The Los Angeles Lakers might have their eyes on the Denver Nuggets this week, but Nuggets coach Michael Malone believes that the defending NBA champions hold nothing but respect for his team. Despite the trash talk from Malone and the Nuggets all summer, Malone believes that the Lakers have turned the page from their Western Conference finals sweep. “Oh, they’re talking about us? That was what, four months ago?” Malone remarked after practice at the Nuggets’ training camp. He expressed that if the Lakers are still preoccupied with the Nuggets, it is their concern and not the Nuggets’ responsibility. Malone acknowledges the tremendous challenge that the Lakers posed during the series, even though it resulted in a 4-0 sweep. He also emphasizes the respect he has for Lakers assistant coach Darvin Ham and the job he did. Malone chooses not to pay attention to any external noise and remains focused on the new season ahead.
The Nuggets and Lakers will surely bring added excitement to the season opener on October 24th in Denver. Lakers star Anthony Davis revealed during media day that the trash talk from the Nuggets after their playoff sweep served as motivation for him. While acknowledging the Nuggets’ victory, Davis expressed eagerness to face them again alongside his teammate LeBron James. However, during the Western Conference finals, Malone noted that the narrative centered more around the Lakers than his own team. He believes that the media overshadowed the Nuggets, shifting the focus onto their Finals opponent, the Miami Heat. Malone made it clear that the Nuggets were still in the game, and if anyone was still discussing the Lakers, it was their choice. Despite the Lakers being the center of attention, Malone’s team proved their resilience and made an impressive playoff run.
The playoffs brought about some interesting interactions between the two teams. During the Denver championship parade, Malone was playfully introduced as “the Lakers’ daddy,” adding a lighthearted touch to the rivalry. Malone also jokingly contemplated retirement after the win when interviewed on “The Pat McAfee Show,” in response to James considering retirement during the offseason. Additionally, former Nuggets forward Bruce Brown expressed confidence that they would not lose any game against the Lakers during the conference finals. These remarks by the Nuggets caught the attention of the Lakers, with swingman Austin Reaves stating that it was obvious the comments were aimed at them. The rivalry and the banter between the two teams became a hot topic of discussion among fans and the media.
As the new season approaches, Malone wasted no time in asserting that the Nuggets are leaving last season in the past. Their focus is on the future and the aim to repeat their success. The Nuggets will, however, have one more night of celebration as they receive their championship rings and raise the championship banner before facing the Lakers in the season opener. Despite their recent matchups in the Western Conference finals, Malone does not view the Lakers as their main rival. He compares the historical rivalries such as Boston-L.A. and the Knicks-Miami Heat when discussing what he considers to be true rivalries. Nevertheless, Malone remains focused on the upcoming seasons and the challenges they may bring.
The Nuggets-Lakers matchup in the season opener carries an additional layer of excitement due to the previous postseason encounters and the back-and-forth banter between the two teams. While the Lakers have moved on from their Western Conference finals defeat, the Nuggets take pride in their accomplishments and use the trash talk as motivation to improve. With the start of a new season, both teams aim to make their mark and establish their dominance in the NBA. Whether or not a true rivalry exists between the Nuggets and Lakers, the season opener promises to be an intense battle on the court.
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