The Denver Nuggets are undergoing some self-inflicted turmoil after the franchise management abruptly fired head coach Mike Malone. So the last thing they’d like to hear right now is the possibility of their superstar center Nikola Jokic leaving the team.
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But just because they don’t like it, doesn’t mean people aren’t talking about it. Following Malone’s sacking, rumors have begun to circulate about Jokic’s future with the team, given how close the Serbian was to his former HC. After spending his rookie season under Brian Shaw, Jokic has only played under Malone as a full-time head coach.
The two developed a pretty tight-knit relationship over the years. After the Nuggets won the 2023 NBA championship, Malone even visited Jokic in Serbia during the summer. Which is why the sudden nature of the firing — the Nuggets decided to let Malone go with three games left to play in the regular season — has raised so many questions.
What most fans were wondering about was whether the nature of Malone’s departure would have rubbed Jokic the wrong way, and if so, would he want out? The three-time MVP isn’t known for speaking out about internal team issues. But luckily for fans, some of his teammates are a bit more forthcoming in providing clarity for the public.
Like Aaron Gordon, for instance. The Nuggets’ power forward was happy to take on the question in the course of an interview with CBS’s Ashley Nicole Moss during the Playoffs. During their conversation, she brought up the topic of Jokic’s future with the team. But Gordon was categorical that there was nothing to worry about.
“I don’t think Jokic is the type to want out,” Gordon said. “[Jokic] doesn’t want out, he wants in. He wants to go through it. I don’t think Denver has to worry about that.”
Well, how Jokic turned up for Denver against the Clippers in their Playoff opener should also give fans the confidence to “worry” less and enjoy their superstar’s on-court excellence more.
Jokic continues to be as committed as ever
The 7-time All-Star wants to get things out of the mud and bring another championship to Denver. Jokic’s commitment to the team and the fans was evident in the way he took control of the proceedings in Game 1 against the Clippers. He put on a dominant performance, scoring 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 12 assists in the 15-point comeback win.
Following the game, Jokic displayed some rare emotion when speaking about teammate Michael Porter Jr. The 6-foot-10 forward struggled to find a groove throughout the game. Interim head coach David Adelman ran with Russell Westbrook in favor of MPJ in the end of the fourth quarter and overtime.
Speaking to the media about Porter Jr. after the game, the Serbian was brutally honest: “If you’re not going to be engaged right now, then you’re not supposed to be playing this sport.”
Jokic’s comments may have lit a fire under MPJ to prove that he belongs on basketball’s biggest stage. At the same time, his comments have the fans excited, as this is one of the few rare times we’ve seen Jokic get emotional about his ‘9-5 job.’
