In the immediate aftermath of the Nuggets’ title-clinching Game 5 victory over the Heat on Monday, Nikola Jokić was dismayed to learn that the celebratory championship parade would not be until three days later, delaying his plans to return home.
Come parade time on Thursday, though, the Finals MVP was singing a different tune.
Jokić and his Nuggets teammates received a heroes’ welcome, parading through the streets of Denver to hundreds of thousands of fans in an electric environment befitting of the team’s dominant run en route to the franchise’s first-ever championship. With the beverages flowing and spirits high, Jokić strode to the microphone and offered the perfect about-face on his previous stance—much to the delight of his massive audience.
