In a display of cross-sport camaraderie, Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, exchanged hardwood for ice yesterday to present Nathan MacKinnon, of the Colorado Avalanche, with the Hart Memorial Trophy. The Ball Arena witnessed a standout moment as the two MVPs from the NBA and NHL shared the limelight, as reported by KDVR. MacKinnon, celebrated for an outstanding season with the Avalanche, received his accolade in front of the home crowd during the team's home opener.
The two superstars' convergence is more than just a photo-op, it symbolizes Denver's exceptional year in sports. As detailed by 9News, this rare event marked only the second time in history that the reigning NBA and NHL MVPs hailed from the same city, the first being the illustrious Magic Johnson and Wayne Gretzky in Los Angeles, back in 1989. Jokic, who has garnered NBA MVP honors three times, notably in 2021 and 2022, and again this past season, donned a No. 29 MacKinnon jersey to honor his fellow Denver sports icon.
MacKinnon, who made Avalanche history with his 140-point season and impressive 35 consecutive home game point streak — second only to Gretzky's NHL record — stood on the ice as a testament to his peerless performance last year. According to stats from The Denver Post, MacKinnon established new career highs with 51 goals and led the NHL with 405 shots on goal. His name now joins Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg as one of the illustrious Hart Trophy winners in the franchise's history.
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