Let me be perfectly honest here - I've been watching the NBA for over two decades, and I've never seen a championship run quite like what the Denver Nuggets pulled off last season. When people ask me who the current NBA champions are, I still get that little thrill saying it's the Nuggets - because frankly, it's about damn time this franchise got their moment in the sun. What makes their championship particularly special isn't just that they won, but how they won, with a kind of stubborn belief that reminds me of that Lassiter story from the Magnolia game where he kept shooting despite missing his first three attempts from downtown.

You see, the Nuggets' journey to the 2023 championship had that same relentless quality. They entered the playoffs with this unshakeable confidence in their system, even when critics questioned whether Nikola Jokić could truly lead a team to a title as a center who doesn't fit the traditional athletic mold. I remember telling friends during the regular season that Denver had something special brewing, but even I underestimated how perfectly their pieces would come together when it mattered most. Their offense flowed through Jokić with this beautiful, almost artistic precision that made other teams look like they were playing a different sport entirely.

What really stood out to me throughout their playoff run was their mental toughness in crucial moments. They swept the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games - wait, no, that can't be right - let me check my notes. Actually, they defeated Minnesota in five games in the first round, then handled Phoenix in six, swept the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, and finally took down Miami in five games for the championship. Each series presented different challenges, but Denver consistently demonstrated this remarkable ability to adjust while staying true to their identity. Jamal Murray's return to form after his injury was nothing short of spectacular - I'd argue he was the second-best player in the entire playoffs behind Jokić.

The Finals against Miami showcased everything that makes this Nuggets team special. Miami tried every defensive scheme imaginable against Jokić - double teams, zone defenses, even putting smaller, quicker defenders on him to disrupt his rhythm. None of it worked for more than brief stretches. Jokić averaged 30.2 points, 14 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in the series while shooting 58% from the field - just absurd numbers that cement his status as one of the most uniquely dominant players we've ever seen. What impressed me even more was how different players stepped up at different times - whether it was Michael Porter Jr. hitting crucial threes, Aaron Gordon providing elite defense and timely scoring, or Bruce Brown becoming their secret weapon off the bench.

I've always believed that championships are won through a combination of talent, health, and timing, and Denver checked all three boxes at the perfect moment. Their core had played together for several seasons, developing chemistry that you simply can't manufacture overnight. They stayed relatively healthy when it mattered most, avoiding the injury bug that plagued contenders like Milwaukee and Phoenix. And they peaked at exactly the right time, with their two best players having arguably the best postseason performances of their careers simultaneously.

The clinching Game 5 against Miami was a microcosm of their entire playoff run - they fell behind early, stayed patient, made adjustments, and ultimately overwhelmed the Heat with their superior talent and execution. When the final buzzer sounded and confetti started falling, I found myself genuinely moved watching Jokić embrace his family - there's something special about seeing a player who took such an unconventional path to NBA stardom finally reach the mountaintop.

Looking back, what I appreciate most about Denver's championship is how it validates team-building through the draft and player development. In an era where superteams form through free agency and player movement, the Nuggets built their core primarily through the draft - Jokić was the 41st pick for crying out loud! Murray was their lottery selection, Porter fell to them due to injury concerns, and they supplemented perfectly with trades and signings that fit their system. It's a blueprint that should give hope to smaller market franchises everywhere.

As we look ahead to the new season, the Nuggets have firmly established themselves as the team to beat, returning largely the same roster with the added confidence of knowing they can win it all. They've got that championship swagger now, which is different from the quiet confidence they carried before. It's going to be fascinating to see how they handle being the hunted rather than the hunters. Personally, I wouldn't bet against them repeating - when you have the best player in the world surrounded by perfect complementary pieces, you've got a chance every single year. The Larry O'Brien trophy has found a beautiful new home in the Rocky Mountains, and something tells me it might be comfortable enough to stick around for a while.