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SALT LAKE CITY — Finally, the NBA crowned a champion that provides at least a glimmer of hope for the dozens of teams that also toil in relative obscurity.
The Denver Nuggets beat the Miami Heat in the Finals by a series score of 4-1, amazingly becoming the first Western Conference champion since 1979 not from Texas or California. Since the long-gone Seattle SuperSonics captured the title 43 years ago until now, all the Western winners hailed from Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.
Never mind that it took the Nuggets 47 years to win their first title; the fact is, they pulled off a rarity in the NBA. Yes, it's about time a team from a cold-weather city located far from all the glamour spots can lay claim to a championship.
The overriding premise here is Denver's title represents a net positive for most NBA teams that have not enjoyed the ultimate success. If the Nuggets can do it, the same goes for the rest of the league.
"Denver built this the right way," former Jazz president Steve Starks wrote in a tweet.
Believe the dream, Jazz fans. Down the line, Colorado's celebration could happen on our side of the mountains.
Examining the way the Nuggets constructed their roster provides insight into the reality of a champion. The first requirement is success through the NBA draft, followed by astute trades, and the ability to scour the world for unheralded talent.
Virtually all NBA champions share one thing in common: they need a superstar to lead the way; they also have a secondary star, followed by a host of role players with the ability to make significant contributions.
In center Nikola Jokic, Denver has the NBA's best player. Any opposing argument is more about an agenda than it is in comparing talent.
Jokic is the rare breed of superstar, laced in humility with the capability of dominating a game across the box score. As the confetti dropped down on the stage inside Ball Arena after the championship-clinching game, the delirious home crowd chanted in unison "MVP" as commissioner Adam Sliver presented Jokic with the trophy that comes with being the best player in the Finals.
Typically, Jokic practically ignored any personal accomplishments in favor of focusing on the collective: "We're not winning for ourselves, we're winning for the guy next to us," he said during the ceremony.
To think, every team with a draft pick in the first round passed on taking Jokic in the 2014 NBA draft. The then-pudgy, lightly-regarded prospect from Serbia lasted until the 41st pick before Denver struck gold. Eight years later, Jokic became the lowest-drafted player to win the Finals MVP award.
Imagine if the Jazz had seen something in Jokic instead of drafting Dante Exum with the fifth pick and then Rodney Hood at No. 23. To be fair, to name three random players, other NBA executives thought the likes of Noah Vonleh, Adreian Payne and Bruno Caboclo were worthy of being drafted in the first round.
Two years after landing Jokic, the Nuggets got Jamal Murray at No. 7 in the first round. Kris Dunn and Dragan Bender were two players taken before Murray who failed to live up to the draft selection.
Together, Jokic and Murray formed the tandem that all teams need to compete at the highest level. They became the first duo in NBA history to average 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in a single playoff.
The remaining roster complemented the two stars as necessary, taking turns shining at various times during the regular season and playoffs. A significant amount of credit also goes to coach Michael Malone for expertly managing all the pieces.
The team-first concept, created through outstanding management decisions, provided the path to an NBA championship. The blueprint is there for any other team fortunate enough to end the season with a champagne shower.
