Fans Loved Nikola Jokić’s Very Humble Answer About the Nuggets Being Favorites to Win NBA Finals

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The 2023 NBA Finals kick off Thursday night and as Game 1 approaches there is one fact that sticks out more than all the others—Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets are the heavy favorites to beat the Heat and win their first-ever title.
Denver entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the West and punched their ticket to the Finals with a sweep of LeBron James and the Lakers.
The Heat, the eighth seed in the East, had to play their way into the playoffs and then beat the Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals to get this date with Denver.
Jokić was asked Wednesday about the Heat being underdogs in the series and the two-time NBA MVP had a very thoughtful take on it:
"I think in the Finals, there are no favorites."
— NBA TV (@NBATV) May 31, 2023
Nikola Jokic in response to Denver being considered favorites against Miami pic.twitter.com/haFeq4CQYF
NBA fans loved it:
I just love the honesty of Jokic..! They all played well to be in the Final. 🫶🙏 brotha https://t.co/VT5zjSNHhC
— Eddison N Huynh (@eddieh1119) June 1, 2023
I agree with this 100%. Once you’re in the championship, all bets are off. https://t.co/L0xaFuppZT
— Dr. Dunk (@DrDunk5) May 31, 2023
That's my Center Piontgard!!! #Jokic #BringItIn https://t.co/ynJqW9g5gM
— Bronco Sista Tiff (@atumnsonw) June 1, 2023
Simple answer honestly
— Cord Blaney (@Ordca3Cord) May 31, 2023

Andy Nesbitt is the assistant managing editor of audience engagement at Sports Illustrated. He works closely with the Breaking and Trending News team to shape SI’s daily coverage across all sports. A 20-year veteran of the sports media business, he has worked for Fox Sports, For the Win, The Boston Globe and NBC Sports, having joined SI in February 2023. Nesbitt is a golf fanatic who desperately wants to see the Super Bowl played on a Saturday night.
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