Nuggets Champion Reveals Nikola Jokic’s Extra Motivation vs. Lakers
If it looked like Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets had extra motivation against the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, that's because they did.
Bruce Brown, who was just on last season's championship Nugget squad, was a guest on the Run Your Race Podcast with Theo Pinson, where he revealed that the team actually faced the Lakers with some added motivation.
“I think that series for us was more personal than any other series, I don’t know why," Brown said. "But, we were at their neck and talking that shit. I’ve never seen Nikola speak on the court. He wasn’t talking shit, but he was into the game. He was playing no games, like he had something to prove and he’s the best player in the world.”
The Denver Nuggets ultimately beat the Los Angeles Lakers in a dominating four-game sweep that shocked NBA fans around the world. That extra motivation was likely because it was a rematch of the 2020 Western Conference Finals where the Lakers defeated the Nuggets in five games. It was the perfect moment for the Denver Nuggets to prove that they've improved since the bubble, and show everyone that they were a legit championship contender.
The level of motivation that the Nuggets played with throughout the 2023 playoffs needs to be repeated again as they enter the new season. It's usually hard for a team to repeat as champions, but the Nuggets certainly have the talent.
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