officially take effect.

How long is the new NBA CBA?

The new CBA is a seven-year agreement through the 2029-30 season. There is a mutual opt-out option for both sides after the 2028-29 season, so at least six years of labor peace are guaranteed.

How does the new NBA CBA work?

There are several key differences on the financial side of the new CBA. Here’s how they work:

The second tax apron

• Teams that are $17.5 million over the luxury tax threshold have restrictions.
  • These teams can’t sign players to the mid-level expectation. This clause would have prevented the 2022 signings of Danilo Gallinari (Celtics), Donte DiVincenzo (Warriors), Joe Ingles (Bucks) and John Wall (Clippers).
  • These teams can’t take in more salary in a trade than they are sending out. Previously, they could take back 125% of their outgoing salaries.
  • These teams can’t trade first-round picks seven years out anymore (all teams below the second apron can).
  • These teams can’t trade cash in a deal (this will prevent them from being able to “buy” second-round picks on draft night).
  • These teams can’t sign buyout players during the season. This would have prevented the 2023 buyout signings of Russell Westbrook (Clippers), Goran Dragic (Bucks), Terrence Ross (Suns) and Justin Holiday (Mavericks).

Contract extensions

• Veteran extensions can now be worth up to 140% of the player’s previous salary, an increase from 120% in the previous CBA.
  • This clause will be especially useful for players approaching their third contract who signed a “below market” rookie extension. Jaylen Brown, Domantas Sabonis, Dejounte Murray and Lauri Markkanen, for example, all signed for less than the max rookie extension but are in line for monster third contracts. They can now sign bigger extensions ahead of time, if they choose.

Cap smoothing

• Salary cap rises will be capped at 10% each year.
  • This rule is notable after what happened in the summer of 2016, when the cap spiked by 32% and chaos ensued. Role players received more lucrative deals than expected, while the Warriors gained enough space to sign Kevin Durant.

What are the other new NBA rules for 2023-24?

There are two other significant changes in the new CBA: award voting and the in-season tournament.

Award voting

• Players must appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for awards (MVP, All-NBA, etc.)
• The three All-NBA and two All-Defensive teams will be positionless, rather than the traditional voting of two guards, two forwards and a center for each team.

In-season tournament

• A mid-season tournament will likely be introduced during the 2023-24 season.
• Teams will be divided into six intra-conference groups of five teams apiece, playing everyone in the group once for the first round – which will be part of the regular season schedule.
• The six group winners and two wild card teams will advance to an eight-team, single-elimination tournament.
• The final four will be played at a neutral location.
• Group play, quarterfinals and semifinals will count toward regular season records, but the final won’t.
• Each player on the winning team will earn $500,000, runner-up players will earn $200,000, semifinal losing players will earn $100,000 and quarterfinal losing players will earn $50,000.

Gordon gave his Denver Nuggets teammate an iced-out diamond pendant. Give the bling a look below:

“Ooh wee,” Murray said when he first unboxed the pendant. “That’s tough.”

Mile High Jewelers created the pendant, which is full of custom details for Murray.

The piece features Murray’s initials, jersey number and a nod to his signature on-court celebration. Murray has broken out an imaginary bow and arrow after hitting big shots throughout his career.

Gordon and Murray have been teammates since March 2021 when the Nuggets acquired Gordon ahead of the trade deadline. Murray suffered a torn ACL less than a month later, and the 2022-23 season has given the two players a chance to truly connect on the court.

The Nuggets are knotted with the Miami Heat through two games in the Finals. If Denver wins three of the next five games, Murray will get a ring to go with the pendant.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Kyrie Irving reportedly is interested in reuniting with LeBron James, and he wants to do it with his new team.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Monday that Irving has reached out to James about teaming up in Dallas.

Additionally, Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes reported that Irving wants the Mavericks to trade for James to form a big three with Luke Doncic.

Irving and James were teammates for three seasons in Cleveland. They reached the NBA Finals together three times and led the Cavaliers to their first championship in 2016.

Irving was traded from the Cavs to the Boston Celtics in 2017, and James left Cleveland for Los Angeles the following offseason. Irving played two seasons in Boston and spent three-plus tumultuous seasons with the Brooklyn Nets before being dealt to the Mavericks ahead of the 2023 trade deadline. The Mavericks wound up finishing the season 38-44 and missing the play-in, while James’ Lakers got swept out of the Western Conference Finals.

There has long been speculation about Irving and James teaming up again, but that hypothetical reunion was mostly thought to take place in L.A. Irving will be in control of where he plays next season since he is an unrestricted free agent, but James is still under contract with the Lakers after inking a two-year extension in 2022. James is due $46,900,000 next season and has a player option of $50,652,000 for the 2024-25 season.

Salaries and the new NBA collective bargaining agreement would make a James-Irving-Doncic trio tough to assemble. Doncic is due over $40 million, so unless Irving were to take a significant pay cut or James were to be bought out and take a reduced deal, the Mavericks – like all teams – will struggle to fit three max-level players on their payroll.

As for a James trade, there’s also a question about what the Mavericks could offer the Lakers. Dallas sent Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, an unprotected first-round pick in 2029 and two second-round picks for Irving and Markieff Morris. The team owns the No. 10 draft pick in 2023, but outside of Irving, Doncic and picks, the only other intriguing assets are young contributors like Josh Green and Jaden Hardy.

Looming over the entire situation is James’ NBA status. Following the Lakers’ playoff exit, the 38-year-old said he wants to continue playing but admitted he had to think about it. Haynes reported at the time that retirement was under consideration.

NBA free agency begins on June 30, and all eyes will be on Irving and James throughout the offseason to see what their futures hold.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The Heat took Game 2 on the road against the Denver Nuggets 111-108. Miami led by double digits in the first quarter, then trailed by double digits in the second before embarking on a 36-25 fourth-quarter rally to even the series.

After shooting a putrid 0-for-10 (0-for-9 from deep) in Game 1, Max Strus got Miami hot early. The 27-year-old Strus found his long-range jumper early and drilled four in the opening quarter alone, while Gabe Vincent supplied the secondary scoring.

Miami took a commanding 21-10 lead with 4:42 to go in the opening 12 minutes, but Nikola Jokic’s paint scoring proved to be a threat early, which pioneered Denver’s incoming run after it cut the deficit to 26-23 by the end of the quarter.

The Nuggets then dominated the second quarter immediately to no fault of Miami’s. Denver’s shotmaking augmented a level and the transition game went in its favor. Christian Braun, Bruce Brown and Jeff Green all also provided a crucial spark off the bench that saw Denver score 34 points in the quarter to Miami’s 25. The game state went from a Heat double-digit cushion to one for the Nuggets.

The third quarter was a true back-and-forth affair as Miami looked to retake the lead, but there was simply no stopping Jokic. The two-time league MVP finished the quarter with 31 points in 30 minutes, with the second-highest Nugget behind Jamal Murray with 10. The Heat had four players in double figures: Strus, Vincent, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

Jimmy Butler May 31

Jimmy Butler Applies for Trademark Amid Epic NBA Finals Run

But the final period was all Miami, which used a 29-12 start to take a double-digit lead of their own. Denver managed an 11-2 run late to make it 109-106 with a minute to go, but it didn’t have enough after Murray missed the potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Jokic led Denver and all scorers with 41 points on 16-for-28 shooting (2-for-5 from deep), 11 rebounds and four assists. Murray added 18 on 7-for-15 shooting, but it was Miami’s group effort that got it done.

Vincent led the way with 23 on 8 of 12 shooting while Butler and Adebayo each added 21. Strus scored 12 in the opening quarter but only managed two after to total 14. Duncan Robinson chipped in 10 off the bench on 4 of 5 shooting.

Also of vital importance to Miami on the night was Kevin Love. The 34-year-old got the start after not featuring at all in Game 1, and in 22 minutes, provided six points, 10 rebounds, two steals and an assist with a plus-18 rating.

After the game, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra blamed himself for not tinkering with the rotation more in Thursday’s Game 1 loss, which he says could’ve used more Love.

“Clearly we needed that size and physicality and veteran experience that K Love brings,” Spoelstra said.

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, on the other hand, was not happy with his team’s lack of application in the loss compared to the energy inserted by Miami.

“Let’s talk about effort,” Malone started. “I mean, this is the NBA Finals and we’re talking about effort. That’s a huge concern of mine… And that to me is really, really perplexing, disappointing.

“Miami came in here and outworked us. We had by far our most undisciplined game of the playoffs.”

Malone added the Nuggets’ main objective now is to try to steal a game back in Miami, which they’ll do because “we’re going to play harder than them and be more disciplined than them.”

The win for Miami made it the first time Denver lost a game at home since March 12. The Heat had to record a shooting split of 49/49/90 from the field to do so, illustrating the level it takes to stop the top-seeded Nuggets, particularly on their home floor.

Game 3 will head to Miami on Wednesday, June 7, with tip off slated for 8:30 p.m. ET.

The Denver Nuggets advanced past two all-time players to reach the NBA Finals, and two ESPN personalities disagree on if the team is now facing its toughest test yet.

The debate stemmed from an Aaron Gordon quote in which he said Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is a “different cover” than players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Gordon was responsible for guarding Durant throughout the Nuggets’ second-round series against the Phoenix Suns and defended James during the Nuggets’ sweep over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Butler entered the Finals after earning the Larry Bird Trophy as the most valuable player in Miami’s Eastern Conference Finals triumph over the Boston Celtics.

Ahead of Thursday’s Game 1, Jay Williams lauded Butler with praise that left Stephen A. Smith distraught.

“Yes. This year he is,” he said when asked on “First Take” if Butler is harder to guard than James and Durant. “There’s no doubt about it.”

The tape-delayed shrug from Smith says it all, but that didn’t stop him from going off on Williams.

“It’s asinine stuff like this that drives me crazy because the man knows basketball,” Smith said. “[Williams] says stuff just to rile me up. This was a shot at Stephen A. He knew that he was going to get on my nerves with this answer. … He lives to do this, ladies and gentlemen.”

The Nuggets went on to cool off Butler and the Heat in a dominant Game 1 win. Butler shot 6-for-14 overall and tallied just 13 points, as the Heat were held to a playoff-low 93 points.

Butler will get a chance to turn things around against Gordon and the Nuggets in Sunday’s Game 2.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The team reportedly is finalizing a deal to hire Frank Vogel as its next head coach. The Athletic’s Shams Charania and ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the news, with Charania saying the deal is for $31 million over five years.

Vogel won a title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and was fired by the team after the 2021-22 campaign. He was out of the league this past season and will now take the place of Monty Williams, who reportedly joined the Detroit Pistons on a six-year, $78.5 million contract earlier this week.

Vogel started his NBA coaching career as an assistant with the Boston Celtics in 2001. He spent three seasons in Boston, one as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers and then landed in Indiana.

The Pacers hired Vogel as an assistant coach in 2007 and he was in the role for three full seasons before replacing Jim O’Brien during the 2010-11 campaign. Vogel led the team to the playoffs in five of his six seasons in charge and reached two Eastern Conference Finals.

Indiana did not re-sign Vogel after the 2015-16 season, and he went to Orlando to take the Magic’s head job. The Magic swiftly moved on from Vogel after two losing seasons.

After one year out of the league, Vogel found himself in the City of Angels. The Lakers hired him in 2019 and he proceeded to win a championship in his first season with playoff games in the Orlando bubble. Things went downhill from there, as the Lakers were bounced in the first round of the 2021 playoffs – by the Suns – and went just 33-49 in 2021-22, leading the team to fire him.

Vogel was joined by former Sixers coach Doc Rivers and Suns assistant coach Kevin Young as finalists for the Suns job, Wojnarowski reported. Phoenix also reportedly had discussions with former Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, who wound up replacing Rivers in Philadelphia.

Now, Vogel will lead a roster that features Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Chris Paul. The team made a blockbuster trade for Durant shortly after new owner Mat Ishbia took over, but an injury limited Durant to just eight regular season games before the playoffs. The team got past the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, but they were no match for the top-seeded Denver Nuggets in the second round with Paul and Deandre Ayton suffering injuries.

The reserve forward shot and made the Heat’s only two free throws in their 104-93 loss to the Nuggets in Denver on Thursday night. With the two foul shots, Miami set the NBA single-game playoff record for the fewest free throw attempts.

The record-setting night came after Miami had averaged 21 free throws over the previous three playoff rounds. The Nuggets, meanwhile, connected on 16 of 20 foul shots in Game 1.

The Heat’s historically low number of free throw attempts led to a funny postgame exchange. A reporter asked Heat center Bam Adebayo about the free throw disparity and prefaced the question by saying “I promise I’m not trying to get you fined.”

That caused Highsmith, who was seated next to Adebayo, to break out in laughter before Adebayo replied: “If I do say something, will you take the fine?”

“We can’t even get into that,” Adebayo continued. “We can’t let them dictate the game. I just feel like we took a lot of jump shots and we missed a lot of them, instead of getting to the basket. We’re gonna watch film and get back to the drawing board.”

NBA Finals Jun 1

Watch: Larry O'Brien Trophy Skydives to Game 1 of NBA Finals

NBA Finals Jun 1

Referee Eric Lewis Won't Work NBA Finals While League Investigates Tweets

After avoiding a potential fine by not criticizing the referees, Adebayo then jokingly asked why the reporter doesn’t get fined for bringing up the free throw disparity.

Adebayo scored a team-high 26 points amid a rough shooting night overall for Miami. It’d be surprising if the Heat don’t make a concerted effort to attack the rim — and get to the line — in Game 2 on Sunday.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The Nuggets cruised to a 104-93 victory over Miami in Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals at Ball Arena in Denver on Thursday night.

The Nuggets held a lead for nearly the entire contest, never trailing after the 8:56 mark of the first quarter, as they improved to 9-0 at home this postseason. It was Denver’s first ever NBA Finals game, and the franchise is now just three wins away from its first championship.

“That was one of my last messages to the group before our game,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone told reporters postgame via The Associated Press. “I reminded our group, if they didn’t know, that Miami went into Milwaukee and won Game 1. They went into the Garden in New York City and won Game 1. They won Game 1 up in Boston. So, we did not want them coming in here taking control of the series on our court.”

The No. 8-seeded Heat had taken Game 1 in each of their previous three playoff series, but were doomed by cold shooting against Denver. Miami, which entered the Finals shooting 47.2% from the field and 39 percent from 3 in the playoffs, connected on just 18 of 48 field goal attempts (37.5%) and 4 of 17 3-point shots (23.5%) in the first half. Max Strus and Caleb Martin were a combined 0-for-12 from field, with Strus missing all six of his 3s.

NBA Finals Jun 1

Watch: Larry O'Brien Trophy Skydives to Game 1 of NBA Finals

NBA Finals Jun 1

History Says NBA Finals Will End in 6 Games, the Most Common of All Outcomes

Denver, meanwhile, shot nearly 60 percent in the opening 24 minutes. Jamal Murray’s 18 points and two-time MVP Nikola Jokic’s 10 points and 10 assists powered Denver to a 17-point halftime advantage.

The Heat would only get as close as nine late in the fourth quarter after trailing by as many as 24.

“I didn’t even look at the box score yet, but like I said, I think the disposition, the efforts were more appropriate in the second half,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “But that’s not enough. It has to be for a full game, and you also have to make some plays when you’re beat.”

Jokic tallied his record-extending ninth triple-double of the postseason with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists. Murray added 26 points, six rebounds and 10 assists. Michael Porter Jr. (14 points), Aaron Gordon (16 points) and Bruce Brown (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Nuggets, who shot 50.6% percent overall.

“I think that’s what the beauty of this team is. We have so many different weapons and so many different looks,” Murray said. “You’ve got to guard everybody. … Free-flowing, and it’s a lot of fun.”

The Heat, who finished 40.6% from the field and 13 of 39 from 3 (33.3%), were led by Bam Adebayo’s 26 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Jimmy Butler shot 6 of 14 for 13 points without attempting a single free throw, adding seven rebounds and seven assists. The Heat attempted just two free throws on the night compared to Denver’s 20 attempts.

“We’ve got to attack the rim a lot more, myself included,” Butler said.

Gabe Vincent connected on 5 of 10 3-pointers en route to 19 points and five assists. Miami also got notable bench contributions from Haywood Highsmith, who scored 18 points, and Kyle Lowry, who tallied 11 points and five assists.

Strus, meanwhile, went 0-for-10 and missed all nine of his 3s. Martin was 1-for-7 with 3 points.

“It’s a long series,” Vincent said. “First to four wins. Adjustments will be made. And we will learn from this loss.”

Game 2 of the Finals is on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.

The NBA’s championship trophy took an unusual route to Thursday’s Game 1 between the Heat and Nuggets, as it was delivered to Ball Arena in Denver with the help of a plane and skydiver.

The NBA documented the trophy’s journey through the air:

Soon enough, that trophy will be a historic piece of hardware for one franchise. The Nuggets are in the Finals for the first time in franchise history, looking to pick up their first Larry O’Brien Trophy.

NBA May 29

How to Watch 2023 NBA Finals: Heat Vs. Nuggets

NBA Finals May 30

5 Storylines to Watch for During Nuggets-Heat 2023 NBA Finals

The Heat, on the other hand, have won three titles across six Finals appearances, but this opportunity presents them with a chance to become the lowest-seeded champion in league history. Miami is just the second eight-seed to reach the Finals.

Game 1 of Heat-Nuggets tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The two-time NBA MVP powered the Denver Nuggets to this year’s Finals and has been dominant throughout the playoffs. A sweep over the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals secured the Nuggets their first ever Finals berth, and they are now four wins away from their first championship.

On top of his scoring, rebounding and passing, Jokic has made headlines with his looks during the postseason. He sported a Peaky Blinders-esque look ahead of one game, and he also continued a tribute to his wife with his kicks.

Jokic has been tying his wedding band to his sneakers throughout the 2022-23 season. Check out some of the instances below:

Jokic says he stole the tradition from a Serbian teammate to always keep his family by his side. 

Jokic married his high school sweetheart, Natalija, in October 2020. Both grew up in Sombor, Serbia, and their relationship has transitioned to Denver. The couple welcomed their first child, Ognjena, in September 2021.

Natalika and Ognjena aren’t Jokic’s only family supporters. His brothers, Nemanja and Strahinja, have stepped into the spotlight in recent years, and they have beef with the Nuggets’ Finals opponent.

NBA May 31

Everything to Know About Denver Nuggets Star Nikola Jokic

NBA May 30

Who Is Favored to Win 2023 NBA Finals? Odds for Nuggets-Heat

The older siblings went after Marcus Morris Sr. on Twitter in November 2021 after their star brother pushed then-Heat forward and Marcus’ twin, Markieff Morris, to the floor during a game in Denver. Markieff Morris went on to miss 58 straight games due to whiplash and Jokic was suspended one game for the incident.

Jokic will have his family’s support on his kicks and in the stands when the Nuggets face off against the Heat beginning on Thursday for Game 1 at Ball Arena.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Sure, it was also surprising that the Miami Heat defeated the Boston Celtics on the road after losing three straight games, including a heartbreaking buzzer-beater in Game 6 that put the team on the brink of a historic collapse.

But Martin, an undrafted forward, was perhaps the main reason the Heat avoided being on the wrong side of history and instead became the first No. 8 seed to advance to the NBA Finals since 1999. 

Martin averaged 19.3 points on 60.2 percent shooting, including 48.9 percent from 3-point range, while also grabbing 6.4 rebounds per game and frustrating the Celtics’ stars at the defensive end. He capped the series with a 26-point, 10-rebound performance in Game 7, going 11-for-16 from the field. 

Martin elevated his game from the regular season, where he established himself as a dependable role player by averaging 9.6 points and 4.8 rebounds. And he came a long way from Game 7 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, where he sat on the bench for all 48 minutes of the Heat’s loss to the Celtics. 

But when the voting for the 2023 ECF MVP was revealed, Martin lost the award to star teammate Jimmy Butler by one vote.  

There’s no denying Butler’s impact and value, having put up his usual All-Star-caliber numbers of 24.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists in the series. But he shot just 42 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from deep, including a 5-for-21 performance in Game 6 when the Heat lost by one. He responded in Game 7 with 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists but shot just 12-for-28 from the field.

Martin may not have the hardware to show it, but he proved to be the Heat’s unsung hero. 

“You figure out if you’re built for these types of environments or not whenever you get into them,” Martin told reporters after Game 7. “I feel like I’ve just been continuously prepping and getting ready for these moments, and when these moments come, I feel like I’m ready for them.”

Here’s everything you need to know about Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin ahead of the 2023 NBA Finals. 

When was Caleb Martin born?

Caleb Martin was born on Sept. 28, 1995. He is 27 years old. 

Where is Caleb Martin from?

Martin was born in Winston-Salem, N.C.  

Where did Caleb Martin play before the NBA?

Martin spent his first two years of college playing at North Carolina State alongside his twin brother, Cody Martin. The two then transferred to Nevada, helping guide the team to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in the first of their two seasons with the program.  

Who is Caleb Martin’s brother?

Martin’s twin brother, Cody Martin, is a small forward for the Charlotte Hornets. He was drafted in the second round of the 2019 draft (No. 36 overall) and has averaged 5.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 21.1 minutes per game over the first four seasons of his career. Cody Martin in 2022 signed a four-year contract for over $31 million with the Hornets.    

When was Caleb Martin drafted? 

Martin was eligible for the 2019 NBA Draft but was not selected. After going undrafted, he was signed by the Hornets. He spent two seasons with the Hornets, also playing at times for their G League affiliate the Greensboro Swarm, averaging 5.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in 16 minutes per over 71 NBA games.

When did Caleb Martin sign with the Heat?

Martin was waived by the Hornets in August of 2021 and went on to sign a two-way contract with the Heat that September. He played in 60 games during his first season with the team, averaging 9.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 22.9 minutes per game. This season, he started in 49 of the 71 games he played during the regular season, setting career highs of 9.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Lewis had been chosen to work the finals in each of the last four seasons. This year’s finals referees were announced by the league Thursday morning, about 12 hours before the start of the title series.

After some now-deleted tweets were revealed by a pair of Twitter users last week, the league opened an investigation into whether Lewis violated NBA rules by speaking about officiating in an unauthorized manner. It has not been determined if Lewis was using the account, which utilizes the name “blair cuttliff.” The account was deactivated briefly last week but was active again Wednesday evening.

“Regarding Eric Lewis and the social media posts, we are continuing to review the matter and he will not be working the finals,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said Thursday.

The league has not revealed a timetable for the completion of its probe into whether Lewis used the Twitter account. It also remains unknown what discipline from the league that Lewis could face if he broke policy by discussing officiating matters openly without approval.

Of the 12 referees picked for the Nuggets-Heat matchup, nine worked the title series last season. Scott Foster will be a finals referee for the 16th year, while Tony Brothers and Marc Davis were picked for a 12th time. Zach Zarba is now a 10-time selection, John Goble was picked for the seventh time, David Guthrie for the sixth time, Josh Tiven for the fourth and Courtney Kirkland and James Williams are now three-time selections.

Returning to the referee lineup for the finals are Ed Malloy, now an eight-time pick, and Bill Kennedy — picked for the fifth time. The only first-time selection this year is Kevin Scott, who began working NBA games in the 2010-11 season.

Tyler Ford and Ben Taylor have been assigned as finals alternates. Foster has officiated 23 NBA Finals games, followed by Davis (18) and Brothers (15).

“The pinnacle for an NBA official is to work the NBA Finals,” said Byron Spruell, the league’s president of basketball operations.

Davis, Guthrie and Malloy will work Game 1 of the series Thursday night, the league said. Typically, the 12 referees each get to work one of the first four games of the series.

Besides Lewis, the other referees who worked the 2022 finals but aren’t working them this year are Kane Fitzgerald — who left on-court work after last season and took over in September as the league’s Vice President of Referee Operations and Replay Center Principal — and James Capers, who is injured.

Lewis has worked more than 1,200 games, counting both regular season and playoffs, in 19 seasons as an NBA referee. He last worked on May 16, when Denver played host to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. The reports of the tweets came out about a week later.

Monty Williams has landed on his feet.

Weeks after being fired by the Phoenix Suns, Williams has agreed to become the next head coach of the Detroit Pistons, The Athletic’s Shams Charania and James L. Edwards III reported, citing sources, on Wednesday.

The Pistons reportedly are making a substantial commitment to the 2021-22 NBA Coach of the Year as well, giving him a six-year deal worth a staggering $78.5 million. The contract could reach up to eight years and close to $100 million based on team options and incentives, according to The Athletic’s report.

The deal that makes Williams the NBA’s highest-paid coach reportedly is expected to be finalized in the coming days.

This will be Williams’ third NBA head-coaching gig following previous stops in New Orleans and Phoenix. He spent the past four seasons as Phoenix’s head coach, leading the Suns to a 194-115 record (.628 winning percentage), three playoff appearances and one NBA Finals trip over that span.

Jimmy Butler May 31

Jimmy Butler Applies for Trademark Amid Epic NBA Finals Run

NBA Finals May 31

Here's How to Get Free Chipotle During the NBA Finals

But Williams was relieved of his duties after the Suns’ season ended with a blowout second-round loss on their home court for the second consecutive postseason. Phoenix was eliminated in six games by the eventual Western Conference champion Denver Nuggets.

Williams, 51, now takes over a rebuilding Pistons squad that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2019 and hasn’t won a playoff game since 2008. Dwane Casey’s five-year run as head coach came to an end after Detroit went 17-65 in 2022-23, which was their fourth straight season with 23 or fewer wins.

The Pistons have a few young players who are full of potential in Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren and James Wiseman. Detroit also owns the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 draft.

Himmy Buckets is back in the NBA Finals.

In other words, Jimmy Butler.

The star forward has been the anchor behind the Miami Heat’s run to the 2023 NBA Finals despite entering the postseason as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. 

Butler has been a key force in a Miami underdog run before when the No. 5-seeded Heat made it to the 2020 NBA Finals. However, they fell short to the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the bubble. 

Their run in 2023, though, has surpassed the past due to the magnitude of what they could achieve in the balance. Miami nearly fell out of the postseason entirely through the play-in tournament before a late fourth-quarter rally against the Chicago Bulls saw it qualify.

Then Miami toppled the No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks, No. 5 New York Knicks and No. 2 Boston Celtics, the latter of which involved a Game 7 road win despite being up 3-0. 

Butler won the Eastern Conference Finals MVP award from that series as a recognition of his performances, but like he told Bam Adebayo with the conference finals trophy, he wants to “hold the next one.”

Here are five things to know about Butler as he looks to guide Miami to history against the top-seeded Denver Nuggets in 2023:

Where is Jimmy Butler from and how old is he?

Butler was born on Sept. 14, 1989 in Houston, Texas. He is 33 years old. 

He went to Tomball High School in Texas before starting college at Tyler Junior College in 2007-08, where he averaged 18.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He then transferred to Marquette as a sophomore on an athletic scholarship and stayed there until 2011 when he graduated. 

Which NBA team drafted Jimmy Butler?

Butler was not heavily recruited coming out of high school and that trend continued with his draft stock following his college days. He was initially projected as a late second-rounder, but his intriguing measurements helped his status. 

The Chicago Bulls then drafted Butler with the last pick of the first round (No. 30 overall) in the 2011 draft. He stayed in the Windy City until 2017 before having one-year stints in Minnesota (2017-18) and Philadelphia (2018-19), ultimately settling in Miami from 2019 to now. 

How much is Jimmy Butler’s salary?

Butler currently is on a three-year, $146 million contract with Miami. His salary in the 2022-23 season is just north of $37 million, but that figure is estimated to jump just over $45 million for the 2023-24 campaign.

*All contract numbers via Spotrac

How many MVPs does Jimmy Butler have?

While Jimmy Butler has never won the league MVP in the NBA, he does have plenty of other accolades on his resume. The list includes six All-Star nods, one All-NBA Second Team, four All-NBA Third Teams, five All-Defensive Second Teams and 2015 Most Improved Player.

He most recently won Eastern Conference Finals MVP for his performances in the 4-3 win vs. the Boston Celtics. 

Does Jimmy Butler have a trademark?

Butler recently filed a trademark for the phrase “HIMMY BUCKETS”.

It will be used to launch a brand comprising coffee, clothing and other beverages. 

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Himmy Buckets could soon become Himmy Buckets™. 

Jimmy Butler recently filed a trademark application for “Himmy Buckets” amid the Miami Heat‘s run to the 2023 NBA Finals, according to trademark attorney and Gerben IP founder Josh Gerben.

The trademark filing, which was made during the Eastern Conference Finals, indicates Butler has plans to launch a Himmy Buckets brand consisting of coffee, coffee cups, beer, soda, bottled water and clothing, per Gerben.

Himmy Buckets combines Butler’s nickname of Jimmy Buckets with the popular internet moniker of “him.” The new nickname has caught on as Butler has powered the Heat to their second Finals appearance in four years, despite entering this postseason as the East’s No. 8 seed.

NBA Finals May 31

Here's How to Get Free Chipotle During the NBA Finals

NBA May 30

Who Is Favored to Win 2023 NBA Finals? Odds for Nuggets-Heat

The six-time All-Star has averaged 28.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.1 steals as Miami has taken down the No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks, No. 2 Boston Celtics and No. 5 New York Knicks. The Heat are just the second eight-seed to ever reach the NBA Finals, and if they’re able to take down the No. 1 Denver Nuggets, Himmy Buckets and Co. will become the lowest-seeded champion in league history.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The league announced which jerseys each team will wear for the first four games of the 2023 Finals through NBA LockerVision, which lays out the full uniform schedule for the entire season.

The Heat will mostly be wearing their white Association Edition jerseys to start the series, while the Nuggets will be avoiding white all together to kick off their first NBA Finals appearance. Neither of the uniform matchups from the Heat and Nuggets’ two regular season meetings will be used in the first four games of the Finals, either.

NBA May 30

Who Is Favored to Win 2023 NBA Finals? Odds for Nuggets-Heat

NBA May 29

How to Watch 2023 NBA Finals: Heat Vs. Nuggets

Let’s go game by game to see what the stars will be wearing during the Finals:

Game 1: Miami Heat vs. Denver Nuggets, Thursday, June 1

• Heat: Statement Edition (Red)
• Nuggets: Statement Edition (Royal blue)

Game 2: Miami Heat vs. Denver Nuggets, Sunday, June 4

• Heat: Association Edition (White)
• Nuggets: Icon Edition (Navy blue)

Game 3: Denver Nuggets vs. Miami Heat, Wednesday, June 7

• Nuggets: Statement Edition (Royal blue)
• Heat: Association Edition (White)

Game 4: Denver Nuggets vs. Miami Heat, Friday, June 9

• Nuggets: Icon Edition (Navy blue)
• Heat: Association Edition (White)

Will the Heat and Nuggets have Finals patches on their jerseys?

Keeping up with recent tradition, players on both teams will have Finals patches above the last names on the back of their jerseys.

Heat record by jersey in the playoffs

The Heat have worn three jerseys during the playoffs and have seen some mixed success.

• Association Edition: 8-3
• Icon Edition: 1-3
• Statement Edition: 3-0

While the Icon Edition has been the least-successful look for the Heat in the playoffs, their lone win in the black jerseys was their biggest. They wore the uniforms for their Game 7 win over the Boston Celtics that secured them a spot in the Finals.

Nuggets record by jersey in the playoffs

The Nuggets have sported all four of their jerseys during the playoffs, and they have not lost a game yet in the edition they will be wearing for Game 1 of the Finals:

• Association Edition: 1-1
• Icon Edition: 3-1
• Statement Edition: 5-0
• City Edition: 3-1

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Nikola Jokic just added an NBA Finals MVP to pair with his two regular-season editions.

Jokic and the Denver Nuggets defeated Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat in a five-game series to cap off the 2022-23 NBA season on Monday night.

Even though the 28-year-old Serbian didn’t win the awards in the same season, it’s still a massive accomplishment that few players have ever achieved.

Here’s everything to know about the NBA Finals MVP award since its creation in the late 1960s.

Who won the first ever NBA Finals MVP?

The first ever NBA Finals MVP was awarded to Jerry West in 1968-69. West suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers, who lost the series 4-3 to the Boston Celtics. In that series, West averaged 37.9 points, 7.4 assists and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 49% from the field (96-for-196) and 83.9% from the foul line (73-for-87).

Has a losing player ever won NBA Finals MVP?

There has been only one losing player to win the NBA Finals MVP – Jerry West. It happened in the aforementioned series in which West and the Lakers lost 4-3 to the Celtics in the 1969 NBA Finals.

Who has won the most NBA Finals MVPs?

Michael Jordan has won the most NBA Finals MVPs with six, each coming with the Chicago Bulls. 

LeBron James has won the award four times – the only player to do so on three different teams – while Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan all won it three times. 

How many NBA players have won Finals MVP?

There have been 54 NBA players who have won Finals MVP since the 1968-69 campaign. Here’s a list of each winner in reverse chronological order:

• 2022-23: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
• 2021-22: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
• 2020-21: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
• 2019-20: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
• 2018-19: Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors
• 2017-18: Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
• 2016-17: Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
• 2015-16: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
• 2014-15: Andre Iguodala, Golden State Warriors
• 2013-14: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
• 2012-13: LeBron James, Miami Heat
• 2011-12: LeBron James, Miami Heat
• 2010-11: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
• 2009-10: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
• 2008-09: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
• 2007-08: Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
• 2006-07: Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs
• 2005-06: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
• 2004-05: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
• 2003-04: Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons
• 2002-03: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
• 2001-02: Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
• 2000-01: Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1999-00: Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1998-99: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
• 1997-98: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
• 1996-97: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
• 1995-96: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
• 1994-95: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
• 1993-94: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
• 1992-93: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
• 1991-92: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
• 1990-91: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
• 1989-90: Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons
• 1988-89: Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons
• 1987-88: James Worthy, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1986-87: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1985-86: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics
• 1984-85: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1983-84: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics
• 1982-83: Moses Malone, Philadelphia 76ers
• 1981-82: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1980-81: Cedric Maxwell, Boston Celtics
• 1979-80: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1978-79: Dennis Johnson, Seattle SuperSonics
• 1977-78: Wes Unseld, Washington Bullets
• 1976-77: Bill Walton, Portland Trail Blazers
• 1975-76: Jo Jo White, Boston Celtics
• 1974-75: Rick Barry, Golden State Warriors
• 1973-74: John Havlicek, Boston Celtics
• 1972-73: Willis Reed, New York Knicks
• 1971-72: Wilt Chamberlain, Los Angeles Lakers
• 1970-71: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Bucks
• 1969-70: Willis Reed, New York Knicks
• 1968-69: Jerry West, Los Angeles Lakers

Has an NBA player won regular-season MVP and Finals MVP in the same season?

There have been 15 instances where the winner of the regular-season NBA MVP also won the Finals edition. The most recent came in 2012 and 2013 when LeBron James achieved the feat in consecutive seasons, though Michael Jordan has done it the most times (four).

Here’s a chronological look starting from 1970, when Willis Reed became the first player to do so with the New York Knicks:

1970: Willis Reed

1971: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

1983: Moses Malone

1984: Larry Bird 

1986: Larry Bird

1987: Magic Johnson

1991: Michael Jordan

1992: Michael Jordan

1994: Hakeem Olajuwon

1996: Michael Jordan 

1998: Michael Jordan

2000: Shaquille O’Neal

2003: Tim Duncan

2012: LeBron James 

2013: LeBron James

The 28-year-old has been the engine behind the Denver Nuggets’ dominant journey to the 2023 NBA Finals as the No. 1 seed out West, but none of what he’s achieved in this run is surprising.

Jokic, a two-time league MVP and five-time All-Star, has been a pure triple-double machine for a few years running, and he finally has the benefit of healthy teammates alongside him that is seeing Denver in the final round of the postseason for the first time in franchise history.

Let’s dive into what you should know about Jokic ahead of the NBA Finals:

Where is Nikola Jokic from?

Jokic is from Sombor, Serbia, a small town in the northwest section of the country that has a population of just over 41,000.

What nationality is Nikola Jokic?

Jokic is Serbian. While his mother’s name is not publicly known, his father’s name is Branislav Jokic, and he has two older brothers, Strahinja and Nemanja. 

When was Nikola Jokic born?

Jokic is 28 years old. He was born on Feb. 19, 1995.

How tall is Nikola Jokic?

Jokic, a center, is 6-foot-11 with a wingspan of 7-foot-3. 

Where did Nikola Jokic play before the NBA?

Prior to being drafted by the Nuggets with the No. 41 overall pick in the second round of the 2014 draft – during a Taco Bell commercial on the broadcast – Jokic had been playing professionally in Serbia with Mega Basket beginning in 2012. 

At 17 years old, he played four games in the Serbian League and averaged 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 10.5 minutes per game. By the end of the 2014-15 season – he didn’t join Denver until a year later – he averaged 18.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 56.6% from the field. 

By the end of his first year in the NBA – where he was still qualified as a rookie – he averaged 9.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 21.7 minutes per game to earn All-Rookie First-Team honors while finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting. 

He was named Most Valuable Player in 2021 and 2022, becoming the NBA’s first second-round pick in the common draft era to win the award.

Storylines are in abundance for the 2023 NBA Finals.

In short, the Denver Nuggets are looking to win their first ever NBA championship in franchise history. Starting off the postseason as the West’s No. 1 seed, the Mile High franchise has breezed through the opposition – as champions do. They toppled the No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves in five, eliminated the No. 4 Phoenix Suns in six and swept the No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers.

But their opponent in the Finals is a bit unconventional. 

The No. 8 Miami Heat just barely avoided blowing a 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Boston Celtics, and are now hunting to become the first ever eighth seed to win the NBA title. 

However, only one team will pen glory to their story. Here’s who the betting odds say will get to do just that:

Who is favored to win the 2023 NBA Finals?

Ahead of Game 1, the Nuggets have the better odds to lift the title, which would be a franchise first, according to NBC’s betting partner, PointsBet.

Here are the series odds for each team:

Denver Nuggets: -400Miami Heat: +310

Who will win 2023 NBA Finals MVP?

The Nuggets are led by stars Nikola Jokic at center and Jamal Murray at point guard, while the Heat have been anchored by star forward Jimmy Butler and big man Bam Adebayo. 

All four have the highest odds at winning 2023 NBA Finals MVP, so here’s how they stack up:

Nikola Jokic, Nuggets: -325

Jimmy Butler, Heat: +325

Jamal Murray, Nuggets: +1200

Bam Adebayo, Heat: +5000

How many games will the 2023 NBA Finals go?

Nuggets in five? Heat in seven? Regardless of which team wins, here are the odds on how long the series could last:

Four games: +425

Five games: +210

Six games: +240

Seven games: +225

Editor’s note: All odds are provided by our partner, PointsBet. PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links.

The basketball world was close to getting an NBA Finals matchup between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. 

A matchup between two teams that have battled in the NBA Finals a dozen times. 

A matchup that, with each team having won 17 titles, would have determined which franchise would set the mark for most NBA championships.

A matchup that was not meant to be. 

Instead it will be the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat competing for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The Nuggets swept the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, and the Heat upset the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals to become the second No. 8 seed to reach the Finals.

The Heat have become Finals regulars, but the Nuggets will be making their debut, providing a never-before-seen NBA Finals matchup.

Outside of the Celtics and Lakers, teams getting a rematch in the Finals is somewhat rare in the NBA. Last season, when the Golden State Warriors and Celtics met, it was just the 12th time in league history that the same matchup has occurred in multiple Finals.

From long-standing rivalries to unusual duos, here are those 12 pairs of teams that have squared off in multiple Finals:

1. Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers – 12

1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2008, 2010

Record: Celtics 9-3

The most storied rivalry in basketball goes all the way back to the Lakers’ Minneapolis days. The Celtics dominated the early matchups, winning the first eight Finals showdowns. The Lakers have come back to win three of the last four, including the most recent tilt in 2010.

2. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers – 6

1950, 1954, 1980, 1982, 1983, 2001

Record: Lakers 5-1

The Sixers were the Syracuse Nationals back when they met up with the Lakers in the 1950 and 1954 NBA Finals. The two teams then were the dominant Finals matchup of the early ‘80s with the Lakers winning in 1980 and 1982 before the Sixers prevailed in 1983. Their latest Finals matchup came in 2001 as Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant earned the second title in their three-peat.

3. Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks – 5

1952, 1953, 1970, 1972, 1973

Record: Lakers 3-2

Like the Nationals, the Knicks lost to the Lakers twice in the Finals during the 1950s. The Knicks-Lakers matchup then was the prominent Finals series of the early 1970s with the Knicks winning their first – and only – two championships in franchise history.

T-4. Boston Celtics vs. St. Louis Hawks – 4

1957, 1958, 1960, 1961

Record: Celtics 3-1

The Celtics’ first title came against the Hawks in 1957, and the Hawks returned the favor by beating the Celtics for their first title in the following season. From there, Boston won the next eight NBA championships, including two against St. Louis.

T-4. Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers – 4

2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

Record: Warriors 3-1

The Warriors and Cavaliers made history in 2017 by becoming the first teams to meet in three consecutive Finals. They one-upped themselves in 2018 by making it four straight. Golden State won three of the four matchups, while Cleveland made history in 2016 on its way to its first NBA championship.

6. Detroit Pistons vs. Los Angeles Lakers – 3

1988, 1989, 2004

Record: Pistons 2-1

After falling to the Showtime Lakers in 1988, the Bad Boys Pistons won their first championship over Los Angeles in 1989. The two organizations faced off once again in 2004 with the Pistons pulling off a 4-1 series drubbing that put an end to O’Neal’s time in L.A.

T-7. Seattle SuperSonics vs. Washington Bullets – 2

1978, 1979

Record: Tied 1-1

The Bullets needed seven games to get past the Sonics in the 1978 Finals and secure their first championship. Seattle returned the favor the next season, earning its first championship with a five-game Finals triumph over Washington in 1979.

T-7. Boston Celtics vs. Houston Rockets – 2

1981, 1986

Record: Celtics 2-0

The first Celtics-Rockets Finals showdown came in 1981 with the Celtics winning in six games. In 1986, the basketball world was anticipating a Celtics-Lakers Finals rubber match, but the Rockets edged the Lakers in that year’s Western Conference finals. In the Finals, the Celtics once again prevailed in six games.

T-7. Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz – 2

1997, 1998

Record: Bulls 2-0

The Jazz got a front-row view of Michael Jordan’s “Last Dance.” Karl Malone had been named the league MVP prior to the 1997 Finals, but Jordan and the Bulls repeated as champions. Jordan won MVP the following season and capped the year off with his second championship three-peat, giving him the sixth and final title of his career.

T-7. Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks – 2

2006, 2011

Record: Tied 1-1

The two Heat-Mavericks Finals saw two completely different versions of Miami. In 2006, a young Dwyane Wade scored nearly 35 points per game and helped the Heat climb out of a 2-0 series hole on their way to their first ever NBA title. In 2011, Wade had LeBron James and Chris Bosh by his side, but Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavs edged the Miami superteam in six games. The Heat and Mavs were close to meeting in another Finals this season, but they were both eliminated in the conference finals.

T-7. Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs – 2

2013, 2014

Record: Tied 1-1

Speaking of the superteam Heat, their last two Finals runs together came against the Spurs. Miami won an iconic seven-game series in 2013 thanks to Ray Allen’s Game 6 heroics, giving the Heat back-to-back rings. San Antonio got some payback the following year, completing a gentleman’s sweep and winning their fifth NBA championship.

T-7. Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors – 2

1964, 2022

Record: Tied 1-1

The Celtics won their first Finals meeting against the Warriors. Wilt Chamberlain averaged over 29 points and 27 rebounds per game, but Bill Russell and Co. came out on top in a five-game triumph. The Warriors finally got revenge nearly 60 years later, with Steph Curry averaging 31.2 points per game as Golden State defeated the Celtics in five games to win their fourth championship in eight years.

The Miami Heat almost had their season ended in the Play-In Tournament.

Now, they’re in the NBA Finals.

Entering the playoffs as the East’s eighth seed, Miami bounced the No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks in five games to become just the sixth No. 8 seed to make it out of Round 1. Jimmy Butler and Co. then disposed of the No. 5 New York Knicks in six games before grabbing a 3-0 series lead over the No. 2 Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. After dropping three straight to Boston, Miami avoided going down in infamy by taking Game 7 on the road.

All of a sudden, a Heat squad that went 44-38 in the regular season is just three more wins over Nikola Jokic and the No. 1 Denver Nuggets away from the most improbable championship triumph in NBA history. 

Has a No. 8 seed ever won the NBA Finals?

Since the playoffs expanded to 16 teams in 1984, no eight-seed has ever won the NBA championship.

What’s the lowest-seeded team to ever reach the NBA Finals?

The Heat, however, are not the first eight-seed to reach the Finals. In the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, the Knicks went 27-23 to grab the East’s eighth and final playoff spot. In a win-or-go-home Game 5 against No. 1 Miami in Round 1, Allan Houston hit a go-ahead shot with under one second remaining to push the Knicks into the conference semifinals.

Patrick Ewing and Co. met the No. 4 Atlanta Hawks in the second round and rolled to a four-game sweep. Then, in a conference finals where five of the six games were decided by single digits, the Knicks defeated the Reggie Miller-led Indiana Pacers to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals.

New York ran into the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals and fell in five games, as Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan combined for their first of five championships over a 15-year stretch.

The 1998-99 Knicks and this year’s Heat are the only No. 8 seeds to advance beyond Round 2.

What’s the lowest-seeded team to ever win the NBA Finals?

The 1994-95 Houston Rockets stand as the lowest-seeded team to ever win the NBA Finals. At least for now.

As the reigning NBA champions, Houston entered the 1995 postseason as a No. 6 seed following a 47-35 regular season. The Rockets went the distance with their opponent in each of the first two playoff rounds, first beating the No. 3 Utah Jazz in five games and then the No. 2 Phoenix Suns in seven games. 

Hakeem Olajuwon and Co. actually came back from a 3-1 deficit against Charles Barkley and the Suns. The second-round triumph was capped by a one-point road win in Game 7, where Mario Elie drilled a tie-breaking 3-pointer in the final 10 seconds that became known as the “Kiss of Death.”

After splitting the first two games in the West Finals versus San Antonio, Houston took Games 5 and 6 to make it back to a second consecutive NBA Finals. The Rockets beat the Knicks in seven games the prior year, and this time they were matched up with Shaquille O’Neal’s Orlando Magic.

Hakeem got the better of Shaq in the series, powering the Rockets to a sweep and a historic repeat.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Entering the season, six teams had never advanced to the NBA Finals. Cross one of those teams off the list. 

The Denver Nuggets are set to make their NBA Finals debut next week after sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. That leaves only the Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans as the only teams yet to reach the Finals.  

Prior to this season, the Nuggets had been 0-4 in the Western Conference Finals. They finally broke that streak by easily disposing of the Lakers, the team with the most Finals appearances, and will now face another team that has become a Finals regular. 

The Miami Heat will play in their seventh NBA Finals, matching the Lakers for the most appearances in the NBA since 2000. 

The Heat first made the Finals in 2006, with Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal leading the team to its first championship. LeBron James then took his talent to South Beach and led the Heat to the Finals in all four of his seasons with the team, winning three titles. Jimmy Butler guided Miami back to the Finals during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season in the NBA Bubble, where the Heat fell to the Lakers.

And now, after jumping out to a 3-0 series lead on the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals and preventing a near historic comeback by winning Game 7, they’re back. 

How many NBA teams have made more Finals appearances than the Heat? Here’s a look at the 10 teams with the most Finals berths in league history:     

1. Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers – 32 appearances

The Lakers’ extensive championship pedigree stretches over 70 years. They won their first title in Minneapolis in 1949 and won their most recent title in the Orlando bubble during the 2020 season. Overall, the Lakers are tied for the most championships in NBA history and are 17-15 in their Finals appearances.

2. Boston Celtics – 22 appearances

The Celtics have the same number of rings as the Lakers in 11 fewer Finals appearances. Boston is 17-5 in their Finals series, including a run of eight straight triumphs from 1959 to 1966. Their most recent championship came in 2008 against the Lakers and their most recent Finals berth was last year against the Warriors.

3. Philadelphia/San Francisco/Golden State Warriors – 12 appearances

The Warriors won the first-ever Finals as part of the Basketball Association of America in 1947. After winning in 1956 and 1975, the Warriors broke a 40-year title drought in 2015 and have been a consistent Western Conference representative in the Finals ever since. Only the Lakers have more NBA Finals appearances since 2000 (8) than the Warriors have since 2015 (6).

4. Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers – 9 appearances

The Nationals won one of their three Finals appearances before becoming the Sixers in 1963. They are 2-4 in their six Finals series since making the switch, with their most recent championship coming in 1983. They’ve made it to the Finals just once since then, falling to the Lakers in 2001.

5. New York Knicks – 8 appearances

The Knicks reached a pair of Finals in the 1990s, but their last championship dates back to 1973. They had two stretches in franchise history where they made three Finals appearances in quick succession, making three straight from 1951 to 1953 and three more between 1970 and 1973. In all, the Knicks are 2-6 in the eight Finals they’ve played.

6. Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons – 7 appearances

The Pistons have made their seven Finals appearances in bunches. They lost consecutive Finals in 1955 and 1956, made three straight appearances from 1988 to 1990 and made back-to-back trips in 2004 and 2005. They are 3-4 in Finals with their championships coming in 1989, 1990 and 2004.

7. Miami Heat – 7 appearances

All six of the Heat’s Finals appearances have come since the turn of the century, giving them the most of any Eastern Conference team in that span. The stretch began with a championship run in 2006 before moving into the Big Three era, which included four appearances and two wins. With their loss to the Lakers in 2020, the Heat are 3-3 all-time in the Finals.

T-8. Chicago Bulls – 6 appearances

Speaking of bunches, all six of the Bulls’ Finals appearances came in an eight-year stretch thanks to No. 23. Michael Jordan’s squads not only reached the Finals – they won them. Chicago put together a pair of three-peats by winning titles each year from 1991 to 1993 and again from 1996 to 1998.

T-8. San Antonio Spurs – 6 appearances

The Spurs’ dynasty included six Finals appearances. Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan were centerpieces for the entire run, beginning with a 1999 championship in Duncan’s second season and concluding with a 2014 championship, which came two years before Duncan retired. The team won five Finals compared to its one loss, an epic seven-game series against the Heat in 2013.

10. Cleveland Cavaliers – 5 appearances

The Cavs’ Finals appearances came thanks to a different No. 23. The team had never advanced past the Eastern Conference finals until LeBron James arrived. In 11 years with James in town, Cleveland reached the Finals five times and won its only championship in 2016

End of an era: Myers stepping down from role as Warriors GM originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea

After 11 NBA seasons, Warriors general manager and president of basketball operations Bob Myers’ time in the Bay is coming to an end.

Myers will not be returning to the organization and will step down from his role when his current contract expires at the end of June, he told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Tuesday.

Myers is scheduled to address Bay Area media on Tuesday afternoon and told Wojnarowski he declined ownership’s offers on a new deal that would have placed him among the NBA’s top earning executives.

The Warriors hired Myers as assistant GM in 2011, where he was expected to apprentice under then-GM Larry Riley for a few years. However, Myers was promoted to GM after only one year, then immediately went on to help build a team that completed the Warriors’ best playoff run in 36 years during the 2012-13 NBA season.

Myers was a two-time NBA Executive of the Year with the Warriors, often credited as the architect behind Golden State’s dynasty that brought four league titles to the Bay during his tenure. He’s the one who hired Warriors coach Steve Kerr in 2014, and the executive’s fingerprints are all over the team’s success of the past decade.

That being said, Myers presence within the Warriors organization certainly will be missed. Myers is a one-of-a-kind executive — his words hold weight with the players, calming them down on the sideline or offering advice on the other end of a phone call.

“I don’t ever take that for granted,” Warriors star Steph Curry told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole and Kerith Burke in March. “The fact that I can have a difficult conversation with him. I can pick up the phone and let him know how I’m feeling. He’ll give it to me straight around where we are as a team or where I am individually.”

While Myers told Wojnarowski he’s unsure of his future professional pathway, NBA insider Marc Stein reported earlier this month that the executive won’t take another job with a different NBA team because Myers “wants a break.” Myers let Kerr, Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson know in recent days there was “a real possibility” of him leaving, per Wojnarowski.

Wojnarowski also reported Tuesday that Warriors owner Joe Lacob is expected to seek more prominent roles for his son, Kirk, an executive VP of Basketball Operations, and VP of Basketball Operations Mike Dunleavy Jr. upon Myers’ departure.

The Warriors still have plenty of questions to answer as they look ahead to the 2023-24 NBA season following their recent playoff exit. But now, the most glaring uncertainty can be crossed off the board with Myers’ departure.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat will square off in the 2023 NBA Finals for a chance to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy. 

The league’s championship trophy has evolved over the years. From its name to its design, here is a crash course on the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Who is Larry O’Brien?

Lawrence “Larry” O’Brien started in politics before making it to professional sports. He served as a postmaster general, a special assistant to John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson during their presidencies and was the national chairman of the Democratic Party.

O’Brien became NBA commissioner in 1975 and held onto the role for nine years before David Stern took over in 1984. During O’Brien’s tenure, the league adopted the 3-point shot and expanded from 18 to 23 teams. 

He died in September 1990 at 73 years old.

When was the NBA Finals trophy named after Larry O’Brien?

The NBA’s original championship trophy was named after Walter Brown and had a completely different design.

The league changed the trophy design for the 1976-77 season but kept it named after Brown through the 1983 Finals. The trophy was named after O’Brien starting with the 1984 Finals and has kept the title ever since. 

How tall is the Larry O’Brien Trophy?

The Larry O’Brien Trophy stands 25.5 inches tall.

How much does the Larry O’Brien Trophy weigh?

The trophy weighs around 30 pounds.

Did the NBA redesign the Larry O’Brien Trophy?

The NBA unveiled a slight evolution to the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2022 as part of a wider overhaul to its end-of-year awards. Three key differences include:

• The net and ball configuration were shifted forward to symbolize “the league looking ahead to its future.”
• The 24K gold vermeil was masked to unveil sterling silver that highlights the ball and net.
• The base was reconfigured to include two discs. The top disc lists the first 75 NBA champions with the next 25 champions going on the second disc. The 2021-22 Golden State Warriors were the first team to get their name etched into the bottom disc.

Here is a side-by-side look at the older version of the Larry O’Brien Trophy compared to the updated one: 

Who designs the Larry O’Brien Trophy?

Tiffany & Co. has designed and manufactured the trophy for the NBA since 1977.

Do teams get to keep the Larry O’Brien Trophy?

The NBA started allowing teams to keep the championship trophy when it redesigned the award for the 1977 Finals. The league had a new trophy made each year so that the champions could take ownership of their prize.

The 2023 NBA Finals is set, and it features a historic matchup.

For just the second time in NBA history, a No. 8 seed will play for the championship. The eighth-seeded Miami Heat continued their unbelievable playoff run by knocking off the No. 2 Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Heat entered the Play-In Tournament as the No. 7 seed following a 44-38 regular season. They lost to the No. 8 Hawks and then needed a late rally to beat the No. 10 Chicago Bulls and clinch a playoff berth.

But since nearly having their season ended, Miami has looked like a completely different team. They knocked off the No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks in five games before dispatching the No. 5 New York Knicks in six. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Heat nearly became the first team in NBA history to blow a 3-0 playoff series lead before coming up with a Game 7 win in Boston.

If Jimmy Butler and Co. want to become the first No. 8 seed to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy, they’ll need to take down another No. 1 seed. The Denver Nuggets are in the Finals for the first time in NBA history after completing a sweep in the Western Conference Finals.

A historic postseason from two-time MVP Nikola Jokic powered Denver past the No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves in five games and by the No. 4 Phoenix Suns in six. Jokic and Co. then rolled past LeBron James and the No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers in four games.

So, will it be a first title for Denver or the first for a No. 8 seed? Here’s what to know about the matchup.

Who has home-court advantage in the 2023 NBA Finals?

The Nuggets have home-court advantage in the Finals due to their superior regular-season record.

What is the NBA Finals format?

The Finals follows the same 2-2-1-1-1 format as the rest of the postseason, with the higher seed having home court in Games 1, 2, 5 and 7.

When does the 2023 NBA Finals start?

Game 1 of Heat-Nuggets is set for Thursday, June 1.

What is the 2023 NBA Finals schedule?

Here’s a look at the full Finals schedule, with all games airing on ABC:

• Game 1: Heat at Nuggets – Thursday, June 1, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 2: Heat at Nuggets – Sunday, June 4, 8 p.m. ET
• Game 3: Nuggets at Heat – Wednesday, June 7, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 4: Nuggets at Heat – Friday, June 9, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 5 (if necessary): Heat at Nuggets – Monday, June 12, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 6 (if necessary): Nuggets at Heat – Thursday, June 15, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 7 (if necessary): Heat at Nuggets – Sunday, June 18, 8 p.m. ET

How many NBA Finals appearances do the Denver Nuggets have?

This is Denver’s first NBA Finals appearance.

How many NBA Finals appearances do the Miami Heat have?

This is Miami’s seventh Finals appearance and the first since 2020.

How many NBA titles have the Denver Nuggets won?

The Nuggets have never won an NBA championship.

How many NBA titles have the Miami Heat won?

The Heat boast a 3-3 record in the Finals, winning in 2006, 2012 and 2013.

NBA, NHL teams from same city that made Finals in same year originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

The Stanley Cup has never shared a city with the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

The NHL and NBA playoffs run simultaneously, with the Finals in each league often ending within days of one another in June. But never since the NBA began in 1947 has a city had its hockey team win the Stanley Cup Finals and basketball team win the NBA Finals in the same year.   

Some have come very close, with one team winning the title on the ice while the other lost in the Finals on hardwood, or vice versa. This could be the year that changes, and it would be a pair of No. 8 seeds from Florida that make it happen. 

The Florida Panthers and Miami Heat have a chance to become the latest teams from the same region to advance to their respective Finals in the same year. 

The Panthers stunned a Boston Bruins team that set the NHL record for most wins in a season, upset the Toronto Maple Leafs in five games and then swept the Carolina Hurricanes to reach their first Stanley Cup Final in 27 years.

The Heat, after suffering a loss in their first play-in game, upset the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, disposed of the No. 5 New York Knicks and eliminated the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics. 

On the flip side, Boston became the first city to lose a home Game 7 to a No. 8 seed in both hockey and basketball in the same season.

So, that puts both the Heat and Panthers, whose arenas are a mere 35 miles from one another, a few victories away from raising banners for each sport.     

Here’s a look back at other times when NHL and NBA teams from the same city had a chance to do the same after advancing to the Finals in the same year…

1957 – Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins

The Celtics were making the first of 10 straight Finals appearances, giving the Bruins ample time to do their part. The Celtics captured their first NBA title by defeating the St. Louis Hawks in seven games, but the Bruins fell in five games to a Montreal Canadiens team in the midst of a dynasty in which they won five straight Cups.    

1958 – Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins

The two had a chance to run it back the very next season, with each team facing the same opponent. But this time, both lost, with the Celtics and Bruins both falling in six games.

1972 – New York Knicks and New York Rangers

New York had its first chance at the double ring when the Knicks and Rangers both advanced to the Finals. The Knicks, two years after winning their first championship, fell to the Lakers in five games. The Rangers, making their first Finals appearance in 22 years, lost to the Bruins in six games.

1974 – Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins

Third time wasn’t a charm for Boston. The Celtics, after winning all but one NBA championship in the 1960s, captured their first of the 1970s by beating the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games. The top-seeded Bruins, in the Finals for the third time in five years, were upset by a Philadelphia Flyers team that won its first Cup.   

1980 – Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers 

Two teams in the finals in the same year? How about four? This was the grand slam of Philly sports as all four of their major professional teams – the 76ers, Flyers, Eagles and Phillies – advanced to the finals of each sport. It began with the Sixers, who lost in six games to a Los Angeles Lakers team led by a rookie named Magic Johnson. The Flyers, who set a North American pro sports record with 35 straight games without a loss, were eliminated eight days later by a New York Islanders team that won the first of four straight Stanley Cups. In case you’re wondering, the Eagles lost 27-10 to the Oakland Raiders in the Super Bowl, and the Phillies defeated the Kansas City Royals in Game 6 of the World Series to win their first championship in the team’s near 100-year existence. 

1992 – Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks

Michael Jordan and the Bulls were in the midst of the first of two three-peats, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers in six games to win a second-straight championship. The Blackhawks were making their first Finals appearance since 1973, and seeking their first championship since 1961, but they were swept by a Pittsburgh Penguins team that won its second straight Cup.  

1994 – New York Knicks and New York Rangers

There were nearly two championship parades down New York’s Canyon of Heroes in 1994. And it was the closest any city came to winning championships the same year in hockey and basketball. The Rangers won their first Stanley Cup in 54 years after beating the Vancouver Canucks in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden on June 14. The following day, in the same building, the Knicks evened the NBA Finals against the Houston Rockets at 2-2. The Knicks then won Game 5, putting the team one victory away from its first title since 1973. But they lost Game 6 by two points and then fell by six in Game 7. 

2003 – New Jersey Nets and New Jersey Devils

Since that 1994 loss, the closest the New York area has come to calling the Larry O’Brien Trophy home was in 2003…with the Nets. The Devils had already won the Stanley Cup after defeating the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in seven games. The Nets, making a second straight trip to the Finals, came up two games short of having two 2003 championship banners raised at Continental Airlines Arena after losing to the San Antonio Spurs in six games.   

2016 – Golden State Warriors and San Jose Sharks

Slight difference here is that – like the Heat and Panthers – the Warriors and Sharks don’t play in the same arena, or even the same city. But – like the Heat and Panthers – the two teams play very nearby. The Warriors, who at the time played at Oracle Arena in Oakland, were denied a second straight title after surrendering a 3-1 series lead to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Sharks, who played at the SAP Center in San Jose, made the first Finals appearance in their 25-year history but fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins in five games.