NBA Commissioner Adam Silver "doled out congratulations" as the Nuggets received their championship rings last night, and "a triumphant Queen anthem blasted over the sound system when the team’s first championship banner was raised to the Ball Arena rafters." A sellout crowd of 19,842 included Colorado football coach Deion Sanders and his son, CU Shedeur Sanders. Nuggets C Nikola Jokić "barely watched the festivities" and "opted against a pregame speech, instead offering perfunctory handshakes and graciously patting his chest to the crowd." During the ceremony, the team wore "special white-and-gold warmup jackets with 'World Champions' emblazoned across the back," and fans seated in the lower level "held up papier-mâché replicas of the championship trophy." The team then went on to notch a 119-107 victory over the Lakers (WASHINGTON POST, 10/24).
The Nuggets' rings were designed by Jason of Beverly Hills and "featured a pullout of the championship banner and blue gems behind the Nuggets' logo on the ring's face." The team's logo is "embossed in over 16 carats of diamonds, rubies and blue sapphires to represent the team's colors." Sixteen carats is also a "nod to the number of playoff wins" it takes to win an NBA title. A "hidden, retractable compartment" slides out of the side of the ring to unveil the title banner. The ring ceremony "started with a recap video of the 2022-23 season" while "wristbands given to each fan twinkled with yellow and blue lights" (USA TODAY, 10/24).
The Nuggets "kept things brief" during their ring and banner ceremony. Coach Michael Malone and F Aaron Gordon "gave punctual speeches" before the banner was raised. The "loudest collective cheer" came while broadcaster Vic Lombardi was summarizing Denver’s playoff run, including a sweep of the visiting Lakers (DENVER POST, 10/24).
