📍DENVER, Colo. — Jokić Is Still Dominant. The Nuggets Are Not. Here’s Why.
For a decade, Nikola Jokić has been Denver’s anchor — steady, silent, and surgical. Now, as the Nuggets underperform just a year after winning their first title, the spotlight has shifted. Not to Jokić’s game — which remains MVP-level — but to the fractures around him.
He’s averaging:
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31.5 PPG (career-best)
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12.3 RPG
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9.3 APG
Yet Denver’s post-championship energy is off — and the rift between the front office and coaching staff may be the reason why.
⚔️ Front Office vs. Coaching Staff: A Clash of Visions
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GM Calvin Booth wants to build a long-term contender through youth and internal development.
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Coach Michael Malone wants to win now — with trusted vets.
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Nikola Jokić? He just wants to play the right way — and he’s caught between two competing timelines.
“They need to be the best version of themselves,” Jokić told ESPN.
A subtle but clear challenge to those around him.
🧱 Missing Veterans, Inconsistent Replacements
The losses of Bruce Brown, Jeff Green, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have hit hard. Their replacements — players like Peyton Watson and Zeke Nnaji — are promising, but haven’t gained Malone’s full trust.
Sources say the front office wants minutes for development.
The coaching staff wants reliability in a tight playoff race.
The philosophical gap is now a visible on-court issue.
🔁 The Jamal Murray Factor
Jamal Murray’s $208 million extension reflects his importance. But:
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Injuries
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Inconsistent play
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Conditioning concerns
…have raised internal red flags, according to sources close to the team.
“They’re going to run Joker into the ground if this keeps up,” one rival executive said.
🧘♂️ Jokić’s Leadership: Silent, But Strong
Jokić won’t demand trades, bash teammates, or chase headlines.
But everyone around him knows: his standard never drops. And that pressure — subtle, but ever-present — speaks louder than anything.
“He just wants teammates who hold themselves accountable,” one team insider said.
🧭 What Must Happen Next?
Denver doesn’t just need a few wins to stabilize their record.
They need:
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Alignment between Booth and Malone
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Clarity in roster direction
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A support system that doesn’t waste Jokić’s peak
The Nuggets have one of the best players of this generation — and no time to spare.
The window is open. But it’s narrowing quickly.
