Denver Nuggets Make Strange Decision With Championship Trophy

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Denver Nuggets star Jamal Murray was hoping to bring the 2023 Larry O'Brian trophy to his home town, but hasn't been allowed to do so. In a report from Gilbert Ngabo of the Toronto Star, it was revealed that the Nuggets have kept the trophy locked down since the parade.
"Our owners have had it under lock and key since we won and no players or staff are allowed to take it anywhere," Nuggets media relations director Nick O’Hayre reportedly told Toronto Star. "The players don’t take the trophy like the Stanley Cup; it doesn’t make rounds or get passed around."
This is a strange decision, because previous championship teams have allowed their players to travel with the trophy. While it makes sense that the Nuggets would not want it to get lost, this decision seems a bit extreme when a player like Murray wanted to bring the trophy home.
With this being Denver's first championship in franchise history, that trophy is understandably being taken care of, but it still seems overprotective to keep it locked down for the entire summer. That said, it's likely that Murray and other players are understanding, as the Nuggets want to ensure the trophy remains in their possession.
Looking to defend their title with another one next season, maybe Nuggets player will be able to take that trophy home.
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Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA and WNBA for On SI. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined On SI to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts and in the classroom earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time, primarily serving as a Clippers beat writer.