How did the Nuggets win it all?

On June 12th the Denver Nuggets showed that they belong. After 56 years the Nuggets took what was theirs. At last, the Denver Nuggets were champions.

Being named the champions wasn't easy for Denver, even with the MVP center from Serbia.

The Nuggets had a rocky start in the beginning of the season bouncing back and forth from winning and losing. Eventually securing being number one in the west conference on December 20th, never bumping down to 2nd.

What makes them different from other teams?

A 6 '11 center, all the way from Serbia makes the Nuggets different. Nikola Jokic took this team to the playoffs, then led his team to the finals where they would take the Larry O'Brien trophy for the first time in history, during game five, against the Miami Heat.

Jokic was drafted in 2014, so why didn't they win before? What about in 2015, 2016, 2017, etc. In the 2016-17 season the Golden State Warriors were the dominant team not just because they were named champions that season but because of their lineup of players. Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green. All of these players could outshoot, outdrive, and outplay Jokic.

When you look back at the highlights between the Denver Nuggets and the Warriors, almost every time Jokic gets beat in the paint, or that he just can't guard Durant, or Curry, with them making a basket even if Jokic was guarding him

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r1S1ZnEB7w

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"If you want to be success, you need a couple years."

Jokic said this after game five. If you watched game five you know it wasn't easy nor a smooth game for Denver. In the first half Miami simply outperformed the Nuggets. Putting layups in the basket and making threes. By halftime the Heat led by seven points. The Nuggets struggled with making their shots, going into the 4th quarter Denver found their groove, the "Joker" making at least ten points, and the rest of the players making their free throws.

Why not last year?

What makes the Denver Nuggets champions this year but not last? Looking at the starting lineup, the Nuggets have a relatively young team, no older than 30. It takes time to learn and shape a young team to be champs.

You can compare Jokic to Lebron, trying to figure out who's better, but at the end of the day they play different positions. LeBron James is a power/small forward and he's gonna dominate the scoreboard more than a center. It takes more time to build a team around a two-time MVP center then a well talented guard.