Bruce Brown (11) of the Denver Nuggets slam dunks in the second quarter during Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat at Ball Arena in Denver on June 12, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Bruce Brown (11) of the Denver Nuggets slam dunks in the second quarter during Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat at Ball Arena in Denver on June 12, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
As champagne flowed and cigar smoke filled the Nuggets’ home locker room, Bruce Brown couldn’t help but revel and soak in the moment.
“I want to stay,” he told The Denver Post.
“Look at us,” he said. “Celebrating the Finals, winning the Finals. This is what you come to the NBA for, to win at the highest level.”
Brown has a player option for next season worth $6.8 million. If he declines it, the most the Nuggets can offer is $7.7 million. Asked why he wanted to return, Brown was effusive about the culture Denver’s established.
“It’s a perfect fit,” Brown said. “And money is not everything. The money will come. So I’m not worried about that right now.”
Michael Porter Jr. raved about the teammate Brown was, hinting that he was due a significant payday.
“Bruce has been huge for us all playoffs,” Porter said. “We’re excited for him because he’s going to get paid. He’s going to get paid. … We just kept telling him be aggressive, even though his first half didn’t go amazing making shots-wise. He hit that big bucket down the stretch, made those two free throws. He was amazing for us all Playoffs. It wasn’t just tonight.”
Brown was initially teammates with Jeff Green in Brooklyn, and it was Green who helped recruit him in free agency.
“This locker room (is special),” he said. “Everybody can get on anybody. We hold each other accountable. Ain’t nobody gonna take it personal.”
Brown, whose put-back offensive rebound with 1:30 left Monday night helped secure the Nuggets’ first championship, couldn’t believe how dominant Denver had been throughout the playoffs.
“That’s insane,” he said of Denver’s 16-4 playoff record. “That doesn’t happen. … Why not run it back?”
