Congratulations to the Denver Nuggets, who not only are NBA champions for the first time, but whose victory in the NBA Finals assured — since the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers are competing in the Stanley Cup Final — that this will be the fifth time ever, and second time in five seasons, we have new NBA and NHL champions.
2023: Denver Nuggets, Vegas Golden Knights/Florida Panthers
2019: Toronto Raptors, St. Louis Blues
1999: San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Stars
1991: Chicago Bulls, Pittsburgh Penguins
1989: Detroit Pistons, Calgary Flames
In 2019, Major League Baseball followed up the first-timers in basketball and hockey by crowning the Washington Nationals as World Series champions for the first time. That wasn’t the case in 1999 (Yankees), 1991 (Twins), or 1989 (A’s), but the 1999 NFL season did end with the St. Louis Rams winning their first and only Super Bowl (in January 2000).
The other NFL seasons ended with Kansas City, Washington, and San Francisco winning Super Bowls, so we’ve never had a year where all four major sports’ seasons ended with new champs. Could this be the year? We’re halfway there.
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