Whereas, on June 12, 2023, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat by a score of 94 to 89 in an extraordinary game 5 of the National Basketball Association (referred to in this preamble as the NBA ) Finals at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, and won the 2023 Larry O'Brien Trophy; Whereas the Denver Nuggets entered the playoffs ranked as the number 1 seed in the Western Conference for the first time in franchise history; Whereas the Denver Nuggets won 10 of their final 11 games in the 2023 playoffs and had the second fewest playoff losses of an NBA champion in a single postseason in the last 20 years; Whereas the Denver Nuggets won the NBA championship after years of injury-riddled seasons for key players and disappointing playoff losses; Whereas the Denver Nuggets allowed only 18 points to the Miami Heat in the final quarter of game 5 of the NBA finals, snuffing out any comeback attempt by the Miami Heat; Whereas Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, selected in the second round of the 2014 NBA draft by Denver, won the 2023 Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award and became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in points, rebounds, and assists during a single postseason; Whereas Denver Nuggets players Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray became the first pair of teammates to combine for 300 assists and 1,000 points in a single postseason; Whereas the Denver Nuggets became the second original American Basketball Association franchise, along with the San Antonio Spurs, to win an NBA championship; Whereas the championship victory for the Denver Nuggets was their first in franchise history since the team was founded in Denver in 1967; Whereas the Denver Nuggets have the most seasons as an NBA franchise before winning their first championship (46 years); Whereas Michael Malone, Calvin Booth, and the entire team of coaches and staff were instrumental in developing the dynamic, free-flowing offense and stifling defense of the Denver Nuggets, and have fostered a positive, selfless team spirit