Starting 5, Sept. 27: Jokic’s new look, Russ’s new threads & the championship window. Celebrating D-Rose.
Russ has Jamal’s signature Blue Arrow celebration in midseason form at Nuggets Media Day.
THE LINEUP
What’s inside today’s edition?
Same Joker, New Spark: The 3-time MVP is back with a former MVP ready to provide the energy
Malone Unplugged: Nuggets coach Michael Malone on championship culture
Murray’s Message: Jamal Murray on taking advantage of the “championship window”
D-Rose Game-Winners: Relive Derrick Rose’s eight game-winners in honor of his retirement
What’s Next: Media Day (streaming live on Monday) and training camps (open Tuesday) for all teams
Weekend Hoops: Before we get going, reminder that an epic WNBA semifinals tips off Sunday, with Aces-Liberty staging a finals rematch at 3 ET (ABC) and Sun-Lynx in the nightcap at 8:30 ET (ESPN).
1. SAME JOKER, NEW NUGGETS SPARK
“I’m excited,” said Nikola Jokic at Nuggets Media Day Thursday. “I just don’t show it.”
The three-time Kia NBA MVP is back for Year 10 with a new look and the same old humor. And while he jokingly fished for compliments on his goatee, his teammates raved about his game.
- Aaron Gordon: “I think Nikola Jokic is probably going to go down as one of the best to ever play the game.”
- Russell Westbrook: “Just to be on the floor with him is an honor and I’m grateful for that … You want to be able to be on a team with someone that’s literally unguardable.”
In his 2023-24 Kia MVP campaign, Jokic ranked fifth in total points, third in total rebounds, second in total assists and eighth in total steals, making him the second player in NBA history to finish in the top 10 in all four statistics in a season since steals were first tracked in 1973.
- The other player? Westbrook, Denver’s newest free agent acquisition, who like Jokic (2021-22, 2023-24), has also accomplished the feat twice (2016-17, 2017-18)
Westbrook, the all-time leader in triple-doubles, was last named an All-Star in 2019-20. But the 16-year vet wasn’t brought to Denver to stuff the stat sheet.
The Nuggets supporting cast lost two key members this offseason with the departures of defensive standout Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and 13-year vet Reggie Jackson in free agency. But the team believes Westbrook can help fill that void.
- Coach Michael Malone: “When people talk about Russell Westbrook, no one really mentions defense … When we went back and watched his defense last year … [At the] end of games he was on the opposing team’s best player every night.”
- “You have a guy that you can close games with … and has a competitive mindset that I love.”
- DeAndre Jordan: “His intensity, his demeanor, can definitely help us on both ends of the floor … He’s going to be that burst of energy that we need.“
Now on a team seeking its second championship in three years, led by one of nine players in NBA history to win three Kia MVPs, Westbrook cares about one thing — a ring.
- Malone: “I just have so much respect for his body of work. The only thing that he hasn’t accomplished is winning an NBA championship.”
- Westbrook: “All we care about is winning basketball games.”
2. MALONE UNPLUGGED: CHAMPIONSHIP CULTURE
“When you win a championship and don’t repeat, everybody says you failed,” said Malone on Thursday. “The pressure of that is immense.”
One year after winning their first-ever title, the Nuggets racked up 57 regular-season wins — tied for the most in franchise history.
But a loss to the Timberwolves in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals — which saw Denver surrender a 20-point lead on its home floor — ended their season in disappointment.
- “Obviously, a difficult loss in the second round,” said Malone. “We’ve all used that as motivation to come back better, individually and collectively …
- “On the flip side of that is — reminding our guys just how dominant of a team we’ve been.”
Malone isn’t wrong. In the past three regular seasons, the Nuggets have notched 158 wins, trailing only the Celtics (172) for the most in the NBA. In the past six regular seasons, Denver’s 305 victories trail only Milwaukee (320).
And the Nuggets elevate their game each year. Since the 2019-20 campaign, Denver’s win count has steadily increased, capped by two 50+ win seasons and an NBA title in 2022-23.
- 2019-20: 46-27 record
- 2020-21: 47-25 record
- 2021-22: 48-34 record
- 2022-23: 53-29 record (Won Finals)
- 2023-24: 57-25 record
Although Denver fell short of its ultimate goal last season, Malone noted that not all dynasties are linear — pointing to Tim Duncan’s Spurs as a team that exemplified success but never won back-to-back championships.
- “Everybody wants to repeat,” said Malone. “But [San Antonio] never did that. But they had a standard of excellence year in and year out.”
Entering this season, Malone is challenging his team to learn from last year’s Playoff exit and believes their championship DNA will surface as they prepare for another hunt.
- “Failure can be a motivation, but it can’t be fatal. You have to learn from your failure. And it can motivate you to look deep within to find ways you can get better.
- “We’ve tasted success. We know what it’s like to be on that mountaintop. We were knocked off last year. So, let’s get back up.”
3. ‘NOT EVERY TEAM HAS A CHAMPIONSHIP WINDOW’
Entering his eighth season in Denver, Jamal Murray had a message for his teammates as the Nuggets open training camp to prepare for the upcoming season.
- “Don’t take it for granted. The opportunity that we have of winning right now, it doesn’t come by often and it doesn’t happen everywhere.
- “As the young guys get older they’ll see it’s tough to win in this league. It’s tough even for GMs to create a team like this, that’s well-talented and gets along this well … Take advantage of the moment.”
Nuggets coach Michael Malone discussed Murray’s message, as it poses a key question for the team entering the 2024-25 season.
- “We have a championship window. Not every team has a championship window. And what do you do, do you take advantage of that or do you look back in 20 years and have regrets?
While there was a serious tone about the expectations for the Nuggets this season, Media Day also had its share of lighthearted moments.
- Scouting Report: After playing against Nikola Jokic for the past nine seasons, Russell Westbrook shared the scouting report on the three-time MVP: “Good luck… there’s nothing you can do.”
- New Fans: After hearing plenty of boos from Denver fans during his first 16 NBA seasons – quoting Kobe Bryant that it was a sign of respect – Russ is ready to hear the favorable roars from the Mile High City faithful
- Title vs. Medal: Jokic discussed the difference between winning the NBA title in 2023 and the Olympic Bronze Medal with Serbia this summer: “Unique emotions. Unique feeling… Playing with your friends that you grow up playing with since you were 13, 14, 15.”
New Numbers: Outside of his lone season in Washington, Westbrook has worn the number 0 his entire NBA career, but will don the No. 4 – the same number he wore in high school – with the Nuggets.
For Aaron Gordon, the decision to change from No. 50 to No. 32 was to honor his late brother, Drew. He discussed the importance of the number to his family and how wearing it “feels like home.”
New Numbers: Outside of his lone season in Washington, Westbrook has worn the number 0 his entire NBA career, but will don the No. 4 – the same number he wore in high school – with the Nuggets.
For Aaron Gordon, the decision to change from No. 50 to No. 32 was to honor his late brother, Drew. He discussed the importance of the number to his family and how wearing it “feels like home.”
4. D-ROSE’S 8 GAME-WINNERS IN GIFS
With Derrick Rose announcing his retirement on Thursday after a 16-year NBA career, it is time to give the youngest MVP in league history and three-time NBA All-Star his flowers.
In over 775 combined regular season and Playoff games, Rose dazzled basketball fans with his elite athleticism, explosive dunks, acrobatic finishes, crafty ball-handling and clutch buckets – including these eight game-winning buckets in the final 10 seconds.
Jan. 15, 2010 (Bulls vs. Wizards): After missing a potential game-winner at the end of regulation, Rose assisted on the game-tying bucket in OT and hit a spinning runner in the lane with 5.4 seconds left in 2OT to secure the win.
Dec. 25, 2011 (Bulls at Lakers): Rose gifted the Bulls a game-winner on Christmas Day in L.A., hitting a driving hook over Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol with 4.8 seconds left.
Mar. 7, 2012 (Bulls at Bucks): With the game tied in the closing seconds, Rose used a crossover and stepback to create space for a 20-footer that dropped through the net at the buzzer.
Oct. 31, 2013 (Bulls at Knicks): In his first regular season home game following his ACL tear, Rose shook off a poor shooting night by hitting a high-arching baseline floater over two Knicks defenders with 5.7 seconds left.
Jan. 27, 2015 (Bulls at Warriors): Rose hit a step-back 20-footer over Klay Thompson with seven seconds left in overtime to put the Bulls up for good and hand the Warriors one of their two home losses all season.
May 8, 2015 (Bulls vs. Cavaliers; Game 3, East Semis): With the game tied at 96 with three seconds left, Rose took the inbounds pass beyond the 3-point line, took two dribbles and rose up for a 26-footer that banked in at the buzzer.
Jan. 20, 2019 (Timberwolves vs. Suns): Rose scored 29 of his 31 points in the 2nd half, including the game-winning step-back jumper over Mikal Bridges with 0.6 seconds left, for his first game-winner in a non-Bulls jersey.
Dec. 9, 2019 (Pistons at Pelicans): Rose’s final game-winner came with the Pistons as he scored 17 of his 21 points in the 4th quarter, capped by a driving turnaround jumper with 0.3 seconds left to seal the win.
5. UP NEXT: MEDIA DAY MONDAY & MORE
The Celtics and Nuggets’ Media Days are in the books ahead of their preseason opener on Oct. 4 at the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024.
But first, a content goldmine on Monday, as the league’s 28 remaining teams will host their Media Days — culminating in NBA Media Day Live (4 ET).
What time does your team step into the spotlight Monday? Find out below.
- 9:30 a.m. ET: Bucks
- 10 a.m. ET: Spurs
- 10:30 a.m. ET: Nets, Raptors
- 10:45 a.m. ET: Pacers
- 11 a.m. ET: 76ers, Cavaliers, Hawks, Knicks, Magic
- 12 p.m. ET: Grizzlies, Mavericks, Rockets, Thunder, Warriors
- 12:30 p.m. ET: Pistons
- 1 p.m. ET: Clippers
- 1:30 p.m. ET: Timberwolves
- 2 p.m. ET: Lakers, Suns
- 3 p.m. ET: Kings
- TBD: Bulls, Heat, Hornets, Jazz, Pelicans, Trail Blazers, Wizards
And it doesn’t stop there. Tuesday, Oct. 1, marks the first day of NBA Training Camps, followed by a slew of key dates ahead of regular-season tip-off on Oct. 22.
- Oct. 1: NBA Training Camps open
- Oct. 4: NBA Preseason games begin
- Oct. 4 & 6: NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024 (Celtics vs. Nuggets | Abu Dhabi, UAE)
- Oct. 6: NBA Canada Series (Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards | Montreal, QC)
- Oct. 12-13: Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend (Springfield, MA)
- Oct. 18: NBA Preseason ends
- Oct. 21: Rosters set for NBA Opening Day (5 p.m. ET)
- Oct. 22: Start of the 2024-25 NBA regular season
