Dever and Miami for the Ring. But the NBA final is not just Jokic vs. Butler

At Colfax Avenue and Race Street in Denver, Colorado, artist Detour has already painted a mural featuring Nikola Jokic. She didn’t use photos or anything. “Just the imagination,” said those who stopped to watch him spray paint. This says a lot about how much the Nuggets are now imprinted on everyone’s mind in Denver. For these 2023 Finals they will face off against Miami.

The Heats were in danger of falling on the wrong side of history. They could have become the first team in American basketball to come back in a series from a 3-0 lead, but instead they went on to take a place in the seventh game against Boston in the finals, the seventh they will play. It was a promise that Jimmy Butler, the star, had done to himself and to all the fans of the Heats a year ago, when they lost the Conference final against Boston. “We will come back here and next time we will win”.

Denver versus Miami, so. But also two gazes in comparison. The first is that of Jokic, of course. He’s the one who led the Nuggets to the final for the first time in their history. Jokic perfectly embodies what is happening in Denver: from second pick in the 2014 draft to Nurkic’s reserve, up to becoming the beacon of Denver’s attack. Nevertheless. “Basketball is not the main thing in my life and probably never will be. And to be honest, I have something more important at home than basketball. Becoming a father confirmed something I already knew: that basketball is not the thing I care about the most.” The Jokić family is originally from Sombor. His father, Branislav, an agricultural engineer, played basketball, while his mother, Rada, practiced athletics. Both have always supported Nikola. Jokic is now close to the milestone of a lifetime. But it is this indifference of him that reveals his greatness. “I didn’t see Game 5 in Boston, I was taking a walk with my daughter. Game 6? I’m not sure, maybe I’ll watch a piece with my daughter.” Djokovic took the trouble for him: “Jokic is the pride of Serbia. We are so proud of him. Let’s hope he can win his first ring”.

On the other hand, the symbol of the Heat is Jimmy Butler. He did everything to bring Miami back to the Finals. In 2020 he had bowed to the Los Angeles Lakers of LeBron James. This time it’s different. Or so he thinks. “We don’t play just to win the Eastern Conference. We play to win everything”. Butler’s is a story of redemption. A childhood marked by economic difficulties, an absent father, a mother with addiction problems. “I don’t want to be just a basketball player. I want to be a leader and an example to others. I want to leave a positive impact on people and make a difference in the lives of others.” Butler is an optimist. “I know why I coach Pat and coach Spo wanted me here, and it’s to compete at a high level and win the title. They put a group around me that gives me the opportunity to do it. So that’s why I’ve always been confident.”