DENVER — The Damian Lillard trade from Portland to Milwaukee sent shockwaves around the NBA and beyond.
In Las Vegas, the sportsbooks have installed the Lillard and Giannis Antentokounmpo tandem as the favorites to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy in the upcoming 2023-24 season.
But whatever shake-up is going on out East should not dip the confidence meter of the defending champions Denver Nuggets — who despite losing Bruce Brown to free agency — will be returning with their Big 3 of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon.
After finishing the 2022-23 season with a 53-29 record, the Nuggets went on to win the franchise’s first-ever title after a 47-year drought with a 4-1 romp over the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.
Center Nikola Jokic had an MVP season after averaging 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 9.8 assists per. He was also honored as Finals MVP.
The official line-up of the Nuggets for the 2023-24 NBA wars is expected to be formally announced on Media Day on October 2 at the Ball Arena in downtown Denver.
