Nikola Jokic’s reaction to his team’s first championship in eight seasons was muted. When a local reporter asked him if he was going to attend the victory parade, Jokic replied, “I have to go home,” prompting a laugh.
The Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) defeated the Miami Heat 94-89 in Game 5 of the 2022-23 NBA Finals (best-of-seven) at PepsiCo Fieldhouse on March 13 in Denver, Colorado. Jokic scored 28 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and dished out four assists in 42 minutes to lead the Nuggets to victory. It was the first NBA Finals title for Denver since the franchise’s inception, and the first championship ring for any player. Founded in 1967, the Nuggets won their first NBA championship in 56 years. The Nuggets joined the NBA in 1976, and this year they accomplished the feat of reaching the Finals for the first time. 메이저사이트
Jokic was even better, averaging 30 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 9.5 assists in the playoffs (PO). Jokic led the PO in points, rebounds, and assists this season. In Game 5 of the Finals, he averaged 30.2 points, 14 rebounds, and 7.2 assists. That’s the first such average in NBA Finals history. The Finals MVP honors went to Jokic, unsurprisingly. The voters were unanimous in selecting him as the MVP.
After the win, Jokic was interviewed by a local broadcaster and said, “It’s good. It’s over. I can go home now.” This was in contrast to his teammates, including Jamal Murray, who were in tears.
The same was true when he spoke to local media after the game. In a video posted by Bleacher Report on social media on the 13th, a reporter asks Jokic if he will be attending the victory parade in Denver. Yokichi then asks when the event is, and when told it’s on Thursday, he laughs and says, “No. I have to go home. I have to go home,” he said, prompting a laugh. Despite winning the unanimous MVP award for his stellar performance, going home seemed to be his first priority.