Inside The Nuggets

Nuggets President Agrees With Nikola Jokic on Major Issue

The Denver Nuggets have an offseason to address roster issues, and it seems that star center Nikola Jokić and team president Josh Kroenke are on the same page
Matt Guzman|
May 18, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) runs down the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second quarter during game seven of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center.
May 18, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) runs down the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second quarter during game seven of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

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Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets came the closest of any team in the Western Conference to knocking off the Oklahoma City Thunder. To Nikola Jokić, it didn't matter.

"I mean we didn’t (win a championship)," he said following his team's Game 7 loss, "so, obviously we can’t."

Jokić was blunt, but considering Denver's inability to reach the Western Conference Finals since winning a title in 2023, his statement was fair. And as far as he was concerned, there was one primary factor at play: depth.

"We definitely need it," Jokić explained. "It seems like the teams that have longer rotations, longer bench, are the ones who are winning."

Jokić's stellar season helped the Nuggets to be as competitive as they were, and despite his second-place finish in Most Valuable Player Award voting, it was largely successful. But heading into the offseason, Denver's top brass made clear it was listening to its star.

"I heard Jokić's comments loud and clear," Nuggets president Josh Kroenke said. "I think that I was thinking that before those words came out of his mouth. Just in how the playoffs, if you're watching the games, you can see yourself, as well as watching our games."

According to Kroenke, no reset will be needed for the Nuggets. But there will be a need to evalaute the talent surrounding Jokić and Jamal Murray. That was also made clear.

"If you ask us, there’s a firm belief that they can achieve their ultimate goal," Kroenke said. "Can they achieve that as currently constructed? I think the answer, as (Jokić) said after the playoffs ended, was obviously no.

"We need to take a hard look at how we can raise our ceiling going forward."

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Matt Guzman
MATT GUZMAN

Matt Guzman is a sports journalist and storyteller from Austin, Texas. He serves as a credentialed reporter and site manager for San Antonio Spurs On SI and a staff writer for multiple collegiate sites in the same network. In the world of professional sports, he is a firm believer that athletes are people, too, and intends to tell stories of players and teams’ true, behind-the-scenes character that otherwise would not be seen through strong narrative writing, hooking ledes and passionate words.

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