The Denver Nuggets won their first NBA title on Monday night, defeating the Miami Heat 94-89 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Nikola Jokic (7'0''-C-1995) scored 28 points to lead the Nuggets, who won the best-of-seven series 4-1. It was the team's first NBA title in 47 years in the league. The Nuggets were league runners-up in 1976 when they played in the old ABA. Denver rallied from a 51-44 halftime deficit to take the lead in the fourth quarter and held off the Heat down the stretch to clinch the title in front of the home crowd at Ball Arena. Miami fought back gamely, taking an 89-88 lead. But Bruce Brown (6'5''-SG-1996, college: Miami, FL)'s basket with 1:13 remaining in regulation gave the Nuggets the lead for good. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (6'5''-G-1993, college: Georgia) made a pair of free throws with 24 seconds to play to give the Nuggets a three-point lead. Brown added two more free throws 10 seconds later to give Denver a 94-89 lead. Michael Porter Jr. had 16 points for the Nuggets and Jamal Murray (6'4''-SG-1997, college: Kentucky) added 14. Jimmy Butler (6'7''-G/F-1989, college: Marquette) led Miami with 21 points. Bam Adebayo (6'10''-C-1997, college: Kentucky) scored 20. The Heat was trying to stay alive in the series in a quest to win their fourth NBA title. Miami won championships in 2006, 2012 and 2013.
Courtesy of: wsoctv.com

Finals MVP: Nikola Jokic (7'0''-C-1995) of Denver N.
Most Valuable Player: Joel Embiid (7'0''-C/F-1994) of Philadelphia 76
Most Improved Player: Lauri Markkanen (7'1''-F/C-1997) of Utah Jazz
Sixth Man of the Year: Malcolm Brogdon (6'5''-SG-1992) of Boston C.
Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero (6'9''-F-2002) of Orlando M.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jaren Jackson Jr. (6'11''-F/C-1999) of Memphis G.
Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year: Jrue Holiday (6'4''-G-1990) of Milwaukee B.
Hustle Award: Marcus Smart (6'4''-G-1994) of Boston C.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award: Stephen Curry (6'2''-G-1988) of GS Warriors
Clutch Player of the Year: De'Aaron Fox (6'4''-G-1997) of Sacramento K.
Coach of the Year: Michael Brown of Sacramento K.

NBA First Team 2023

Antetokounmpo

Tatum

Embiid

Doncic

Gilgeous-Alexander

First Team
Giannis Antetokounmpo (6'11''-F-1994) of Milwaukee B.
Jayson Tatum (6'8''-F/G-1998) of Boston C.
Joel Embiid (7'0''-C/F-1994) of Philadelphia 76
Luka Doncic (6'7''-G-1999) of Dallas M.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (6'6''-PG-1998) of OKC Thunder

NBA Second Team 2023

Butler

Brown

Jokic

Curry

Mitchell

Second Team
Jimmy Butler (6'7''-G/F-1989) of Miami Heat
Jaylen Brown (6'6''-G/F-1996) of Boston C.
Nikola Jokic (7'0''-C-1995) of Denver N.
Stephen Curry (6'2''-G-1988) of GS Warriors
Donovan Mitchell (6'3''-G-1996) of Cleveland C.

NBA Third Team 2023

James

Randle

Sabonis

Fox

Lillard

Third Team
LeBron James (6'8''-SF-1984) of LA Lakers
Julius Randle (6'9''-F/C-1994) of NY Knicks
Domantas Sabonis (6'10''-PF-1996) of Sacramento K.
De'Aaron Fox (6'4''-G-1997) of Sacramento K.
Damian Lillard (6'3''-PG-1990) of Portland TB

NBA All-Defensive 1st Team 2023

Jackson Jr.

Holiday

Lopez

Mobley

Caruso

All-Defensive 1st Team
Jaren Jackson Jr. (6'11''-F/C-1999) of Memphis G.
Jrue Holiday (6'4''-G-1990) of Milwaukee B.
Brook Lopez (7'0''-C-1988) of Milwaukee B.
Evan Mobley (7'0''-PF-2001) of Cleveland C.
Alex Caruso (6'5''-G-1994) of Chicago B.

NBA All-Defensive 2nd Team 2023

White

Green

Anunoby

Brooks

Adebayo

All-Defensive 2nd Team
Derrick White (6'4''-G-1994) of Boston C.
Draymond Green (6'6''-F-1990) of GS Warriors
O.G. Anunoby (6'7''-F-1997) of Toronto R.
Dillon Brooks (6'7''-G/F-1996) of Memphis G.
Bam Adebayo (6'10''-C-1997) of Miami Heat

NBA All-Rookie 1st Team 2023

Banchero

Kessler

Mathurin

Murray

Williams

All-Rookie 1st Team
Paolo Banchero (6'9''-F-2002) of Orlando M.
Walker Kessler (7'1''-C-2001) of Utah Jazz
Bennedict Mathurin (6'6''-G/F-2002) of Indiana P.
Keegan Murray (6'8''-F-2000) of Sacramento K.
Jalen Williams (6'6''-G/F-2001) of OKC Thunder

NBA All-Rookie 2nd Team 2023

Duren

Eason

Ivey

Smith II Jr.

Sochan

All-Rookie 2nd Team
Jalen Duren (6'10''-F/C-2003) of Detroit P.
Tari Eason (6'8''-F-2001) of Houston R.
Jaden Ivey (6'4''-G-2002) of Detroit P.
Jabari Smith II Jr. (6'10''-F-2003) of Houston R.
Jeremy Sochan (6'9''-F-2003) of San Antonio S.

Jayson Tatum (6'8''-F/G-1998, college: Duke) put on a record-setting show, and made Giannis Antetokounmpo (6'11''-F-1994, agency: Octagon Europe) look like a genius. Tatum scored an All-Star Game-record 55 points on his way to winning MVP honors, and Team Giannis ended LeBron James' hold on All-Star captain supremacy by beating Team LeBron 184-175 in the NBA's annual showcase exhibition on Sunday night. Tatum had 27 points in the third quarter, another All-Star Game record for any period. He was the first pick by Antetokounmpo in the starters' portion of the All-Star draft, and in the end, that pick proved to be the right one. And the MVP award Tatum was given is named for Kobe Bryant, one of his heroes. 'It means the world,' Tatum said. 'You think of all the legends and great players that have played this game, and in all honesty, records are made to be broken. I'll hold it for as long as I can, but I'm certain someone will come along in a couple years and try to break it.' Tatum broke Anthony Davis (6'10''-C-1993, college: Kentucky)' All-Star record of 52 points. He was 22 of 31 from the floor, plus had 10 rebounds and six assists. It was James' first loss in six times as captain. Antetokounmpo improved to 1-2 in his All-Star captaincies, and became the first captain to hoist a new trophy presented to the winners of the All-Star Game. 'Winner, winner, chicken dinner,' Antetokounmpo said. Later, with a more serious tone, Antetokounmpo said he had a reason for choosing Tatum. 'I knew he would take it serious. It was a no-brainer,' he said. Donovan Mitchell (6'3''-G-1996, college: Louisville) added 40 for Team Giannis, which got 26 points from Damian Lillard (6'3''-PG-1990, college: Weber St.) - including the game-winner to push his team past the target score. Jaylen Brown scored 35 points and had 14 rebounds for Team LeBron, while Kyrie Irving (6'3''-G-1992, college: Duke) had 32 points and 15 assists and Joel Embiid (7'0''-C/F-1994, college: Kansas) finished with 32 points. Brown and Tatum - Boston teammates - were reveling in a back-and-forth duel during a stretch of the second half. 'It was a normal day for us,' Tatum said. 'Just millions of people watching.' Lillard, the winner of the 3-point contest on All-Star Saturday Night, made eight 3s - including a halfcourt pullup in the third quarter. 'That was the worst basketball game I've ever seen,' Team LeBron coach Michael Malone said, clearly poking fun at the defense-optional event. Winning coach Joe Mazzulla of Team Giannis said he had a very simple strategy. 'Stay out of the way, enjoy it, have fun, allow the guys to just be themselves,' Mazzulla said. 'I think it's important, especially in this league, that guys are just able to be themselves.' The league had a ceremony before the second half to pay tribute to the three leading scorers in NBA history: No. 3 Karl Malone, No. 2 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James, now the game's career leader after he passed Abdul-Jabbar earlier this month. Malone and Abdul-Jabbar were brought to the stage, and then Dwyane Wade - James' former teammate in Miami and now a part-owner of the Jazz - introduced James to bring him onto the platform. 'We've all been witnesses,' Wade said. 'No matter the challenge, no matter the noise, he was relentless.' With the number 38,388 displayed behind him, James then raised his hand to thank the fans for their ovation, hugged Abdul-Jabbar and Malone. He didn't return to the game, his night ending with a right hand contusion. He finished with 13 points, and said a chasedown block in the first half led to him getting a finger caught in the rim. 'Precautionary reasons,' James said. James played a half. The game's other captain didn't play a half-minute. Antetokoumpo drafted his team before the game, went through warmups (such as they were) and started the game as planned. But his right wrist was wrapped, and that was an ominous sign. The injury kept him out of All-Star Saturday's skills event, limited him to 20 seconds in this one. He got an uncontested dunk to open the game, then took a foul and headed to the bench. 'Whatever I have, I'm going to give,' Antetokounmpo said. 'That's who I am. That's never going to change.' As in past years, the teams played for charity, with Team LeBron raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah and Team Giannis for Raise the Future, which connects youth waiting in foster care with stable adults. Each team started with $150,000, with the first three quarters worth another $100,000 apiece and the All-Star Game winner getting another $150,000. The teams were tied at 46-46 in the first quarter, and Team Giannis took the second quarter 53-46. Team Giannis also won the third quarter 59-49, and the cumulative score to that point - 158-141, Team Giannis - meant 182 would be the score to reach in the untimed fourth quarter with a target-score ending. Team Giannis won $550,000 for its charity, and Team LeBron won $200,000. And Tatum, just as he vowed he would at his first All-Star Game in 2020 - when the award was named for Bryant - won the trophy that he's wanted for a while.
'Icing on the cake,' Tatum said.
Courtesy of: apnews.com

Lauri Markkanen (7'1''-F/C-1997) of Utah Jazz
Donovan Mitchell (6'3''-G-1996) of Cleveland C.
Ja Morant (6'3''-G-1999) of Memphis G.
Jayson Tatum (6'8''-F/G-1998) of Boston C. MVP
Damian Lillard (6'3''-PG-1990) of Portland TB
Jrue Holiday (6'4''-G-1990) of Milwaukee B.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (6'6''-PG-1998) of OKC Thunder
DeMar DeRozan (6'7''-F/G-1989) of Chicago B.
Pascal Siakam (6'9''-F-1994) of Toronto R.
Bam Adebayo (6'10''-C-1997) of Miami Heat
Domantas Sabonis (6'10''-PF-1996) of Sacramento K.