NFL
By Keith Richards
Aretha Franklin, one of the greatest singers of all time, once said, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Find out what it means to me.” All she wanted was a little respect when her man got home. After winning the 2023 NBA Western Conference Finals as the number one seed, the Denver Nuggets feel her pain. After proving all the doubters, haters, and naysayers wrong on their way to the NBA Finals, it’s past time the national media gives this Nuggets team a little respect.
As a whole, it’s not hard to understand certain networks wanting to talk about certain teams and players ad nauseam. Sports media, after all, is a business. Businesses seek to make a profit and certain topics are more profitable. You’ll never get an argument from me against that point. That said, that’s not the point I’m making here. The point is the lengths the national sports media went to refuse to give the Denver Nuggets the respect they have earned.
Regarding the lack of respect shown to the Nuggets after their game one victory, Coach Michael Malone stated, “The national narrative [after Game 1] was that the Lakers were fine. No one talked about Nikola having a historic performance. The narrative wasn’t about the Nuggets. The narrative wasn’t about Nikola. …You put that in your pipe and smoke it. You go up 2-0.”
When Malone said that, the Nuggets were then called whiners and complainers. What Coach said, though, was 1,000% spot on. Anyone who disagrees with that is lying to themselves. Denver is not asking for the same respect as an all-time franchise the likes of the Los Angeles Lakers or Boston Celtics. They’re simply asking for respect for their accomplishments and the progress they’ve made recently. That respect, even after making it to the Finals, is barely given.
Speaking of respect, even after winning two consecutive MVPs (and he arguably should have won a third), Nikola Jokic fights for respect and recognition daily. During a recent interview on the Rich Eisen Show, Lisa Salters (a respected NBA sideline reporter) mentioned that she had only recently become aware of the skill of Jokic. Her excuse was that she hasn’t done a game in Denver in a while and hadn’t had a chance to watch him play.
C’mon, now, Lisa! Your job is an NBA sideline reporter. You work for one of the most prominent sports broadcasting companies on the planet. You’re telling me you’re not familiar with Nikola Jokic? The two-time reigning NBA MVP averaged 24.5 PPG, 11.8 RPG, and 9.8 APG in the regular season and finished second in MVP voting. You’re not familiar with him. Even after winning the Earvin Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP, averaging 27 PPG, 14.7 RPG, and 11.3 APG, Jokic is fighting for respect and air time. It’s just inexcusable!
While the Nuggets fan in me can be biased and illogical, the Nuggets analyst in me understands why the Nuggets and players like Jamal Murray have not received much respect to this point. They last made the WCF in the NBA Bubble. Jamal Murray himself, though working back to form from injuries, was lackluster in the regular season. That said, in the playoffs, Murray and the Nuggets have more than earned their right to respect and recognition.
Specifically, look at Murray in the playoffs. Jamal is averaging 27.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.1 APG, and 1.7 SPG. In game two in the WCF, he scored 23 points in the 4th quarter. He got a little respect, but more air time was given to the Lakers’ moral victory of keeping the game close. Again, the Nuggets are not asking for the respect of a storied franchise. They are simply asking for the respect that they have earned recently and this season. That’s all.
The opponents of the Denver Nuggets for the NBA are unknown as the Eastern Conference Finals are not decided. Whoever that opponent is, the Nuggets will be ready. Maybe if they win it all, they will finally get the respect they deserve. Until then, Team NBS will be here for all your NBA Playoffs coverage. Be sure to refresh your gear for the NBA Finals as well. It’s Colorado versus everybody and they are ready!
