Monday night was monumental in the history of the Denver Nuggets as the franchise won its first-ever NBA title.
Nikola Jokic was a deserved Finals MVP, the first pure center since Shaquille O’Neal to capture the illustrious honor. And predictably, Jokic’s daughter stole the show in postgame celebrations. All in all, the job was done, and everyone could go home.
And this time next year, the markets are already expecting Jokic and the Nuggets to rinse and repeat these honors and celebrations.
According to oddsmakers with DraftKings, the Nuggets are early +475 favorites to defend their first NBA title next June. The next best team is the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference at +550 before we see a precipitous drop.
It’ll be a tough road ahead for the Nuggets to actually live up to these expectations. They might have the NBA’s best player in Jokic, a top running mate in Jamal Murray, and an enviable core, but winning 16 games in a single spring again is no easy task.
The Golden State Warriors — after adding Kevin Durant, mind you — are the only team in the last 13 seasons to successfully repeat. This isn’t to say that Denver won’t be hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy again next summer. It’s certainly very capable. But history says climbing the NBA’s highest summit will be another worthy battle.
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