This week, the Los Angeles Lakers might still have the Denver Nuggets on their minds, but according to Denver coach Michael Malone, the defending NBA champions have nothing but respect for the Lakers and have moved on from their sweep of L.A. in the Western Conference finals.
Malone was asked on Wednesday about recent comments from some Lakers players regarding his team and how they’ve been motivated by trash talk from him and the Nuggets throughout the summer.
He responded, “Oh, they’re talking about us? That was what, four months ago?” Malone said during practice at the Nuggets’ training camp at UC San Diego. “I can’t speak for anybody in L.A. But if they’re still worried about us, that’s their concern.
“This is a new season, a new challenge, and it was a hard-fought series against them. I know it was a 4-0 sweep, but all those games seemed like they went down to the wire. We have immense respect for that team. I hold great respect for Darvin Ham as a coach and for his job. But yeah, I don’t pay attention to any of that noise. I’m not aware of what they’re saying, and if we’re occupying their thoughts, then I suppose that’s their issue.”
The season opener between the Nuggets and Lakers in Denver on October 24 is bound to have extra intensity. Lakers star Anthony Davis mentioned during Monday’s media day that the trash talk from the Nuggets after they swept the Lakers was “motivational.”
Davis stated, “There was just so much of that going on. It was like, ‘All right, we get it, y’all won.’ But me and [LeBron James] had some conversations like, ‘We can’t wait [to play them again].'”
During the Western Conference finals, Malone felt that the narrative was more about the Lakers than the Nuggets. After the sweep, Malone was asked whether he thought the Nuggets would be overshadowed by their Finals opponent, the Miami Heat, similar to the way the national conversation was dominated by the Lakers during the conference finals.
“If anybody is still talking about the Lakers in the NBA Finals, that’s on them. They’ve gone fishing. We’re still playing,” Malone said before the Finals.
Malone playfully referred to himself as “the Lakers’ daddy” at the Denver championship parade. Additionally, during an interview on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Malone humorously mentioned contemplating retirement after the victory, a response to James stating during the offseason that he was considering retirement.
Former Nuggets forward Bruce Brown, who signed with the Indiana Pacers as a free agent during the offseason, suggested on the “Run Your Race” podcast in July that “it never felt like we were gonna lose any game” when asked about the close contests against the Lakers in the conference finals.
Lakers swingman Austin Reaves commented on the Nugget’s remarks, saying, “I think everybody knows it was pointed at us. They can do it indirectly if they want, but I think it was obvious to the public. That’s why everybody was talking about it.”
James posted on his Instagram in June without naming Malone, his former assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers, saying, “I hear I’m on your mind that much, huh??? I mean I guess I see why … Enjoy your light but just know I’m the SUN.”
During Monday’s media day, Malone made it clear that Denver is leaving last season in the past and focusing on trying to repeat. The Nuggets, however, will have one more night of celebration when they receive their championship rings and raise the banner before facing the Lakers in the opener.
As for whether there’s a budding rivalry between the Lakers and Nuggets, who have met in the Western Conference finals twice since 2020, Malone’s answer is a resounding no.
“That’s not a rivalry,” Malone stated. “I mean, you can’t face a team in the Western Conference finals twice in the last couple of years and call it a rivalry.
“When I think of rivalry, I think Boston-L.A. I think of the Knicks and the Miami Heat back in the day. But I’m not either welcoming or rejecting it with the Lakers. I’m focused on 2023-’24. I’m not dwelling on four months ago.”
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