The NBA has been enamored with the concept of superteams since LeBron James memorably took his skills to South Beach in 2010. If one celebrity is amazing, two superstars are much better, according to popular belief. And three all-stars? So, you may start planning the procession routes.
But, like mortgage interest rates below 3%, the superteam period may be coming to an end.
Look no further than the Western Conference champion Denver Nuggets—or their NBA Finals opponent, the Miami Heat.
The Nuggets defeated two reputed superteams on their way to their first-ever NBA Finals appearance: the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers.
You could even make a comparison between property hunting and this well-built Nuggets team. Perhaps every bell and whistle isn’t required in an ideal home. Sure, they’re entertaining for bragging rights. However, in terms of must-haves, a sturdy foundation and perhaps one high-value amenity will suffice.
And on Denver’s roster, that valued asset is All-NBA center Nikola Jokic. He wasn’t awarded the league’s MVP this season, but the previous two-time MVP will be overjoyed to forego an individual award in exchange for a championship ring.
We went deep into the Rocky Mountains on our own finals mission to scout the houses of Jokic and his teammates. While the Nuggets aren’t a superteam, their players do have access to superstar-caliber real estate.
Nikola Jokic’s residence is no laughing matter
Jokic is the Nuggets’ center, and his scoring, rebounding, and passing abilities are unrivaled in the league. In 2015, he left his home Serbia for Denver as an unheralded second-round draft pick. He’s been an All-Star and All-NBA selection for the past eight seasons, and he’s led the team to the playoffs four years in a row.
In July 2022, he signed a five-year, $270 million contract extension that will keep him in Denver until 2028, suiting his standing as one of the league’s finest players. We couldn’t discover any indication that he went house searching (again) after his large deal, but we’re very sure we’ve found where he’s settled for the time being.
In late 2021, an LLC linked to Jokic paid $4.5 million for a 29-room house in the Cherry Hills Village area. The home, which is private and gated, will be listed for $5.3 million in June 2021.
The property was described in the advertisement as a “Old World estate” with “true palatial elegance.” Perhaps such vibe appeals to the Balkans’ big man.
The 12,271-square-foot home is undeniably lavish, with marble, chandeliers, and enormous living spaces. A 12-seat home theater, a gym, and guest flats are among the luxurious features. A resort-style pool and pool house with a kitchen are located in the backyard.
The upscale suburb is about 10 miles south of downtown and is filled with multimillion-dollar residences.
Cherry Hills Village now has about 30 properties for sale, including a newly built $29 million spec mansion. If Jokic wants to increase his already luxurious living circumstances this summer, he might not have to look too far.
Jamal Murray maintains a low profile
While he may have a larger home in his native Canada, point guard Jamal Murray lives in a more modest apartment in Denver. In July 2019, an Ontario-based LLC paid $870,000 for a townhouse in the city’s Jefferson Park district.
The four-story residence was completed in 2014 and features a rooftop patio with panoramic city and mountain views.
The three-bedroom house has a lovely kitchen with bar seating, two pleasant living rooms, and a small dining area. The best part is that it’s only about a mile away from Ball Arena.
Michael Porter Jr. enjoys living in downtown Denver
Sharpshooting forward Michael Porter Jr. was drafted by the Nuggets in 2018 but took his time settling in. He chose supreme style when he eventually splurged on a downtown condo in August 2021. Porter paid $4,525,000 for a four-bedroom home in Denver’s Four Seasons Residences.
The building, which is only a 10-minute walk from the arena, is supposed to provide a “unparalleled level of service and amenities,” such as a doorman, private elevators, and a rooftop pool.
The house was first posted for $5 million in late 2019 and marketed as “the personal residence of one of the world’s most revered masters of public architecture.”
Porter purchased the condo from Curtis Fentress, the architect who developed Denver International Airport’s primary passenger terminal. Fentress is regarded as a pioneer in the field of sustainable design, and his firm has worked on a variety of projects for commercial clients, government bodies, and other airports.
The art-filled flat, which was featured in Architectural Digest in 2016, is believed to boast some of the best views in the city. There has been no word on whether Porter was able to keep the sheep.
KCP was not seen in Denver
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (aka KCP), a well-traveled guard in his first season with the Nuggets, is looking for his second championship ring—and possibly a place to remain in Denver.
He owned a modern property near the beach in Playa Vista, CA, that he offered in July 2021 for $4.95 million as a winner with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. It was sold for $4.6 million a month later, around the time the Lakers traded him to the Washington Wizards.
Following the trade, KCP bought a $4.9 million estate in Potomac, MD, in September 2021. He still owns the opulent six-bedroom mansion, which has “embassy-sized” living and dining rooms as well as a professional sport court in the back.
While there was no indication of a KCP-owned property in Colorado, the Georgia native does own an off-season home near Atlanta.
The 10,188-square-foot Sandy Springs, Georgia, mansion was custom-built on one of the largest properties in the area. Caldwell-Pope paid $1.6 million for the six-bedroom home in 2016.
Aaron Gordon has a great game in Colorado
Aaron Gordon has finished his second full season with the Nuggets, and he appears to have established himself. Off the court, we can absolutely agree that this power forward has made some powerful moves.
He felt the need for a lot of room after being traded to Denver in 2021. We’re talking about a warehouse-sized area. One of Gordon’s Denver warehouses has been turned into a live-work area, replete with a kitchen, game room, and space for his fancy cars, as seen in the video below.
Gordon paid $2.35 million for the warehouse, which is located roughly 10 miles east of downtown Denver.
Gordon most certainly also purchased at least one, if not two, warehouse spaces in Denver’s RiNo Arts District. Both properties, totaling more than 12,000 square feet, were sold for $5.71 million to a cash bidder in January 2022. The entire basketball court in the video below may be in one of those warehouses.
But if Gordon wants to live in a more traditional environment, he can always return to his typical home in Orlando, FL.
The five-bedroom Lake Tibet mansion was purchased for $3.55 million in early 2019. It includes 140 feet of coastline. Gordon recorded this modern classic while playing for the Orlando Magic, the franchise who recruited him in 2014. However, given his massive investments in Denver, it would not be surprising to see this Sunshine State refuge back on the market.
Jeff Green is constructing his ideal home
Gordon isn’t the only Nugget with Florida real estate. Jeff Green, another forward, built a dream home for his family in Pinecrest.
Green’s stunning home lacks specifications because he purchased a teardown in the South Florida town in 2017 for $1.35 million.
According to his wife’s Instagram images, the couple spent a few million extra to build a clean and modern home with a beautiful pool there.
Highlands Ranch is home to the head coach
Michael Malone took over as head coach of the Denver Nuggets at an extraordinarily fortunate time. His arrival in Denver coincided with the entrance of Jokic in 2015, and the coach has reaped the benefits of having one of the world’s top players at his disposal.
Jokic’s winning demeanor definitely makes the coach’s commute a little less painful. Malone is the squad member that lives the furthest away from the venue. He paid $1.48 million for a five-bedroom Highlands Ranch property in 2015. The suburb is located on the outskirts of the Denver metro area, roughly 20 miles south of downtown.
Malone’s 7,113-square-foot home backs up to open space and boasts breathtaking mountain vistas. A front patio, bespoke walk-in closets in the master bedroom, and a main-floor study with built-ins ready to exhibit trophies are among the high-end features. Will Malone add another by 2023?