There were seemingly no tears, or if there were, they were sufficiently disguised. The Nuggets kept things brief during their ring and banner ceremony Tuesday night at Ball Arena before opening the season against the Lakers.
Jamal Murray did the Blue Arrow as he walked out to receive his ring. The crowd completely drowned out Altitude broadcaster Vic Lombardi as he introduced Nikola Jokic (last but not least in the ring reception order, of course). Murray jokingly pretended to throw his ring to somebody in the stands as the ceremony ended. And Aaron Gordon and Michael Malone gave punctual speeches before a banner sporting the Larry O’Brien trophy was raised into the rafters.
“You guys have been the best fans in the NBA for eight years. We appreciate that,” Malone said. “Last year was amazing. We’ve got one ring. Who wants another?”
Fans gave commissioner Adam Silver the draft treatment, booing him. They were taken by Gordon’s charisma as A.G. spoke on behalf of the players. “Since last season ended in Denver,” he said, “it only makes sense that this season starts in Denver, too.”
But the loudest collective cheer, at least while Lombardi was summarizing Denver’s playoff run, came in response to the words, “…swept the Lakers.”
There was no better indication that it was time for basketball to played once again.
New jersey patch sponsor
The Nuggets unveiled cash-back rewards provider Ibotta as their new jersey patch sponsor Tuesday, succeeding six-year team partner Western Union.
Ibotta, a Denver-based tech company, will be featured on Ball Arena signage and on all Nuggets game and practice jerseys for the next three seasons, according to a news release.
“Having been founded and headquartered here in Denver since 2011, we are deeply committed to our local community and thrilled to have a partner that shares our love for the city,” Ibotta founder Bryan Leach said in a statement.
Lakers’ Ham: No more motivation for Nuggets than others
Anthony Davis and LeBron James might have had “conversations,” but their coach didn’t go into Tuesday night’s opener viewing the Nuggets with any more competitiveness than he would any other team.
At least, that’s how Darvin Ham put it at least when asked pregame about all the offseason talk preceding this Nuggets-Lakers rematch on national TV.
“(Motivation) is just for all other 29 teams, for us to go out and begin, start the journey on the right foot, and be prepared for whoever is standing in front of us, whether it’s the Nuggets, the Suns, the Clippers, whoever. Orlando,” Ham said. “It’s every other team in the NBA. It’s not about making it personal or being emotional about it.”
When asked again about the trash talk narrative, Malone said: “I don’t think (there’s extra motivation) for us. I think for them, there is. That’s what you’re hearing at least. They’re upset about things that were said or done over the course of the summer. I guess if that’s their motivation, then so be it. But for us, we understand that we’re playing against a team that had the second-best record post-All Star break. And what Darvin Ham did with that team last year, he did a tremendous coaching job.”
Ex-Nuggets veteran finds new home
Ish Smith, who won his first NBA championship with the Nuggets last season, found a home for 2023-24 by signing with the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday, the team announced. Smith, 35, has been available in free agency since July. Denver was his record 13th different team in the NBA, a number that will not increase with his latest move. Smith played in 37 games for the Hornets in 2021-22.
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