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Denver Nuggets celebrate championship victory in downtown Denver parade

Nuggets players and coaches celebrate on top of their firetruck during the parade.
Stephanie Daniel
/
KUNC
Jamal Murray, Stan Kroenke and Nikola Jokic along with family and other Denver Nuggets staff traveled by firetruck down Broadway as they made their way to Civic Center Park in Denver on June 15 during the Nuggets Parade and victory celebration. The team won the NBA Finals for the first time in the franchise's 47-year history.

We're not crying, you're crying. As fans swarmed downtown Denver Thursday to celebrate a long awaited win, one thing was clear. The city was in agreement that there was no celebration too big for a team that brought home an NBA Finals Championship to the Mile High City.

Denver celebrated the Nuggets first NBA title in their 47-year history with a parade through downtown and a rally at Civic Center Park. The parade began at 10 a.m. at Union Station and ended with a rally at the Civic Center Park. Nuggets players and coaches joined dancers, drumlines, and the Mile High City Hype Squad to celebrate with thousands of fans.

Players walked onto the stage bare-chested, several smoking celebratory cigars. Mayor Michael Hancock took the stage to congratulate the team. "We want to say to the players— when the national media refused to acknowledge your greatness, Nugget Nation had your back," Hancock said. "We came, we saw, and we conquered."

Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson, left, and guard Christian Braun greet the crowd during a rally and parade to mark the Denver Nuggets' first NBA basketball championship
David Zalubowski
/
AP
Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson, left, and guard Christian Braun greet the crowd during a rally and parade to mark the Denver Nuggets' first NBA basketball championship on Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Denver.

Of course, the festivities would not have been complete without Nikola Jokic showing off the Larry O'Brien trophy on the stage. His remarks were brief, but his joy was apparent.

"You guys that came onto the streets... this one is for you. We love you Denver," Jokic said.

Fans crowd into Civic Center Park during a rally and parade to mark the Denver Nuggets first NBA basketball championship on Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Denver.
David Zalubowski
/
AP
Fans crowd into Civic Center Park during a rally and parade to mark the Denver Nuggets first NBA basketball championship on Thursday, June 15, 2023, in Denver.

Denver native Felicia O’Donnell, 61, (center) with her sons Dontay O’Donnell, 46, and Michael Edwards, 30, wait for parade to start on corner of 17th and Court.
Stephanie Daniel
/
KUNC
Denver native Felicia O’Donnell, 61, (center) with her sons Dontay O’Donnell, 46, and Michael Edwards, 30, wait for parade to start on corner of 17th and Court.

Fans and coaches got emotional, and the team vowed to capture another championship victory next year. General Manager Michael Booth was thankful to his team, but also gave credit to the fans.

"It's been 47 long years. Because of the guys and the girls on this stage, and because of you— everyone out here— we're world champions," Booth said.

According to Denver Police Department, a police officer was seriously injured during the parade. DPD confirmed that the officer was struck by one of the parade firetrucks and was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

As a general assignment reporter and backup host, I gather news and write stories for broadcast, and I fill in to host for Morning Edition or All Things Considered when the need arises.
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