Honestly, if you were watching the NBA Finals back in June 2023, you probably felt like you were witnessing a foregone conclusion wrapped in a gritty, defensive struggle. The Denver Nuggets finally did it. After 47 long seasons of waiting, the franchise from the Mile High City hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the very first time. They didn’t just win; they essentially steamrolled through a postseason that felt like a coronation for a specific kind of basketball.
The Nuggets beat the Miami Heat four games to one. It sounds like a lopsided series on paper, but Game 5 was a total dogfight. Denver shot horribly from the perimeter. They were 5-of-28 from the three-point line, which is basically a nightmare for a modern championship team. Yet, they grinded out a 94-89 victory because they had the best player on the planet.
Why the Denver Nuggets Victory Was Historic
Most people focus on the ring, but the "how" is what really matters here. This wasn't a "superteam" built through free-agency drama. It was a slow-cooked roster. You've got Nikola Jokić, a second-round pick who was literally drafted during a Taco Bell commercial. Then there's Jamal Murray, who came back from a devastating ACL injury to look like a superstar again.
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Denver's path wasn't easy, even if they made it look that way. They finished the playoffs with a 16-4 record. That is pure dominance. Only a handful of teams in the history of the league have ever been that efficient in the postseason. They took out the Lakers in a sweep, handled the Suns, and then put the finishing touches on a Miami Heat team that just wouldn't quit.
The Heat were the ultimate underdog story, coming in as the No. 8 seed. They were the second eighth seed ever to reach the Finals. But they ran into a buzzsaw. Erik Spoelstra is a genius coach, but you can’t coach against a 7-foot Serbian who passes like Magic Johnson and scores like Tim Duncan.
The Stats That Defined the 2023 Finals
Let's look at the numbers because they are genuinely absurd. Nikola Jokić became the first player in NBA history to lead the entire playoffs in total points, rebounds, and assists. Read that again. Not just for his team. For everyone.
- Nikola Jokić Finals Averages: 30.2 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 7.2 APG.
- Jamal Murray's Impact: He averaged 21.4 points and 10.0 assists, becoming the first player to have 10+ assists in each of his first four Finals games.
- Series Score: Nuggets 4, Heat 1.
It wasn't just the stars, though. Aaron Gordon was the unsung hero. People remember him for the dunk contests, but in the 2023 Finals, he was the defensive glue. He spent his time guarding Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, while also chipping in with 27 points in a massive Game 4 win.
Who Won NBA Championship 2023 and the "Joker" Factor
There is a lot of talk about whether Jokić is "boring." If you think winning isn't exciting, then sure. But the way he dismantled Miami’s zone defense was a masterclass. He didn't care about the highlights. He cared about the right play.
Jokić was the unanimous Finals MVP. When the buzzer sounded in Game 5, he didn't scream or jump into the stands. He shook hands with the Heat players and famously told reporters, "The job is done, we can go home now." It was the most Jokić thing ever.
Behind the scenes, the Nuggets built this team through the draft and smart trades. Michael Porter Jr. struggled with his shot in the Finals but stayed engaged on the boards. Bruce Brown, a free-agent signing, hit the biggest put-back of his life in the final minutes of Game 5. It was a complete team effort.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2023 Finals
A lot of casual fans think Miami just "ran out of gas." That’s a bit of a disservice to Denver’s defense. The Nuggets were a top-tier defensive unit when it mattered. They held Miami to under 95 points in four of the five games.
Also, people forget how close Game 2 was. Miami actually won that game in Denver, handing the Nuggets their only home loss of the entire playoffs. For a second, it felt like we might have a long series. Then Denver went to South Beach and took both games there. That was the turning point.
Practical Takeaways from the 2023 Season
If you are a student of the game or just a fan looking at how the league is changing, the 2023 season proved that "size plus skill" still wins championships. You don't need three All-Stars if you have one transcendent player and a perfectly balanced supporting cast.
If you want to dive deeper into why this team succeeded, you should watch the tape of their Game 3 performance. It was the first time in Finals history that two teammates (Jokić and Murray) both recorded 30-point triple-doubles in the same game. It was basketball perfection.
To truly understand the 2023 NBA landscape, look at the roster construction. The Nuggets kept their core together for years despite injuries. They didn't panic. They didn't trade Jamal Murray when he was hurt. They waited.
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The next step for any fan is to look at how the 2023 Nuggets influenced the league's current trajectory. Teams are now desperately looking for "size" and "connectivity" rather than just "shot-making." You can see this in how teams are drafting and trading today.
Start by watching the full highlights of Game 5. Pay attention to the defense in the last three minutes. That’s where championships are actually won, not in the highlight reels of the first quarter. You can also analyze the salary cap structure of that 2023 team to see how they managed to keep so much talent around a max-contract player like Jokić. It’s a blueprint for small-market success.