We will be watching NBA highlights from 2023 for decades to come — this became a year of firsts and historical moments for the Association. The Denver Nuggets’ first title. LeBron James became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. The first In-Season Tournament (we’ll see how that one holds up).
What games will we remember from 2023? Here’s a list of seven games we will not soon forget.
1) May 22: Jokic shot over AD symbolizes Nuggets title run
If one game and one shot could sum up Nikola Jokic’s play during the Denver Nuggets run to its first NBA title, it was this one over the Lakers’ Anthony Davis in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals.
To set the stage, the Nuggets were up 3-0 in the series but LeBron James was not about to let his team get swept out of the playoffs on his home court — he scored 40 with four 3-pointers plus 10 assists. It was as good as LeBron was all year — which is saying something. However, Jokic is the best player in the world right now and reminded everyone of that with one shot.
The look on Anthony Davis’ face after that bucket says it all.
Jokic went on to have a triple-double of 30 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists in that Game 4, plus he hit the game-winner. The Nuggets swept the Lakers out of the playoffs and went on to knock off the Heat in five games in the NBA Finals, where Jokic was named Finals MVP.
Then he went back to Serbia to hang with his horses.
2) February 7: LeBron becomes NBA’s all-time leading scorer
For LeBron James, 2023 was about legacy building — strengthening his GOAT case — and nothing added to that more than when he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
It was an emotional moment, one LeBron wanted to happen in front of the home Los Angeles crowd. After the bucket, he raised his hands to the air in celebration, but seconds later the moment washed over him and he doubled over with emotion, his hands on his knees. The game was stopped for a few minutes to celebrate, with both Abdul-Jabbar and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver coming out on the floor for a short ceremony.
As for LeBron’s legacy, Yahoo Sports’…
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