Family Awards – 2023 NBA Champion Denver Nuggets

By Keith Richards

The Denver Nuggets are your 2022-23 NBA Champions! From undesirable, to undeniable. Denver has reached the mountaintop and the championship now resides a mile high in the mountains. Through the losing seasons in Coach Michael Malone’s first seasons, the injuries, and fighting for national respect, the Nuggets proved they could win it all and they did it as a family.

Coach Malone would bring everyone together after games, especially big wins, saying, “As always, family on three!” Family is a concept that gets thrown around a lot in sports. These men spend a lot of time together. Often, it’s just a novel concept, but the Denver Nuggets really are a family. Now that the season is over, and the work is done, it’s time to hand out Family Awards.

I’ll pick the Family MVP, Comeback Family Member of the Year, Most Improved Family Member of the Year, Rookie Family Member, and Ride or Die (Sixth Man) Family Member of the Year. Let’s bring it in!

Ride or Die Family Member of the Year

Arguably the most important offseason acquisition, Bruce Brown is the Denver Nuggets Ride or Die Family Member of the Year. Brown’s numbers don’t always jump off the screen. He only averaged 12 PPG, 1.9 APG, and 4 RPG in the playoffs, but Bruce’s contributions weren’t always statistically significant. It’s the swagger and energy and tenacity that Brown brought to the Nuggets family that was most valuable.

Don’t get it twisted. Brown had plenty of games where he came off the bench for late buckets and 21 points (like game four). However, Bruce’s true value came as that final piece of the puzzle. Without Bruce Brown, the Nuggets may not have the season they have. He was the family member that mounted up when they needed him most.

Rookie Family Member of the Year

Christian Braun is the Rookie Family Member of the Year. It’s not particularly close either. Braun is the only rookie on the team to play a significant role all season and in the playoffs. Much like Brown, Christian statistically wasn’t impressive, but his value went far beyond statistics. Braun was the defensive wing that went under the radar but could lock people down when called upon. He’s in rarified air. Christian Braun is just the sixth person to win back-to-back NCAA to NBA Championships. It’s well deserved for the kid.

Most Improved Family Member of the Year

Michael Porter, Jr. is the Most Improved Family Member of the Year for hanging in there and not letting the outside noise get him down. Aaron Gordon is also deserving of the award, but MPJ’s perseverance wins it for him. Due to back issues, Michael has missed a lot of time starting his career. Through it all, though, Porter, Jr. has never given up.

Outside noise would tell you MPJ did not play to his potential. Maybe he didn’t, but he was still everything Denver needed him to be. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was always needed. Even after a poor shooting performance in the NBA Finals, Porter, Jr. still managed to score 16 points in the closing game. Rest that back easy, Michael. The family is gonna need you for years to come.

Comeback Family Member of the Year

Was it going to be anyone else? No. Jamal Murray is the Comeback Family Member of the Year. April 13, 2021. That is the day that Jamal Murray tore his ACL. It wouldn’t be until October 22, 2022, that Murray would play another regular season game for Denver. 18 long months when Jamal couldn’t be where he felt he was needed most. Murray was so down that he wondered if he’d be traded as damaged goods.

In the end, the Blue Arrow was not damaged goods. Through the ups and downs of getting back in shape after 18 months, Jamal Murray would end a phenomenal comeback season by averaging 26.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 6.3 APG on the way to a championship in the NBA Playoffs. From undesirable (in his mind), to undeniable.

Most Valuable Player

This is something that should be without question. Nikola Jokic is the Most Valuable Player. Jokic has gone from being drafted during a Taco Bell commercial to being a two-time NBA MVP, WCF MVP, and NBA Finals MVP. The Joker is one of the most unlikely superstars you’ll ever see. He neither craves attention nor wants attention. It’s a cliché to say that sometimes, but it’s authentic with Nikola.

Jokic is the first player in NBA history to lead the playoffs in points (609), rebounds (269), and assists (190) in a single playoff stretch. Even after all of it, he tried to shrink to the background. His large stature aside, Jokic could never shrink to the background. He’s one of the most talented bigs we’ve ever seen. Right now, he’s the best player in the NBA. For now, though, Nikola Jokic had one thing to say, “The job is done. We can go home now.”

What’s next for the Denver Nuggets? We have plenty of time to discuss that in the coming months, but Coach Malone made his intentions clear. “We’re not satisfied with one. We want more! We want more!” Whether or not they can get more will be discussed in the coming weeks. For now, family on 3. One! TWO! THREE! FAMILY!