With the 2025 NBA playoffs officially underway, the Denver Nuggets are doing everything to prepare for the fight ahead. It will be a bitter series against the Los Angeles Clippers in round one, but Nikola Jokic made sure to get his team in the right state of mind with a very specific message.
“Everything involved with the Nuggets organization starts with Nikola Jokic,” said Shams Charania on NBA Countdown. “Shortly after the team owner informed the team that they were dismissing Michael Malone as head coach and Calvin Booth as general manager, I’m told Nikola Jokic spoke with his teammates and told them that this season is not over and they still have to get the job done. For Nikola Jokic to speak up like that, sources in Denver tell me that they see a player who is fully comfortable now in his voice. They see a player who understands his power now, not only to yield it but to influence his teammates and show them that there’s a reason why I’m speaking up.”
The situation was tense in Denver following the departure of longtime coach Michael Malone and former GM Calvin Booth. Their disagreements on team management drove a wedge between them that created a toxic situation in the locker room. With their departure, things have seemingly improved across the organization.
“What’s been described to me is a breath of fresh air from players to staffers. There’s a lot of respect in that room from players and other people in the organization for the interim coach, David Adleman.”
Inner turmoil can be disastrous for competitive teams, and the Nuggets have experienced it before during the early days of the Jokic era. This time, the Nuggets had no patience to sort out the drama, and rooting it out is the right decision so far.
The Nuggets are just two years removed from their first championship in NBA history. Back then, the trio of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. dominated the West and cruised through the playoffs with ruthless efficiency.
This season, however, the Nuggets have been inconsistent due to the infighting going on behind the scenes. The war between the two leading franchise voices ripped the team apart, and the Nuggets felt they were better off letting go of them both.
Going into the 2025 playoffs, the Nuggets still have to adjust to their new coach, but he’s already making an impact in all the best ways. Since taking over for Malone, Adleman has been building a different culture for the Nuggets, and it’s empowered Jokic to wield his power like never before.
With averages of 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game, the Joker is having another MVP-caliber season, and the Nuggets are in a position to make a run in the West bracket.
The first major test will come against the Los Angeles Clippers this evening when they face off for Game 1 at the Ball Arena. Even after all the chaos and dysfunction, the Nuggets still have a chance to win the title, and Jokic wants to make sure all of his teammates are focused on the big mission.
