Mark Kiszla

Sports columnist

Mark Kiszla

Mark Kiszla is an award-winning sports columnist who wrote for The Denver Post from the fall of 1983 to 2024. During his time at the Post, he was named Colorado Sportswriter of the Year four times and was honored as a top 10 columnist in the nation by the Associated Press Sports Editors as recently as 2021.

Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets celebrates with team governor Josh Kroenke and team owner Stan Kroenke after the fourth quarter of the Nuggets鈥� 113-111 Western Conference finals game 4 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Monday, May 22, 2023. The Nuggets swept the best-of-seven series 4-0 to advance to their first NBA Finals in franchise history. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

Kiszla: On night Nuggets earn first-ever trip to the NBA Finals, franchise owner Stan Kroenke salutes center Nikola Jokic: “We’ve got a chance to do something nice.”

May 23, 2023 at 10:57 a.m.

On the glorious night when the Nuggets ended a tortuous 47-year wait to earn their first invitation to the NBA Finals, team owner Stan Kroenke admired the 17 championship banners...

Aaron Gordon (50) of the Denver Nuggets guards LeBron James (6) of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter of the Western Conference finals game 4 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Monday, May 22, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

How it happened: Nikola Jokic has another triple-double, leads Nuggets to NBA Finals for 1st time in franchise history

May 22, 2023 at 9:36 p.m.

After 47 years, the Nuggets are going to the NBA Finals.

DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 25: Denver Broncos running back Javonte Williams (33) drives down the field at Empower Field on September 25, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. The Denver Broncos took on the San Francisco 49ers during week 3 of the NFL season. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

Kiszla vs. Gabriel: What’s the most production Broncos can expect from Javonte Williams in 2023?

May 22, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.

A major factor in the Denver Broncos' fortunes will be how quickly running back Javonte Williams recovers from a nasty knee injury suffered last October against the Raiders.

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone works against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter of the Western Conference finals game 3 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

Kiszla: Michael Malone with Nuggets five wins away from first NBA championship: “I want to write history.”

May 21, 2023 at 6:42 p.m.

It抖阴ap the job of Nuggets coach Michael Malone to turn the impossible dream of Stan Kroenke into reality before he decides there鈥檚 a smarter way to spend his money.

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 20: Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets reacts to a foul call on Nikola Jokic (15) after the big man ran over Austin Reaves (15) of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter of the Western Conference finals game 3 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

Kiszla: On the verge of their first NBA Finals appearance, Nuggets ready to kick down that freakin’ door

May 21, 2023 at 12:26 p.m.

With a commanding 3-0 lead in this best-of-seven series, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are simply better at basketball than LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Jamal Murray (27) low fives Aaron Gordon (50) of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter of the Western Conference Finals Game 3 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

How it happened: The Nuggets are up 3-0 in the Western Conference Finals over the Lakers

May 20, 2023 at 10:27 p.m.

Live updates, tweets, photos, analysis and more from the Denver Nuggets' Game 3 matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on May 20, 2023. Game...

CENTENNIAL, CO - MAY 13: Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton during Denver Broncos rookie mini camp at Dove Valley May 13, 2023. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

Kickin’ It with Kiz: Sean Payton more like Mike Shanahan than Nathaniel Hackett

May 20, 2023 at 2:03 p.m.

New Broncos coach Sean Payton carries himself like a gridiron king. He's supremely confident and domineering. Dare I say arrogant? Reminds me more than a little of Mike Shanahan.

LeBron James (6) of the Los Angeles Lakers stands in a beam of yellow light during the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Ball Arena in Denver on Thursday, May 18, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

Kiszla: The King is dead! Long live the Joker! Nuggets turn narrative of Western Conference finals on its head.

May 19, 2023 at 9:09 a.m.

The Lakers are yesterday's news. Can we stop all the yada, yada, yada about the team ESPN fawns over? Denver is sick and tired of being nothing more than a...

Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets laughs after Christian Braun (0) was called for a defensive foul during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Ball Arena in Denver on Thursday, May 18, 2023. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

How it happened: Jamal Murray leads Denver past LA in Game 2 of Western Conference Finals

May 18, 2023 at 11:57 p.m.

Live updates, tweets, photos, analysis and more from the Denver Nuggets' Game 2 matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers at Ball Arena in Denver on May 18, 2023.

Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets leads Aaron Gordon (50), Jamal Murray (27) and Michael Porter Jr. (1) of the Denver Nuggets towards the bench after drawing a foul from. Anthony Davis (3) of the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets鈥� 132-126 win at Ball Arena in Denver on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. The Nuggets took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference Finals. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

Kiszla: This Nikola Jokic 34-21-14 triple double against Lakers was for that trio of ESPN dunderheads Mark Jackson, Kendrick Perkins and Stephen A Smith

May 17, 2023 at 7:10 a.m.

In a basketball city haunted by ghosts of nearly 50 years of playoff failure, the Nuggets refused to be spooked when LeBron James and the Lakers dared them to fold.

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