by Heather King
It’s that time of year to look back and celebrate the best sports moments of 2023! The year 2023 was one to remember, from epic comebacks to unforgettable displays of brilliance. These breath-holding moments captured our hearts and minds, and played a significant role in shaping our love for the game. We’ll always remember where we were when…. Now, as we take a look back at the most unforgettable sports moments of 2023 that kept us on the edge of our seats, we’re thrilled to remember these unbelievable games with you.
College Football Playoff Championship: Georgia versus TCU
January 2023 can be defined as domination season for the Georgia Bulldogs. They finished the season 15-0 and repeated as national champions. Even after losing 15 players to the NFL in 2022, they literally ate the TCU Horned Frogs for dinner in a 66-7 win for the title. It’s a margin that stands as the largest title game victory in modern college football history. Aside from scoring more points in the game than any other during the season, the Dawgs racked up records—the least of which involved scoring 1.1 points per minute.
2023 NBA Championship: Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat
The 2023 NBA Championship battle between the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat was a historic one. While the Nuggets hadn’t won the playoffs since 1976, Miami was coming off a championship win just two years prior, and fans everywhere were ready to see who could really take it all to the hoop. Throughout the six-game series, the Nuggets eventually proved to play 5,280 feet higher than everyone else but not before we were treated to some incredible championship series moments.
The Nuggets put on a show starting with the game 1 overtime thriller. Thanks to a dominant performance from Nikola Jokic who scored 36 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and dished out nine assists to lead the Nuggets to victory.
The triple-double duel in game 3 lead to a high-scoring affair with players from both teams finishing with triple-doubles.
Down 2-1 by game 4, the Heat needed to bring it to stay in the series. With the game tied in the closing seconds, Miami’s Jimmy Butler drove to the basket and hit a layup as time expired to keep Miami’s championship hopes alive heading into Game 5.
The Nuggets were just one win away from their first championship in nearly 50 years, and they turned to their star player once again. Jokic put up yet another dominant performance, scoring 32 points and grabbing 20 rebounds on his way to being named the Finals MVP. Denver won the game 107-99, securing their first championship since 1976.
Accolades Earned in NFL Football, Grand Slam Tennis, Formula 1, and NBA Basketball
Super Bowl 57 saw Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes lead his team to a second win in just 4 years. Mahomes also earned his second MVP award, at least partly due to his stellar performance even while playing with an injured ankle through the fourth quarter.
Novak Djokovic broke the tennis Grand Slam record with 24 titles after he won Roland Garros and secured number one in the world.
Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen won his third Formula 1 World Championship after driving in 19 wins, landing on the podium 21 times, earning 10 consecutive wins, and scoring the most points in a season with 575.
LeBron James surpassed the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with 38,388 points on February 8.
Raise a Glass to the Memories
Great sports moments are more than just the tournaments, games, and competitions. It’s often the herculean efforts of individual players, intricate teamwork, and the sport, spirit, and passion on display when it’s down to the wire. When we watch our favorite players in the zone, their athleticism and sporting talent keeps us entertained and thrilled. These are the moments that will continue to inspire us for years to come.
So don’t miss a moment of 2024, head over to your nearest neighborhood location and celebrate your favorite moments with us!