The Denver Nuggets‘ 2024-25 season hasn’t quite gone according to plan, and they stunningly fired head coach Michael Malone on Tuesday. There appears to have been a lot of tension behind the scenes, and even Nikola Jokic hasn’t been a happy camper by the looks of it. The Athletic reports Jokic has been frustrated with his teammates.
“But league sources said there had been significant frustration within the locker room at how the Nuggets were playing, particularly defensively. The Nuggets were just 20th in defensive rating. Jokic has been frustrated with the team’s defensive commitment and performance this season.”
The Nuggets were eighth in defensive rating in 2023-24 (112.3), and there has been a lot of slippage on that end of the floor this season. Jokic himself needs to take some of the blame for that, but you can’t be too hard on him considering how big a load he carries on offense.
Jokic is averaging 30.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game for the Nuggets in 2024-25. It has been a historic season, but the three-time MVP has been forced into pushing the limits thanks to his supporting cast either not stepping up or being out with injury.
Jamal Murray was one who had stepped up after a slow start to the season by averaging 22.8 points on 49.7% shooting from the field in 2025. Murray has missed the last five games with a hamstring injury, though, and it’s still unclear when he’ll be back.
While Murray has stepped up his game, Michael Porter Jr. has not. Since the All-Star break, Porter is averaging 16.6 points on 45.8% shooting from the field and 33.6% from beyond the arc, and that’s not good enough.
Russell Westbrook is another Nugget who has been inefficient post the break, as he has put up 14.0 points on 41.1% shooting from the field. Westbrook has also made some big blunders recently, with the most notable ones coming in that brutal double overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 1.
Jokic had a historic 61-point triple-double against the Timberwolves, and one can only imagine how frustrated he’d have been following the loss. There have been one too many games this season where the seven-time All-Star has exploded, only to end up on the losing end because his teammates didn’t hold up their end of the bargain.
If this continues to be the case in the postseason as well, then there’s a good chance the 47-32 Nuggets will get eliminated in the first round itself. The Nuggets’ ownership reportedly believes firing Malone will spark a deep playoff run, but what if it doesn’t?
Would Jokic ask out? Well, the 30-year-old is currently under contract through the 2026-27 season with a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28. If he asks out this offseason, the Nuggets might well have to consider letting him go, as they’d be able to get a massive haul for him.
There has been no indication yet from Jokic that he wants out, but things can change quickly. As for where he might end up if he leaves, Bovada lists the Los Angeles Lakers as the favorite.
The Lakers would certainly love to pair Luka Doncic with Jokic. It’s going to be difficult for them to pull off a trade for the Serbian this offseason, though, as they don’t have the assets. It’s also unlikely that whoever replaces Calvin Booth, who was also fired, as the Nuggets’ GM is going to do them a favor like Nico Harrison did.
