The last two conquests of the Los Angeles Lakers' bubble championship meet three years later in an NBA Finals that feels both fitting and half unexpected — the Miami Heat half.
This is the culmination of a five-year arc for the Denver Nuggets — what appeared before Jamal Murray tore an ACL in April 2021 to be the classic NBA slow burn to ultimate triumph: progressive advances leading into gut-punch defeats until the young team is ready.
Murray's absence interrupted that journey, but the Nuggets used that time to prepare for his return. With Murray gone, Nikola Jokic scored more — and realized he could do so without losing his innate basketball identity as one of the greatest playmakers ever.
Michael Porter Jr. found his footing. Michael Malone continued to grow. The front office tweaked around the core, eyeing two-way players who feed off Jokic's preternatural passing and unlock defensive versatility.