


Nuggets fans still can’t get enough of beating Lakers, apparently.
During Tuesday night’s 119-107 opening-night win, Denver fans at Ball Arena let the Lakers hear it when a “Who’s your daddy?” chant rang out.
The Nuggets swept the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals last year en route to their first NBA title in franchise history.
The NBA title win over the Heat didn’t come without plenty of fanfare, however, as Lakers star LeBron James said during the series that he was contemplating retirement.
Denver head coach Mike Malone didn’t seem to be a fan of the timing of it all.
“Speaking of the Lakers, I just want you guys to know — this is breaking news — I’m thinking about retiring so don’t tell anybody,” Malone said jokingly on the “Pat McAfee Show” after the Nuggets won the title.
During the Nuggets’ championship parade and celebration, Altitude Sports host Vic Lombardi even took a shot at the Lakers when he introduced Malone.
“He came into this world as the son of a coach, but in these playoffs, he became the Lakers’ daddy,” Lombardi said.
But not long after that, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham clapped back at Denver.
“Oh, wow. You’re gonna bring up Money Mike, man? The Lakers’ daddy? That’s what they call him now? The Lakers’ daddy?” Ham said on the “#thisleague UNCUT” podcast with NBA reporters Marc Stein and Chris Haynes.
“God bless his soul,” Ham added. “This s–t ain’t over. God bless his soul.”
But, before the season opener, Nuggets players said they weren’t focusing on any offseason beef.
“I’m not sure about the offseason talk,” Michael Porter Jr. said Monday, according to the Denver Post. “I haven’t heard anything.”
“That’s all for you guys,” Jamal Murray added. “I just go play basketball and have fun.”
The Nuggets and their fans seemed to have plenty of fun with a ring ceremony and a Game 1 win Tuesday.