Nikola Jokic, after the embarrassment of the Nuggets: "If we were in Serbia, we would all be fired"

The first-round elimination from the playoffs has left a sense of disappointment within the Denver Nuggets, but their star player, Nikola Jokic, has not altered his vision for the future with the franchise. Following the defeat, the Serbian center was clear about his long-term commitment: "I still want to be a Nugget forever."

At 31 years old, Jokic still has two seasons and $121.9 million left on his contract, with the final year being a player option. This means that, in practice, the team only has control guaranteed until the next season. However, this summer he will be eligible for an extension of up to four years and close to $293 million, an opportunity to strengthen the bond between both parties. When asked about it, he reiterated his stance: "I still want to be a Nugget forever."

The Serbian's words contrast with the mood after the elimination. Denver, which had won 54 games in the regular season and was considered a title contender, fell 4-2 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round, facing a team that did not have Anthony Edwards in the last two games.

"We just lost in the first round," acknowledged Jokic. "I think we are far [from competing for the title]."

The 2023 champion knows the level required to compete for the championship. Regarding possible changes within the team, he avoided discussing structural decisions: "It's not my decision, honestly. Definitely, if we were in Serbia, we would all be fired."

The series was one of the toughest in his playoff career. In the sixth game, he posted 28 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds, but his slow start to the series affected the Nuggets, who found themselves trailing 3-1.

In the first four games, he shot 39% from the field, well below his 56% career average. Before this series, he had never dropped below 47% in a playoff run.

Reflecting on his performance, Jokic took responsibility: "A lot. I needed to play better. I must play better. I think I found my rhythm from the third game onwards, but I had to play much better."

Jokic also lacked the usual support from his partner, Jamal Murray. The point guard, coming off his best regular season with an average of 25.4 points, was limited by Minnesota's defense, especially by Jaden McDaniels.

Murray ended the series shooting 33% from the field and had a poor sixth game, where he missed 13 of 17 shots. After the elimination, he explained the difference in intensity: "If you saw the interviews, you know that everyone was excited to play against us. They were motivated to face us. They enjoyed playing against us. We have to match that. We have to feel the same way against them."

Despite everything, both Jokic and Murray retain confidence in their roles as the team's offensive engine, leading the NBA in offensive rating during the regular season.

The spotlight also turns to coach David Adelman, in his first full season after replacing Mike Malone. Jokic came to his defense: "It's not his fault that we couldn't grab rebounds. It's not his fault that we couldn't catch the ball properly. There's nothing to blame David Adelman for. It's on us."

The series was also marked by injuries. Peyton Watson did not play any games, while Aaron Gordon missed several matches and played limited minutes in others due to physical issues.

No excuses from Jokic

Nevertheless, Jokic avoided making excuses after falling to an equally depleted opponent: "They lost many players tonight and still won. Did we need them? Definitely. But if they're not there, we can't dwell on 'what if, what if, what if'."

Beyond the core formed by Jokic, Murray, and Gordon, the team did not find consistency in the rest of the rotation. Acquisitions like Cam Johnson or the expected growth of Christian Braun were not steady throughout the series.

Adelman himself summed up the overall feeling of the season: "I know it just ended, but I feel like I can't give you a complete answer [about the overall picture] because it was an incomplete season. It felt that way the whole time. It felt like survival."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Nikola Jokic, tras el papelón de los Nuggets: “Si estuviéramos en Serbia, todos seríamos despedidos”