On Monday night, the Nuggets secured their first NBA Championship in franchise history, ending a 47-year title drought.
But it didn’t take long for them to start eying another.
Just minutes after the final buzzer sounded in Denver’s 94-89 win over Miami in Game 5, head coach Michael Malone was already getting the crowd hyped up about winning another ring. Surrounded by his team on the stage inside Ball Arena, Malone told ESPN’s Lisa Salters that his team isn’t done yet.
“All the hard work, all the sacrifice, all the dedication, it all culminated with us winning a championship,” he said during the trophy presentation. “But I’ve got news for everybody out there. We’re not satisfied we won. We want more. We want more!”
“WE WANT MORE!! WE WANT MORE!!”
Michael Malone after #Nuggets win 1st #NBA championship in franchise history. #NBAFinals . pic.twitter.com/KbLfcnmIvJ
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) June 13, 2023
It may be a bit early to start talking about a dynasty, but the Nuggets do seem poised for sustained success over the next few years.
Their superstar center Nikola Jokic, who took home the 2023 Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Trophy, is only 28 years old. Star point guard Jamal Murray is only 26. Despite having nine years of NBA experience under his belt, Aaron Gordon is only 27. And Michael Porter Jr. is still just 24.
The only member of Denver’s playoff starting five over the age of 30 was role player Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who turned 30 this February. Not only is this already one of the most talented and balanced rosters in the NBA, it should continue to get even better.
MORE: Can the Nuggets become an NBA dynasty?
What’s more, all five of the players listed above are tied down to contracts through at least the end of the 2024-25 season.
Denver Nuggets player contracts
(All figures taken from SpoTrac.)
| Player | Age | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 |
| Nikola Jokic | 28 | $46.9M | $50.6M | $54.4M | $58.2M | $61.9M* |
| Jamal Murray | 26 | $33.8M | $36.0M | |||
| Michael Porter Jr. | 24 | $33.4M | $35.9M | $38.3M | $40.8M | |
| Aaron Gordon | 27 | $21.3M | $22.8M | $22.8M* | ||
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | 30 | $14.7M | $15.4M* |
* – Denotes a player option
Jokic, already a two-time MVP, is under contract until 2028, while Porter Jr. is tied down until 2027. The biggest question mark here is Murray, who will be entering the final year of his contract after next season concludes. However, that still gives the core at least two more years together before any major decisions have to be made.
2024 NBA title odds
The bookmakers clearly agree that the Nuggets have what it takes to go back-to-back. They are currently listed as joint-favorites to win the 2024 NBA Championship along with the Bucks at +460.
Here’s a look at the six teams with the best odds to win next season’s title:
(All odds taken from Fanduel Sportsbook.)
| Team | Odds |
| Denver Nuggets | +460 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +460 |
| Boston Celtics | +500 |
| Phoenix Suns | +700 |
| Golden State Warriors | +1200 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1200 |
Published at Tue, 13 Jun 2023 05:04:33 +0000
