Nuggets go all out at parade celebrating first NBA title in team's history
Nikola Jokic delighted Denver Nuggets fans when he took to the microphone at the team's championship parade after clinching the first NBA title in franchise history.
The streets of the Mile High City were lined with jubilant fans on Thursday to celebrate the Nuggets' 4-1 win over the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals which sealed a historic title for the team.
The parade saw Jokic and his teammates travel through the city's streets on open-top buses before taking to the stage for a rally at Civic Center Park, where finals MVP Jokic generated a huge roar when it was his turn to speak.
In the immediate aftermath of Monday's Game 5 win over the Heat to seal the title, an exhausted Jokic seemed uninterested in the idea of a parade.
Jamal Murray celebrates with the Larry O'Brien Championship trophy (Getty Images)"No, I need to go home," he replied when asked if he was excited to celebrate with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy on Thursday, with two-time NBA MVP Jokic eager to head home to Serbia to spend time with his beloved family and horses.
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But he changed his tune when it was time to party. Wearing a hat emblazoned with the word "champions", Jokic told the crowd with a huge smile: "You know that I told that I don't want on parade, but I f***ing want to stay on parade."
He added: "This is amazing. We're all going to remember this (for) all our lives. You guys who came out on the streets, this one is for you. We love you Denver, this one is for you."
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone did not hold back in the celebrations. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)Jokic was not the only player enjoying himself at the parade. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope got involved in a drinking contest with a fan before channeling his inner Stone Cold Steve Austin, smashing two cans of beer together before chugging them down.
That was not the only wrestling reference, with Christian Braun holding a WWE title belt over his shoulder as he glugged from a bottle of champagne.
Head coach Michael Malone was at the heart of the celebrations, too, and he was defiant in his message that the Nuggets will be competing for more rings in years to come.
Fans came out in their thousands in Denver (Getty Images)"What a great day to celebrate a championship, but we're not done yet," he said. "We some greedy b*******, baby. We getting another one."
Jokic was in sensational form throughout the postseason as Denver romped to the title, becoming the first player to lead the playoffs in points, rebounds and assists in a single campaign, underlining his all-around brilliance.
He was aided by stellar performances from right-hand man Jamal Murray, while Caldwell-Pope, Aaron Gordon, Bruce Brown and Christain Braun all came up with big contributions to clinch the Finals 4-1.
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