When it All Comes Down to it, Greatness Looks a Lot Like Denver

“Just do what must be done. This may not be happiness, but it is greatness.”
– George Bernard Shaw

There was a pass from Nikola Jokic to Cam Johnson in the second preseason game of the Denver Nuggets preseason that didn’t make the first round of game highlights that evening because Johnson missed the shot that followed, but the act of getting the ball there was one more masterstroke in Joker’s career opus. It’s not hard to see why he’s the “best player on the planet” when it comes to bending the other side to whatever your will is. Watch Joker bend Johnson’s man in to his own gravity on this play…

Incredible. Greatness on the field or court feels a lot like the way people describe great art… “I know it when I see it.” And boy, is the Mile High City seeing it, in a lot of greatness from their teams in this golden era of Denver sports.

Greatness looks a lot like Nathan MacKinnon passing Joe Sakic for the most points scored in an Avalanche uniform (and he still even may catch up with Super Joe’s overall total yet).

Greatness looks a lot like the Denver Broncos hanging 18 points in the fourth quarter on the NFL’s defending champs for a come-from-behind win.

It looks a lot like Jamal Murray moving on a court like it’s June instead of October.

It looks a lot like opposing quarterbacks steering away from Pat Surtain II as if they might lose more than the football by doing so.

Greatness looks a lot like Eric Johnson’s retirement quotes, extolling the notion that attitude and effort are controllable and that being a good teammate and person requires no talent.

Greatness looks a lot like Bo Nix never dropping belief or encouragement after three points in three quarters, then taking his meager passer rating and turning it into the highest passer rating against Philly this year so far.

Greatness looks a lot like the eight points that Cale Makar, Arturi Lehkonen, Martin Nećas and MacK put up in a 4-1 win that felt more like 10-0.

It also looks a lot like the hit that Brock Nelson put on Cody Ceci in front of the benches, which seemed even more demoralizing that his assist in Game 1.

Greatness looks a lot like Christian Braun having yet to miss a shot this preseason, going 10-10 in his first two games.

Greatness looks a lot like the eight receptions for 99 yards Courtland Sutton hung this last weekend, bringing his per-game average up above 70 yards per game, even with a 6-yard stinker in Week 2.

It looks a lot like the Avs revitalized defense, who shut the Kings out until a meaningless power play goal with less than five minutes left in the game, with it long-before decided.

It looks a lot like the +23 Cam Johnson hit the Raptors with in his second game with his new team, the Jokic masterpass not withstanding.

It looks a lot like Sean Payton imploring the postgame bus driver to take a route through the heart of Philadelphia on the way out of town after the most meaningful win of his not-so-long Broncos career.

Greatness looks a lot like three of Denver’s four major teams being in the conversation as contenders, even if none of them end up bringing that title home this year. It looks a lot like garnering that attention, excitement, and praise from local fans and national pundits alike. It looks a lot like the attention to detail it takes from the superstar to the towel boy to make things of this nature happen, and keep happening.

Greatness looks a lot like Denver sports in this amazing era. And man… is that f—ing great.