1994 NBA Playoffs: Denver Nuggets upsets Seattle Sonics

Denver fired Westhead prior to the 1992-1993 season and hired ABA legend and former Nugget Player Dan Issel. The Nuggets had two lottery picks that year and drafted University of Notre Dame forward LaPhonso Ellis and University of Virginia guard Bryant Stith. Denver improved to 36-46, just missing the playoffs that year. Denver ditched their rainbow colors for a dark blue and gold scheme starting in the 1993-1994 season. Led by Mutombo, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (who changed his name from Chris Jackson prior to the season), and Ellis, Denver would finish with its first winning season since the Doug Moe era at 42-40. Denver clinched the 8th seed in the Western Conference playoffs, playing the first place Seattle SuperSonics. Denver was a heavy underdog, having only a couple of players on their roster with actual NBA playoff experience. After dropping the first two games of the five game set in Seattle, the series returned to Denver. Denver won both games and tied the series at two games apiece. The Nuggets would make NBA history in Game 5, upsetting Seattle in overtime 98-94. They became the first 8th seeded team to defeat a 1st seeded team in NBA playoff history. Denver would almost do the same in the next round, falling to the Utah Jazz in game seven of the second round.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• dan
• issel
• dikembe
• mutombo
• laphonso
• ellis
• robert
• pack
• george
• karl
• shawn
• kemp

[KiPwnNubs]

they almost made history again in that very same playoffs..when nuggets were down 0-3 against the jazz..and came back 3-3..but lost the 7th game

[src1tube]

Mutumbo on the ground is still etched in my head to this day.

[texasguy10209]

I believe this was the beginning of the sonic move to Oklahoma

[TheWeirdBananas]

what was  4:12

[funkyflights]

One of the worst moments in my life... As a Sonics fan I was depressed for about a month after this... I think the part that hurt so bad was that Seattle team probably would a made it to the finals had they won this series because Utah or the Rockets Seattle had there number... This Nuggets team was just a tough group that peeked at the right time... I just learned to tip my hat to um and respect what they accomplished...NOT and easy task beating that Seattle team 3 times in a row....

[billslover90]

1:25 kemp nearly got posterized lol

[machine9191]

whats the music called at 1 min 20

[UnionKid15]

great moment thanks so much for posting this video.

[Jeff98177]

If and when Seattle lands a new NBA team, I want to see this uniform design come back. The half basketball with the Seattle skyline was the best logo ever.

[GreenLantern501]

@IwasBannedfromYtube Um, why? Lakers won 4-2... If it was 3 wins it would have been 3-2. They may get out the 2nd round though which sucks

[Titanator2010]

Lakers were #2 this year.. I am a Lakers fan. Just letting you know. Spurs lost and so glad.

[IwasBannedfromYtube]

You know if the NBA today would followed the 1st round playoff with 3 wins, Lakers 2011 would have been out.