Jamal Murray Not Allowed to Bring Larry O’Brien Trophy Home
Denver Nuggets star point guard Jamal Murray planned to bring the Larry O’Brien trophy to his hometown in Ontario, Canada. He planned on having another party to celebrate his first championship, but the Nuggets have kept the trophy locked away according to Gilbert Ngabo.
“Our owners have had it under lock and key since we won and no players or staff are allowed to take it anywhere,” the team’s media relations director Nick O’Hayre wrote in an email to the Star. “The players don’t take the trophy like the Stanley Cup; it doesn’t make rounds or get passed around.“
Every organization is different, and it makes sense that the Denver Nuggets want to keep their first championship trophy safe. However, just because they have it locked up, doesn’t mean that other teams have done the same.
The Larry O’Brien trophy went to the Republic of Congo with Serge Ibaka after the Toronto Raptors won in 2018-19. After Giannis Antetokounmpo won his first ring in 2020-21, he brought the trophy home to Greece. The 2016-17 Warriors reportedly traveled over 33,000 miles with the trophy and almost every player made an appearance with it.
Even though it is smart to be careful with such a valuable trophy, on the other hand, Murray should be able to travel with it.
Murray came back from an ACL tear last season and went on a tear with teammate Nikola Jokic last postseason. They made light work of the Western Conference and beat the Heat in five games to secure the championship. Murray and Jokic solidified themselves as the best duo in the NBA and have a chance to repeat this upcoming season.
If anybody on this Denver Nuggets squad should have the keys to the trophy case, it’s Jokic and Murray. Their contributions to this organization will never be forgotten and for that, they should be given a pass.
Who knows, if they win another one, maybe the owner Stan Kroenke will give them some much-deserved leeway.
***
