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Nuggets championship parade 2023: Relive best moments as Denver celebrates first NBA title

Sam Jarden

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Nuggets championship parade 2023: Relive best moments as Denver celebrates first NBA title image

After a 47 year wait, the Nuggets have finally earned an NBA title. And of course, they had to celebrate in style.

Nuggets players, coaches, executives and staffers traveled through the streets of Denver on Thursday as part of the organization's championship parade. As head coach Michael Malone repeatedly told us, they are hoping this ceremony will be the first of many.

"The last step after a champion is to be a dynasty. So, we're not satisfied," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said after a Game 5 win over the Heat. "We accomplished something this franchise has never done before, but we have a lot of young, talented players in that locker room.

"I think we just showed through 16 playoff wins what we're capable of on the biggest stage in the world."

But Thursday was about enjoying the festivities and sharing special moments with their biggest supporters. 

The Sporting News was tracking all the best moments from the Nuggets' 2023 NBA Championship parade. 

MORE: How NBA title validates Nikola Jokic's place among all-time greats

Nuggets' championship parade live updates, highlights, reactions

(All times Eastern.)

2:44 p.m. — Aaron Gordon thanks the fans in attendance, and with that, today's ceremonies have come to an end. But something tells me the party is only just beginning. It has been a special day in Denver.

2:42 p.m. — Here's a look at the size of the crowd that gathered to watch the rally. Incredible support from Nuggets Nation.

2:41 p.m. — Was Bruce Brown hinting that he's going to stick around in Denver?

2:39 p.m. — Jeff Green is fired up after securing the first title of his long NBA career.

2:30 p.m. — After his initial reluctance to attend today's parade, Jokic seems to have changed his mind. "You know that I told that I don't want to stay on parade," he says. "I f-----g want to stay on parade. This is the best time of my f-----g life."

2:24 p.m. — "We're running this s--t back," Michael Malone proclaims to the masses listening on. He really, really wants to win another ring.

2:21 p.m. — How about this beer can catch by Jamal Murray?

1:59 p.m. — The parade has arrived at the Denver City Council building, where the rally is set to begin momentarily. 

1:55 p.m. — Malone got very emotional during an interview with local Denver media. "For me to share this with our fans, that means the world to me," he says.

1:43 p.m. — What a snag by the head coach! And yes, he does seem a bit tipsy. But hey, I think he's earned it. 

1:36 p.m. — Michael Malone gave the gathered fans a champagne shower. They didn't seem to mind. 

1:31 p.m. — For the record, if you see any accounts on Twitter saying nobody showed up to watch today's parade, they are dead wrong. Downtown Denver is absolutely packed with people, with a crowd stretching all the way from the City Council building to the Colorado State Capitol. It's rocking in the Mile High City.

1:28 p.m. — Ognjena Jokic looks puzzled by the crowds assembled to watch her and her father cruise by. 

1:22 p.m. — Jokic had to protect his daughter from a deluge of champagne coming her way. 

1:14 p.m. — KCP has already chugged at least four beers at the parade based on the footage available. But who's counting. 

1:11 p.m. — It's 11:11 a..m in Denver and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is already crushing beers, literally and figuratively. 

12:55 p.m. — Michael Malone echoes his sentiment from the trophy presentation. "We're not done yet," he says. "We getting another one."

12:47 p.m. — Here's a closer look at the WWE belt Braun has been carrying throughout the morning.

12:44 p.m. — No beer for Christian Braun. He's sticking to the bubbly so far, and appears to be enjoying himself.

12:42 p.m. — Impressive beer chugging form from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. This isn't his first rodeo, he also won a title with the Lakers in 2020. 

12:39 p.m. — Jokic and Jamal Murray are front and center on one of the fire trucks taking part in the parade — alongside their trophies.

12:32 p.m. — Bruce Brown or J.R. Smith? Smith famously spent an entire summer shirtless after the Cavaliers won the title in 2016.

12:30 p.m. — Christian Braun is fired up after winning a title in his rookie season.

12:25 p.m. — Well-executed throw and catch here to supply DeAndre Jordan with a celebratory beer. 

12:15 p.m. — Nikola Jokic and his daughter, Ognjena, look ready to go. 

12:03 p.m. — And they're off! Vehicles are in motion in Denver as the parade gets underway.

11:58 a.m. — Nuggets head coach Michael Malone is ready for today's parade. 

How to watch Nuggets' championship parade

  • TV channel: NBA TV | Altitude Sports | Denver7
  • Streaming: Sling TV | NBA.com | Denver 8 TV | Denver7.com

The championship parade will be available to watch on NBA TV. Fans in the Denver area can catch the event on Altitude Sports and Denver7.

The celebration will also be available to stream via Sling TV, NBA.com, Denver 8 TV and Denver7.com.

Fans in the U.S. can watch the Nuggets' championship parade on Sling TV, which is now offering half off your first month! Stream the sports you love starting at just $20 in your first month with Sling Orange.

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When is the Nuggets' NBA championship parade?

  • Date: Thursday, June 15
  • Time: Noon ET | 10 a.m. MT

Pre-rally activities will begin at 9 a.m. local time, and the championship parade will start at 10 a.m. local time on Thursday, June 15.

Festivities are expected to conclude by 2 p.m. local time.

SEE Y'ALL AT THE PARADE 🥳

➡️ https://t.co/b6uZCN3ZYo pic.twitter.com/z5jV29iwtq

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) June 13, 2023

Nuggets' NBA championship parade route map

Nuggets.com

Nuggets' NBA championship rally map

Nuggets.com

Sam Jarden

Sam Jarden Photo

Sam Jarden joined Sporting News as an intern in 2020 and returned as a content producer in 2022. In between, he spent a year and a half at Turner Sports, managing the social media accounts for Bleacher Report, NBA on TNT, NBA TV and others. A proud UNC alumnus, he spends his free time following the Tar Heels, Buffalo Bills and Newcastle United FC, and has been known to occasionally hit the links.