DENVER — The tallboys flew from both sides of 17th street, crashing and exploding on either side of firetruck No. 22.
On one hand, you couldn’t blame the overzealous fans soaking in the Nuggets’ championship parade, since veteran Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was encouraging the alcoholic missiles from the crowd.
After he snared one out of thin air, a Jokic-like dart from 20 feet away that further underscored the difference between the professional athletes and the public, more fans started tossing cans from all directions. Aaron Gordon was on the same float, basking alongside Caldwell-Pope in the boisterous revelry. Between crowd roars, a new beer would smack the side of the float and momentarily jar its riders.
“The beer throwing is a dangerous game,” Gordon said afterward with a childish grin. “Dangerous but fun.”
As truck No. 22 ambled through the champions’ tunnel, Gordon pointed to his ring finger and then revved up an imaginary motorcycle almost as if he could supercharge the crowd. Caldwell-Pope, now a two-time champion, pointed at two fingers. The whole time, both signed dozens of hats and basketballs that either arrived from a parade handler or fortuitously landed in their laps.
The Nuggets soaked in all the adulation that followed the franchise’s first-ever NBA title on Monday night.
Once the parade route settled at Civic Center Park, where rowdy and slurred speeches stirred the hundreds of thousands of Nuggets fans, Gordon draped a pair of custom “AG” sneakers around his neck. The never-to-be-worn sneakers were trimmed with cork, not unlike the dozens of champagne bottle tops that littered Thursday’s championship parade route. The special-edition shoes had been signed in black pen by his teammates. Gordon had his keepsake.
Nuggets vice chairman Josh Kroenke, who rode on the final float just a row behind Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and the franchise’s new gleaming hardware, had his own custom sneakers. His blue-and-yellow Nike dunks had “Finals champions” adorned on the side.
Both Josh and his father, Stan, spent a few private moments with Gordon after the speeches had concluded and the Nuggets started to filter off stage. Whatever was said underscored their decision to reach a four-year extension with him two summers ago. His value, not to mention his selflessness, was integral to their title run.
In the euphoric postgame locker room after the Nuggets secured their title, Gordon explained how he’d actively avoided outside noise to aid his championship pursuit. Part of it, he said, was going to sleep earlier throughout the postseason. Having secured the title, he broke his own rule when he hosted the after-party at one of his warehouses. He estimated the celebration went until 4 a.m.
As cameras started inching toward Gordon and Murray on Thursday, the Nuggets’ veteran power forward superseded all inquiries with his own demand.
“Put some respect on Jamal Murray’s name, please,” Gordon said into a microphone.
Another question began before Gordon interrupted.
“No, no,” said Gordon, unconvinced that his message had been heard.
“Put some respect on Jamal, please,” Gordon said. “… What more does he gotta show you? It’s a rhetorical question. You don’t even gotta answer. He’s gonna keep working, he’s gonna keep killing, and y’all gonna keep watching.”
Then he found Murray for their signature handshake.
Ever mindful, Murray stayed engaged as he and Jokic’s firetruck rolled past thousands of supporters. They brought up the end of the parade, not far behind Michael Malone’s championship float.
Like Caldwell-Pope, Murray beckoned for beer from the crowd. He teased launching a few Blue Arrows. He inhaled his championship cigar with gusto.
“The best part of the day was just being present,” he said. He did his best to keep his phone by his side.
“It wasn’t about taking videos,” Murray said. “It was just about being in the moment, appreciating the fans. … They give me energy, they give me life during the game, so I can only thank them so much.”
And when he wasn’t dousing fans in champagne, catching T-shirts from adoring fans, and grinning from ear to ear, he was taking part in the rousing “M-V-P” chants that showered Jokic for the duration of the ride.
“Best player in the league, by far,” Murray said. “… We got a bunch of selfless guys that just want to win. I’m at a loss for words. When we see each other like this, it’s just amazing.”
