The confetti has settled, the champagne has dried, and the echoes of the final buzzer have faded, but the question still lingers for many: who won the NBA championship last season? As someone who has followed the league for decades, I can tell you that the answer is more than just a team name; it’s the culmination of a grueling, emotionally charged narrative. Last season’s champions were the Denver Nuggets, a team that finally broke through after 47 long years in the league, capturing their first-ever Larry O'Brien Trophy. I have to admit, watching their journey felt profoundly satisfying. It wasn't just about a title; it was about validation for a franchise and a superstar, Nikola Jokić, who has redefined the center position with his sublime, almost poetic, playmaking.
The Finals themselves were a masterclass in team basketball versus individual brilliance. The Nuggets faced the Miami Heat, a gritty eighth seed that fought through the play-in tournament and then proceeded to dismantle the favorites in the Eastern Conference. Many, including myself, underestimated the Heat's resilience, but their culture is real. Jimmy Butler was phenomenal, playing with a ferocity that reminded me of the legends of the past. However, the Nuggets simply had too much firepower and too much Jokić. The series went to five games, with the Nuggets closing it out in Denver with a 94-89 victory in a defensive slugfest that was far from pretty but utterly compelling. The final numbers for the series are staggering when you look at them. Jokić averaged a triple-double for the entire Finals: 30.2 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game. He was deservedly named the Finals MVP, a accolade that cements his legacy.
What struck me most, beyond the statistics, was the emotional core of this victory. I remember watching the post-game celebrations and being particularly moved by the raw emotion from the players. It’s that moment I recall from the knowledge base, a sentiment that perfectly encapsulates the champion's mindset. Jamal Murray, who battled back from a devastating ACL injury, and Nikola Jokić, the unassuming Serbian giant, stood there not just as winners, but as men who had endured. Murray’s quote, "Here we are, finally with two championships. What a journey it has been and I’ve never been hungrier to go for more," wasn't just a soundbite; it was a manifesto. He was referring, of course, to the team's first championship, but the hunger he expressed—that’s the mark of a true dynasty in the making. It’s a feeling I’ve seen in other greats like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. That insatiable desire for more, even at the pinnacle of success, is what separates the good from the legendary.
Analyzing the tactical side, the Nuggets won this championship because of their incredible half-court execution. Their two-man game between Jokić and Murray is virtually unguardable when both are healthy. The Heat tried everything—switching, zone defenses, blitzing the pick-and-roll—but Denver’s chemistry and Jokić’s preternatural passing, his ability to find the open man with passes that seem to bend space and time, were just too much. On the other side, the Heat’s shooting, which was so spectacular throughout the playoffs, finally went cold at the worst possible moment. They shot a collective 32% from three-point range in the close-out Game 5, a number that simply won't get it done against an offensive juggernaut like Denver. From a front-office perspective, this championship was a victory for team-building patience. The Nuggets drafted and developed their core, resisting the temptation to make panic trades, and were rewarded with a title.
So, as we look back on the question of who won the NBA championship, the answer is clear: the Denver Nuggets. But the real story is how they won it. They won with a style of basketball that is beautiful, unselfish, and built for the long haul. That quote from Murray has stuck with me all offseason. "I’ve never been hungrier to go for more." It sends a clear message to the rest of the league. The Nuggets aren't satisfied with just one. They’ve tasted victory, and now they want the whole feast. As a fan of the game, that’s the most exciting prospect of all. The reign of the Nuggets may have just begun, and I, for one, can't wait to see how this hunger translates onto the court next season. The chase for the next NBA championship is already on, and the defending champs are coming back even more motivated.