First Champions Club: Nuggets & Golden Knights Win the Big One

By Rockin’ Reese

Denver Nuggets

In a span of 24 hours, there were championship celebrations at Ball Arena in Denver, CO & T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Last Monday night, the Denver Nuggets completed their NBA Finals debut by winning their 1st NBA Championship in franchise history. Then, on Tuesday, the Vegas Golden Knights ended their 2nd Stanley Cup Final appearance by winning their franchise’s first Stanley Cup.

The Nuggets were a rechristened franchise. In 1948-49, the original Nuggets were part of the National Basketball League. After the NBL merged with Basketball Association of America to form the NBA, the Nuggets were disbanded, after the league’s inaugural season.

The history of the current franchise starts in the 1967-68 season, when they were part of the American Basketball Association. In the ABA, they were originally known as the Denver Larks, but just before the inaugural season began, their name was changed to the Denver Rockets.

the team prepared to move to the NBA, they changed their name to Nuggets before the 1974-75 season. After the 1975-76 season, the ABA merged with the NBA, and the Nuggets were acquired by the NBA (along with the Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, & the then New York Nets). While they would enjoy many trips to the playoffs, they would see very few victories. However, they did have a historic moment in the 1993-94 season.

In the western conference quarter-finals, they would be the first 8th seed to eliminate a #1 seed, when they defeated the Seattle Supersonics. After a few lengthy dry spells, the Nuggets looked like they were ready to turn the corner, but from 2019-20 to 2021-22, they would lose to teams who would become the Western Conference Champions (the 2019-20 Lakers & the 2021-22 Golden State Warriors would go on to win the NBA Finals).

In the 2022-23 season, the Nuggets would achieve a 53-29 record, making them tthe #1 seed in the western conference. In the playoffs, they would defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, & the Lakers to become the Western Conference Champions. Then, they would defeat the (Eastern Conference Champions) Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. Nikola Jokić would be the man who led the Nuggets to victory, as he would be the MVP in the western conference finals & NBA Finals. In game 3 of the NBA Finals, he made NBA history by becoming the first man to have at least 30 points, 20 rebounds, & 10 assists in a NBA Finals game.

Las Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights have only existed in the NHL, since the 2017-18 season. In their 6 seasons, they have been to the playoffs 5 times. They have participated in the western conference finals 3 times, winning the Clarence Campbell Bowl twice. In their previous appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, the Knights had a chance to make history by being the first expansion team to win the Cup in their inaugural season.

However, the Washington Capitals would defeat them to earn their franchise’s first (and to date, only) Stanley Cup. In the 2022-23 season, the Golden Knights had the best record in the western conference (51-22-9, earning 111 points). They would defeat the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, & Dallas Stars en route to winning the Campbell Bowl. Then, they would defeat the Florida Panthers (who won the Prince of Wales Trophy, the eastern conference championship) in the Stanley Cup Final.

Though there were many Knights who contributed to their success throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs, Jonathan Marchessault would be recognized as the MVP of the playoffs. He scored 25 points (13 goals [which was a team high] & 12 assists) en route to earning the Conn Smythe Trophy. Another Knight would make history, as captain Mark Stone would be the 33rd player in NHL history to score a hat trick in the Stanley Cup Final. However, he would be only the 3rd player to score that hat trick in the cup-winning game. Jack Darragh of the 1920 Ottawa Senators & Babe Dye of the 1922 Toronto St. Patricks were the others.

Now, the Nuggets & Golden Knights will go from hunters to hunted. As the 2023-24 season arrives in the fall, how will these teams prepare to defend their respective championships? There will be several challenges in the NBA for the Nuggets, as well as in the NHL for the Golden Knights. If either team wants to be a champion for a 2nd consecutive season, they will need an even stronger effort than they had in this recently ended season. Gentlemen, you’ve spent life wondering what it’s like to win the championship. Now, you’re going to know what it’s like to defend it.