Barack Obama and Magic Johnson lead Nuggets tributes after first-ever NBA title win
The Denver Nuggets clinched their first-ever NBA championship on Monday night, following their Game 5 victory over the Miami Heat at home and Barack Obama and Magic Johnson led the congratulations.
It was the longest wait for an NBA trophy in professional basketball history. The Nuggets surpassed the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers who won their first NBA title just 45 years after the club was founded.
The NBA came to Denver in 1967 — 56 years ago.
Immediately after the Nuggets’ 94-89 victory, many people and brands in the sports world and elsewhere on social media paid tribute to Nikola Jokic and his teammates for their historic season.
“Congratulations to the Denver @Nuggets and remarkable Finals MVP Nikola Jokic for clinching the franchise’s first NBA Championship!” Tweeted former US President (No. 44) Barack Obama.
Former US President (No. 44) Barack Obama led Nuggets tribute charge on Monday
Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, center left, celebrates Denver’s first NBA title with teammates
Five-time NBA champion Magic Johnson paid tribute to the entire Denver coaching staff
Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray celebrates in the locker room after winning Game 5
“Congratulations to Denver Nuggets Owner Stan Kroenke!!” shared five-time NBA champion Magic ‘Earvin’ Johnson in a series of tweets. “He won a Super Bowl with the Rams, the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche, and now an NBA championship with the Nuggets!”
The basketball Hall of Famer also congratulated Nuggets president Tim Connelly, GM and former NBA player Calvin Booth, and head coach Mike Malone and his staff, while praising their “outstanding job coaching every run of the playoffs.”
“Congratulations to Nuggets superstars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, and every individual Nuggets player, the entire city and the Denver fanbase!!!” Johnson added.
The Empire State Building was lit up in Denver’s pale blue and gold colors for the latter part of Monday night, with the landmark’s official Twitter account sharing, “THE @NUGGETS MAKE HISTORY! We’ll be shining in Nuggets colors for the rest of the night in celebration of their 1st @NBA Championship’
Johnson also mentioned Murray and Jokic, as well as the Nuggets fanbase in a separate tweet
Late Monday night, the Empire State Building sparkled in the shades of blue and gold of the Nuggets
Hawks star Trae Young, whose team lost to the Heat in the first round, said Denver ‘deserved it’
The Serbia national football team tweeted a photo of Jokic and French Open champion Novak Djokovic
Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young also paid tribute to the Nuggets for beating the team that knocked him out of the first round in five games in April, tweeting, “Denver deserved it this year. Congratulations to them!’
The Serbia national football team congratulated Nikola Jokic, who is from the city of Sombor, the MVP of this year’s final and two-time MVP of the competition (2021, 2022) and shared a photo of the Nuggets center and the winner of Sunday’s French Open 2023 — Novak Djokovic — for their country’s national flag.
“On top of the world,” the account captioned its tweet.
Denver’s three other professional sports teams showed solidarity by joining in the celebration, with the Broncos leading the way.
“LET’S GO @nuggets,” the three-time Super Bowl winners wrote. “Another trophy for the Mile High City! #Bring it in.’
Nike paid tribute to Jokic – one of its ambassadors – with a special message for the Finals MVP
The Denver Broncos and their quarterback Russell Wilson also congratulated the Nuggets
Denver’s other two sports teams, the Rockies (MLB) and Avalanche (NHL), praised the Nuggets
The Colorado Avalanche – Denver’s NHL team – joked, “OUR ROOMMATES ARE NBA CHAMPIONS! Congratulations, @nuggets! #GoAvsGo #BringItIn.”
“You NBA champions! Congratulations @nuggets #BringItIn,” the Colorado Rockies – the state’s MLB team – tweeted.
Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson also shared his own personal message: “Amazing Team! Congratulations @Nuggets,” she later posted a photo of himself, his wife and singer Ciara, and their three children, in Nuggets gear.
“What a special moment!” Wilson tweeted. ‘Denver @Nuggets World Champions! #FamilyMemories @Ciara.”
Nike congratulated Jokic – one of its ambassadors – by dedicating a video especially for him, which reads, “So a Serbian man walks into an arena. Wins an MVP. Win another one. Help lead his team to the playoffs. Then the final. Wins a ring. Bringing a city together. And everyone is happy. That is it. That’s the key.’