This rise, long, slow and difficult because the Nuggets refused to skip steps in their climb toward championship contention, could not have happened without the smarts, stubbornness and teamwork of two men embraced in a big bro-hug outside the Denver locker room.
“He’s the NBA coach of the year. For sure. 100 percent,” said Tim Connelly, architect of a Nuggets roster whose strength is the organic growth of players who take a started-from-the-bottom-now-we’re-here pride in wearing a Denver uniform.
Basking in the glow of a victory that earned Denver a division title for the first time since 2010, coach Michael Malone responded to kudos from the boss by squeezing Connelly tighter and offering an endorsement of his own.