Australian Boomer Jack White lifts the lid on NBA life alongside Jokic at the Finals-bound Denver Nuggets
Former Melbourne United forward Jack White will receive a close-up look at the NBA Finals from the Denver Nuggets bench – and he couldn’t be more excited.
Meet Jack White – the Australian Boomer earning almost $800,000 this season to watch the NBA Finals from the bench as his Denver Nuggets aim to win the franchise’s first championship.
White will have the best seat in the house when the NBA Finals tip-off in Denver next Friday from 10.30am (AEST).
The former Melbourne United forward is coming off his first season in the world’s best basketball league with the Nuggets.
White played 17 regular season games with Denver, however he is down the depth chart and has taken a back seat in the playoffs.
He ð•›ð•¦ð•¤ð•¥ missed out on a ring in NBL22, but Jack White could finish the season with an NBA chip ðŸ†
— NBL (@NBL) May 23, 2023
His Denver Nuggets swept LeBron's Lakers in the Western Conference Finals this morning, and they could find out their opponents tomorrow 😮 pic.twitter.com/ducseDnRLP
The in-built competitor in him would give his left arm to be playing in the NBA Finals, but he also feels blessed to have the chance to learn from basketball’s best players – including arguably the greatest in Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic.
“I’ve been like a sponge – and you’ve got to be man – this is my first NBA season so I feel like I’ve been a sponge all year,” said White, who hails from Traralgon in regional Victoria.
“As a competitor it’s hard because I want to get out there and compete, but at that same time you take a step back and think what an opportunity I’ve got to have a front-row seat to everything that is going on and really be a part of it.
“It’s a dream come true.
“It’s also motivating wanting to reach this point myself and being on the floor and contributing.”
White won’t suit up on game day, but he’ll still play a vital role in Denver’s championship push.
This includes being on the “scout team” for the NBA Finals, which involves studying a rival player and simulating their style of play at training for his teammates.
White was tasked with the same role in the Western Conference Finals when he was assigned Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt.
“When we walk through plays at training, I was Vanderbilt and I’ll also watch him play and give teammates little cues or tendencies in his game like cutting out of the corner,” he explained.
“So, just helping guys with individual personnel and then it’s about bringing energy with a good voice off the bench and I still workout pre-game.”
White revealed Denver celebrated its Western Conference champions crown with a red wine on the plane home from Los Angeles.
The Nuggets are happy to be kings of the west, but the team is far from satisfied.
“Because we are still four games away from what we really want to do – win a championship,” he said.
“So, it’s that fine balance of being proud of what we’ve accomplished, but also understanding that it’s far from over and the job isn’t finished.”
White and his Denver teammates are locked in, but they’re also keen to lap up the pure joy from their loyal fans.
The Nuggets have never made the NBA Finals in the franchise’s 47 seasons – and the players can feel the excitement building.
This hype hit White when he arrived home from LA to his apartment building and started chatting to the concierge.
“He was super pumped about the Nuggets reaching the NBA Finals,” he said.
“He grew up in Denver and he was telling that after we beat the Lakers there were people honking their horns on the street and people were out and about.
“It’s exciting and we’ll get a true taste of it once Game 1 rolls around.”
Denver will play the winner of the Miami versus Boston series in the Eastern Conference.
The Heat are strongly favoured to progress to the Finals leading the series 3-1, but the Celtics are hoping to defy history heading into Game 5 on Friday.
White isn’t worried if Boston manages to keep the series against Miami alive a little longer.
“I’ll tune into the Miami and Boston series – and for us hope that Boston can push it to more games,” he said.
“The chances are pretty slim that Boston will come out, but if they can tire out Miami a bit more – why not.”
Regardless of who Denver plays in the NBA Finals, White is just keen to lap up every precious moment on basketball’s biggest stage.
“I’ve been trying to enjoy the whole experience, especially having the group that we have in Denver,” he said.
“It’s such a good lockeroom and such a fun group of guys and they are helping me out with stuff in workouts.
“It has been very special so far and I’m just trying to soak it all in.”
White will endeavour to become the seventh Australian to win an NBA championship and collect a ring, joining Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Aron Baynes, Patty Mills, Andrew Bogut and Matthew Dellavedova.
AUSSIES WITH NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Luc Longley 3x – Chicago Bulls (1996-98)
Andrew Gaze – San Antonio Spurs (1999)
Aron Baynes/Patty Mills – San Antonio Spurs (2014)
Andrew Bogut – Golden State Warriors (2015)
Matthew Dellavedova – Cleveland Cavaliers (2016)
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