DENVER — Colorado celebrated a professional sports championship for the second time in a year with a parade through the Mile High City on Thursday.
The Denver Nuggets celebrated their first NBA Finals victory with a parade and rally Thursday morning.
"I've dreamt about this moment since I got here eight years ago," Nuggets head coach Mike Malone said at the rally. "Nuggets Nation let's do it again, we're not satisfied. We don't want one, we want two."
"You want to do this again? Let's do this," Malone said before he started chanting "dynasty."
Malone also said that Bruce Brown, who has a player option for next season, isn't going to leave.
"Is Brucy B going anywhere? Hell no," Malone said. "We gon' run this **** back"
"You guys know he stat pads right?" Malone joked while introducing Nikola Jokic. "This guy right here is an amazing player, and I hope you all know that him, Natalija, their daughter, their brothers, their family are a huge part of Denver."
Jokic spoke for less than a minute, but he left fans with a memorable quote.
"You know I told that I don't want to stay on parade, but I ******* want to stay on parade," Jokic said "This is the best."
>Watch full parade coverage below:
>Watch the full rally below:
During the parade, some of Nuggets players got out of the firetrucks to join fans on the streets including Bruce Brown, Jeff Green, DeAndre Jordan, Ish Smith and Christian Braun.
Malone was also seen signing a shoe on his firetruck, and having more thrown at him after returning it.
A Denver SWAT officer was taken to the hospital after suffering serious injuries when he was hit by the firetruck carrying Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
Shortly after fter the parade let out, Denver Police said officers were investigating a double shooting downtown in the area of 17th and Curtis Streets.
Pre-rally events began in Civic Center at 9 a.m. GRiZ, Big Gigantic and Paws The Music were scheduled to perform live.
The Denver Nuggets championship parade began at 10 a.m. Thursday at Union Station.
There was also a live video from the parade broadcasted on screens at Civic Center. The parade arrived at Civic Center and the Denver City and County Building around noon.
When the parade arrived at Civic Center, the City and County of Denver hosted a rally honoring the 2023 NBA champion Denver Nuggets. Those who were scheduled to appear at the rally at the Denver City and County Building included:
- Denver Nuggets players, coaches, management
- Nuggets owners Stan and Josh Kroenke
- Denver Mayor Michael Hancock
- Colorado civic leaders
- Super Mascot Rocky
- Denver Nuggets Dancers
- Skyline Drumline
- Nuggets public address announcer Kyle Speller
- Mile High City Hype Squad
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