When the NBA Finals kιck off on Thursday, Denver will enthusiastically support the Nuggets in their quest for their first NBA title. Facing the Miami Heat, the Nuggets are just four wins away from securing the championship.

While Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat will be the Nuggets’ main rival during the series, he shares a close bond with the late Denver Broncos receiver, Demaryius Thomas, and has attended several Broncos games in the past.

Butler and Thomas initially connected in 2014 when Butler, then playing for the Chicago Bulls, learned about the challenges Thomas had faced during his childhood. Both players had overcome obstacles in their youth, and they found common ground in their experiences.

Their friendship quickly grew, with Butler referring to Thomas as a brother less than a year after they first met.

Now in Denver for the NBA Finals, Butler expressed his longing for his friend to be present and witness him compete on the grandest stage of the game.

“That’s my guy, my brother forever,” Butler shared with reporters on Wednesday. “I miss him so much. I spent so much time here with him, watching him be great. He motivated me because his story is truly incredible, considering everything he went through to achieve what he did for the Broncos. I genuinely hold a deep affection for this city. I miss that guy.

“I wish he could be here, sitting courtside, watching me do my thing because we used to talk about this all the time. Maybe not Denver against my team, but just the idea of him witnessing me win a championship as he did.”

While Nuggets fans may hope that Butler falls short in his pursuit of a championship, the enduring connection between him and Thomas is something worth celebrating.