The Nuggets' championship celebrations took center stage on Tuesday night as their first banner went into the rafters at Ball Arena.
Along with the banner, the players received their 2023 championship rings on Opening Night ahead of their game against the Lakers.
Designed in collaboration with Jason of Beverly Hills, who has created rings for the Lakers, Bucks, Warriors, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Las Vegas Golden Knights and Las Vegas Aces, the Nuggets' jewelry is loaded with symbolism and storytelling from their first championship in franchise history.
Beginning with the 16 carats, representing the 16 wins it took to deliver the title, the ring features the Larry O'Brien trophy with "Nuggets" written across the front and a silhouette of a mountain.
In all its glory 💍 pic.twitter.com/mMTMuXEpIt
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 24, 2023
"Every single time we do a championship ring, it has to tell a story," Jason Arasheben, CEO Jason of Beverly Hills told Nuggets.com.
"And not only the story of the organization, but the team, the season, the players, and most importantly, the city of Denver. And this ring is no different. It tells a robust story — lots of storylines, lots of easter eggs, and most importantly, lots of features in this ring."
Beyond the impressive design, here's a closer look at the intricate details and storytelling hidden within the rings.
MORE: Nuggets vs. Lakers live score, updates, highlights from Opening Night
A nod to Ball Arena
With the banner going up at Ball Arena, it's only fitting the Nuggets homecourt got a shoutout.
The face of the ring features the word "Nuggets" in 24 points of yellow diamonds to honor the 24 years the Nuggets have played at Ball Arena.
On the side, the ring features the phrase "World Champions" with the Nuggets' retro logo and regular season record. Above that, there is a row of 15 stones symbolizing the 15 playoff games played at Ball Arena.
Remembering Game 5 of the 2023 NBA Finals
The ring also features 89 points of red rubies around the perimeter, a nod to the 89 points the Nuggets held the Miami Heat to in the title-clinching Game 5 in Denver.
Sweet 16
The ring is highlighted by 16 carats of diamonds, rubies and blue sapphires, representing the 16 postseason wins it took to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
The inner and outer rings feature golden nugget texture — the first time it's been done on a championship ring —along with the team's "Bring It In" slogan.
No gem left unturned 💎 pic.twitter.com/J69sseEFqJ
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 24, 2023
A retractable compartment?!
Alright, this is where the ring truly gets customized.
"The face of the ring, for the first time in ring history, is interchangeable," Arashaben said. "Meaning you can change the color with just a switch of a lever. We have a lever that goes from 1967, the team's inception, to 2023, the championship year. Once you switch it over, it goes from blue sapphires to white diamonds on the face of the ring."
The lever at the top changes the background, along with a retractable compartment that unveils the championship banner, along with key dates in Nuggets history.
"Over the years, rings have gotten bigger and bigger and bigger. And there's only so big you can go," Arashaben said proudly. "And although this is a big ring, it's a flashy ring, what makes me most proud about this ring is the two unique innovative features that we put into this ring that's never been done before. It's very hard to recreate and innovate a new feature. But on this ring, we innovated two new features, which is something that I'm very proud of."
High altitude
Denver's home court has always given them a huge advantage thanks to the high altitude the city sits at. It makes it tough for visiting players to catch their breath.
The number "5280" is written on the top and bottom of the face of the ring to represent Denver's altitude above sea level.
