Denver Nuggets issue odd restriction for players after championship win

Just over three months ago, the Denver Nuggets captured their first-ever NBA championship, after they took down the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. The Nuggets were able to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy in front of the home fans at Ball Arena, then took it for a ride around town during the team’s championship parade.

Since then, that trophy has reportedly gone absolutely nowhere, as Denver’s ownership hasn’t allowed any of the players or staff to take it anywhere.

“Our owners have had it under lock and key since we won and no players or staff are allowed to take it anywhere,” Nuggets media relations director Nick O’Hayre told Gilbert Ngabo of the Toronto Star. “The players don’t take the trophy like the Stanley Cup; it doesn’t make rounds or get passed around.”

Jamal Murray had hoped to bring the Denver Nuggets’ championship trophy home to Canada

Denver’s trophy rule came to light after Jamal Murray was reportedly told that he would be unable to bring it to his hometown of Kitchener in Canada — something he’d vowed to do after the Nuggets capped off their run to the title.

“It means a lot for that kind of support [in Kitchener]. I’m bringing that Larry O’ to Kitchener,” Murray said to Sportsnet’s Arash Madani back in June.

Had the Nuggets allowed their players some time with the trophy, then it could’ve made quite the journey this summer. Murray would’ve brought it home to Canada, Nikola Jokic would’ve likely taken it to Serbia to show to his horses, and Vlatko Cancar could’ve introduced Larry O’Brien to Slovenia since Luka Doncic hasn’t done so just yet.