Denver, CO
Stephen A. Smith does not want to return to Denver for NBA Finals
The Boston Celtics won their 11th straight on Sunday and the Denver Nuggets vaulted into first place mid-afternoon thanks to some help and on the back of their own six-game winning streak.
The NBA seems to be shaping up for an NBA Finals matchup the world just missed out on last year, the Celtics against the Nuggets. And what could be better than finally seeing the leprechauns take on the pickaxes, they’ve easily been the two best teams in basketball the last handful of years. For Stephen A. Smith, a trip to Texas seems more appealing than what would be that incredible series.
“I’m not coming around to that (going to Denver,)” he said on ABC on Sunday after Boston’s win. “I’m holding out for the Clippers, I’m holding out hope for Dallas.”
The clip in question: pic.twitter.com/GAYyfItGUL
— Grace Marlowe (@graceofthecurls) March 4, 2024
ABC has the rights to the NBA Finals, and the whole barrage of buffoons who have said brainless things in the past, descended on the Mile High City last summer only to see the Nuggets go 16-4 en route to the club’s first championship. Later in the summer, ESPN fired two separate members of their main broadcast booth, who possibly not so coincidentally, had been cruel to Jokic in the past. A third ESPN broadcaster who has been highly critical of Jokic in the past was also demoted down the broadcast team depth chart.
It’s Smith’s second time in less than 24 hours that he has been upset by the Nuggets success. The outspoken star of ESPN unloaded on the Lakers after the Nuggets win in Los Angeles on Saturday night. On ABC’s postgame show, he gave almost zero credit to Denver for beating LeBron James’ crew for an eighth-straight time and focused solely on how the Lakers championship aspirations are not being met.
Smith seems to be just another in the long line of ESPN commentators who have begrudged against Denver’s success at best and have straight-up sabotaged it at worst. On top of the gripes about Jokic and the Nuggets now comes some weak hate for the city of Denver.
A city by the way that loves sports so much that it’s the center of the country’s smallest metro area to host a team in all five major North American leagues.
And Colorado certainly seemed good enough for Smith when he sent First Take and every other ESPN show on the road to Boulder for a weekend with Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes last fall. A few months later he’d throw out Deion Sanders’ name as a possible Nick Saban replacement at Alabama. Smith said while discrediting the state and insinuating success in the state wouldn’t be real, “Go ahead and be happy in Boulder, Colorado. God bless you… I was there twice in my life and the only reason for that was him.”
But Smith wouldn’t be the first one to prefer Dallas and other cities over Denver, FIFA did the same when they picked World Cup hosting sites for the 2026 event. Though, in that case, the arena size made sense whereas on the hardwood, the Mavericks failed to make it to the playoffs last year and the Nuggets haven’t been that low since 2018.
A few years later now, we may have the answer to a couple of questions we had earlier in Denver’s build to this title team. Would Jokic need to become an All-Star or even an MVP to get a better whistle? He has done each and the whistle has not followed. And would Jokic’s Nuggets need to win a title to garner league-wide respect? The team accomplished their ring and for a short time had that respect but less than a year later, it’s almost all but been forgotten by the league’s main broadcast partner.
It’s these questions and answers that led to Michael Malone’s legendary vindictive quotes during and after the Nuggets playoff run. And it’s this very attitude by ESPN and their broadcasters that had the entire city of Denver boo-ing a member of the four-letter network’s crew, Lisa Salters, as she handed Jokic his Finals MVP.
Well here the Nuggets are again, back at the top of the West and the NBA’s biggest partner is vocally once more.
Maybe NBA star Kevin Durant said it the best one time on Twitter, “NBA fans don’t like anything about the NBA and it’s weird.”
DENVER (KDVR) — More sunny and hot conditions are in Denver’s weather forecast for the rest of the weekend and into next week.
Denver weather tonight: Mainly clear
Saturday night will stay mainly clear and warm. Low temperatures will fall to the mid 60s, which is about 5 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year.
Denver weather tomorrow: Sunny, hot
Sunday will be sunny, breezy and hot with wind gusts out of the south southwest picking up to 20-30 mph. High temperatures will climb to the mid 90s, which is more than 5 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year, but well below the daily record of 102 set in 2024.
Looking ahead: Hot week ahead
Sunshine and a warming trend continues on Monday. High temperatures will reach just below the daily record of 100 degrees set in 2003.
More sunny and dry conditions are on the way through the workweek. Every day will start with a low in the 60s, then plenty of sunshine helping to boost high temperatures to the mid to upper 90s.
There is a slight chance for showers, mostly in the High Country, that return by the end of the week and the start of the weekend.
Getty
Peyton Watson #8 of the Denver Nuggets is a potential Lakers free-agent target.
The Los Angeles Lakers are still exploring means to improve their roster ahead of the upcoming season. Moves have been made already, but there are opportunities to add more talent around Luka Doncic.
One potential target for L.A. is Denver Nuggets star, Peyton Watson. In a proposed multi-team deal involving the Miami Heat and New Orleans Pelicans, the Lakers could land the high upside talent.
In the deal:
Both Watson and Jones have been linked with a move to L.A. this offseason, but no deal has been able to push forward. This proposal offers a chance to get both with one swing.
Lakers’ Outline for Acquiring Peyton Watson Through Trade
GettyDALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 14: Peyton Watson #8 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball during a game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on January 14, 2026 in Dallas, Texas.
Watson, 23, is a restricted free agent, which makes any approach difficult. The Nuggets could match any offer to retain him and are reportedly planning to do so.
The 6-foot-8 star is coming off a breakout season in Mile High City, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. He shot 49.1% from the field and 41.1% from three while starting 40 of his 54 appearances.
Watson’s camp is reportedly seeking north of $25 million per year which is unfavorable for the Nuggets at this point. Denver already has huge commitments to Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Anthony Gordon and Christian Braun.
The Lakers can capitalize on the Nuggets’ need to move for pieces for flexibility and pitch a move for Watson. There would be adequate space to fit in the incoming star with the outgoings in this framework.
The Lakers can offer Watson a multi-year deal that doesn’t affect their flexibility. Vanderbilt’s outgoing deal is the most notable, which is why the Lakers have put him at the top of their moving list for now.
Watson’s Upside and Adding Herb Jones to the Roster
GettyLuka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers passes the ball as he is pressured by Herbert Jones #2 and Jeremiah Fears #0 of the the New Orleans Pelicans during the second quarter of an 2025 Emirates NBA Cup game at Smoothie King Center on November 14, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Lakers would also get Jones out of this trade from the Pelicans. He is on a three-year, $68 million extension going through 2028-29 with a player option. His cap hit for 2026-27 sits at around $14.9 million.
With Watson and Jones, the Lakers would be bringing in roughly $38 million worth of salary, adding both Saddiq Rey for depth while sending out only about $26 million. This scenario would push L.A. well over its luxury limit but not into restrictive zones.
A potential lineup having Watson and Jones alongside Doncic, Austin Reaves and the newly acquired Walker Kessler, is positioned to be a strong core.
The real hurdle is getting Denver to move on from Watson. The franchise is committed to keeping him, even if it means giving up one of their more seasoned stars. They did activate a qualifying offer, making him restricted and they intend to match offers. Although a sign-and-trade is not impossible and the Lakers can work with that.
Adel Ahmad Adel is a writer with over five years of experience covering the NBA. His work has appeared on various media platforms, both national and local. More about Adel Ahmad
Denver, CO
One tree at a time: Denver nonprofit works to close shade gap as heat dome threatens neighborhoods
DENVER — Some Denver neighborhoods are far more vulnerable to this weekend’s incoming heat dome than others — and the difference comes down to trees.
The Valverde neighborhood on the city’s west side has about 9% canopy cover, leaving residents with little shade as temperatures climb toward triple digits.
▶️ WATCH: Denver7’s Claire Lavezzorio learns more about The Park People and how it is helping neighborhoods in Denver.
One tree at a time: Denver nonprofit works to close shade gap as heat dome threatens neighborhoods
Kim Yuan-Farrell, executive director of The Park People, a nonprofit that plants trees in underserved neighborhoods, said the disparity across Denver is stark.
“We have some neighborhoods that have wonderful canopy cover, like 20 to 30% of those neighborhoods are forested. Then a number of our neighborhoods have really low canopy cover, between four or 8% where it’s just significantly less,” Yuan-Farrell said.
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The Park People identified 28 neighborhoods in need of more tree cover, including Westwood, Globeville and Northeast Park Hill.
Trees can cool an area by 15 to 20 degrees, making a significant difference.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned the heat dome could last through next weekend.
“The exceptional thing about this is how long it will last,” said NWS meteorologist Russell Danielson. “If you do have trees to take shelter under, it does actually cool down the temperature a decent amount.”
Yuan-Farrell said trees are more than a comfort — they are a critical piece of urban infrastructure.
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“We really consider it a really essential element of green infrastructure, a real nature-based solution to a lot of these really serious local environmental problems,” Yuan-Farrell said.
In the map below, explore Denver’s libraries and rec centers that welcome the public in from the heat during business hours.
When asked whether Denver has a long road ahead, she did not hesitate.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us,” Yuan-Farrell said. “And we really need our whole community to get involved in that.”
The Park People plant anywhere from 1,200 to 2,000 trees a year. You can apply for one in your yard. Planting is set to begin in September.
Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Claire Lavezzorio
Denver7’s Claire Lavezzorio covers topics that have an impact across Colorado. If you’d like to get in touch with Claire, fill out the form below to send her an email.
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