As the Denver Nuggets aim to upset the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 Western Conference semifinals, memories of a historic run from three decades ago are echoing through the Mile High City — and not just for the basketball.
Back in 1994, the Nuggets made NBA playoff history by becoming the first No. 8 seed to topple a No. 1 seed when they defeated the Seattle SuperSonics. That improbable series comeback, led by a young Dikembe Mutombo, needed more than just on-court grit. It got a boost from an unlikely source — NFL Hall of Famer and Denver Broncos icon John Elway.
Facing elimination in Game 4 at home, the Nuggets brought in Elway as an honorary team captain in hopes of energizing the crowd and inspiring the players. Elway took the mic before tip-off and fired up the fans:
“Hey, we did it Monday night [in Game 3], and we’re gonna do it tonight. So let’s get ready to Mutombo!!!”
The speech, referencing the team’s shot-blocking center Dikembe Mutombo, landed like thunder in McNichols Arena. The Nuggets rode the crowd’s energy and outlasted the SuperSonics in a tense overtime victory. That set the stage for a historic Game 5, where Denver stunned Seattle on the road and rewrote playoff history.
The impact of Elway’s presence underscored the deep connection between Denver’s sports icons and its community. It was a moment where one of football’s greatest lent his championship mindset to a young basketball team on the brink — and helped fuel one of the most iconic NBA playoff upsets.
Though that Cinderella run ended in the second round with a heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the Utah Jazz, the 1994 Nuggets carved out a lasting legacy. And now, with Nikola Jokić leading a confident squad into another underdog battle, fans can’t help but wonder if history might repeat itself — with or without a cameo from a local legend.
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