Photos: Denver Nuggets celebrate their first NBA title

Thousands of supporters watched through the streets of Denver, Colorado as US National Basketball Association (NBA) champion Nuggets celebrated their first league crown with a victory parade.

Three days after defeating the Miami Heat and winning the best-of-seven NBA Finals in five games, the Nuggets showed off a championship trophy on Thursday.

Their victory was long in the making. It took 47 seasons in the NBA for the franchise to finally make Denver home to the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

As cigars were lit and champagne and beer flowed, players waved to supporters. NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic and teammate Jamal Murray rode in a retractable fire truck ladder as the crowd cheered block after block.

“This is amazing. This is unreal,” said Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon. “I never imagined this.”

The crowd stunned Nuggets swingman Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

“I’m overwhelmed. There are so many people here,” he said. “I think it’s great that everyone is coming to support us. Look at the crowd. It’s crazy. I just enjoy being a part of history. I love it. Incredible fans.”

Nuggets coach Michael Malone said seeing all the fans shout their joy made the impact of the team’s performance clear.

“It’s starting to hit me,” Malone said. “Being with my best friends, down these streets along the parade route, this is love, man. This is support. This is 47 years in the making. Incredible. So proud of this moment.”

Malone also emphasized his feeling that the Nuggets had more titles in them.

“Thanks to Nuggets Nation. I appreciate your patience,” he said. “What a great day to celebrate this championship. But we are not done yet.”