![]() ![]() Coming off a Western Conference Finals trip and returning largely the exact same roster the Nuggets were once again primed to make a run at a title behind Melo and Billups. The wheels for Carmelo’s eventual departure from Denver were set in motion the season prior, almost one year to the day prior to the trade happening. It was a trade that in the end everyone won and no one did. It was the the start of a rebuild that would take nearly a decade to complete. It was a baptism by fire for gm Masai Ujiri. It was a deal that shipped off not only the best player the Nuggets had since Alex English, but also the hometown hero in Chauncey Billups. It was the end of an era that had in some ways quite literally saved basketball in Denver. He left the Nuggets with a choice: trade him to a team of his liking, or lose him for nothing in the offseason. Oh he wanted that max extension alright, just not in Denver. The Nuggets wanted their young star to re-up and sign the maximum extension, spend his prime with the team that drafted him third overall. After seven straight years of leading them to the playoffs, Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets reached an impasse. “I’m feeling super confident that we’re going to win it tonight,” she said.Ten years ago today, while the NBA was returning for it’s recess for the All Star break, the Denver Nuggets made what some argue is the biggest trade in franchise history. She traveled to Denver from Summit County to watch the game with her son and grandson - the familial love of the team spanning generations. ![]() A Colorado resident for 40 years, she describes herself as a fan for “as long as they’ve been going.” Heller vowed to buy a chicken nugget costume as Colorado’s home team prevailed.Ĭheers echoed around McGregor Square as the Nuggets took to the court, with fans gathered on nearby apartment balconies to catch a glimpse of the sports bar’s outdoor TVs.Īndrea Dunahugh, 55, craned her neck in McGregor Square to watch the first quarter of the game. “There’s a crazy buzz around the city right now,” said Anthony Hirsch, a 21-year-old Denverite who recently moved to the city from Bailey.Īt least a thousand fans gathered inside of the sports bar for the watch party, with a sign declaring the event sold out.ĭenver residents Sam Bradley, 27, and Mary Grace Heller, 28, sat outside of Tom’s Watch Bar as the game began.īradley described himself as “extremely confident” in a Nuggets’ win. In McGregor Square, fans in Nuggets jerseys crowded the sidewalks leading to the entrance of Tom’s Watch Bar. Denver won 94-89, clinching the franchise’s first-ever NBA Championship. Yarely Dominguez, 21, described watching “people dropping down from the light post - just falling on people, breaking down the signs, throwing shoes.”īut she ultimately called it “just fun - celebration.” Denver Nugget fans celebrate the win outside Ball Arena in Denver over the Miami Heat at the end of Game 5 of the NBA Finals on June 12, 2023. Utkarsh Mandavilli, 18, described himself as feeling “amazing,” and is looking forward to a “crazy” parade. “All of Denver is here right now, and we are partying tonight.” “It’s unbelievable! First time ever! We did it!” said John Mallon, 25, one of the fans in the crowd. Eventually, they successfully stormed the fences of the sports bar, with many running into the courtyard and at least one reveler standing on a car. Once the buzzer hit zero, the citywide tension broke, with drinks thrown in the air as hundreds of fans in McGregor Square cheered. In the game’s final minutes, the streets of downtown Denver sat empty and quiet before the madness to come, as the eyes of Nuggets fans remained glued to the nearest television screen. As the final whistle blew, hordes of jubilant fans poured out of the downtown sports bars and started the celebrations. staved off a furious Miami Heat team Monday night, clinching the first championship in franchise history at home in front of a raucous crowd. Digital Replica Edition Home Page Close Menuĭenver Nuggets fans tossed toilet paper, stood on cars and clamored atop street signs, shouting and chanting as fireworks lit up the Mile High skyline. ![]()
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