Nikola Jokić has proven that he is the best player in Denver Nuggets history, but the team isn’t supporting him enough. He was the key player on their only championship-winning team in the 2022-23 season.
Over the past four seasons, Jokić has won three MVP awards and a Finals MVP. Only nine players, including Jokić, have won three MVPs in their careers. He’s still only 29 years old and could add another MVP to his collection this season, but the Nuggets need to improve.
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
The Nuggets made a big change in the front office during the 2022 offseason when Tim Connelly, the former general manager, left for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Calvin Booth became the new GM and led the Nuggets to their championship win.
Connelly had built the foundation of the team, including drafting Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr., and trading for Aaron Gordon.
Booth took over a team that was ready to compete for a title, and he made smart moves like signing Bruce Brown and trading for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Both players played important roles in the Nuggets’ title win.
However, Booth has made several bad decisions that have hurt the team. One mistake was letting Brown and Caldwell-Pope leave as free agents. He has done a good job keeping the team’s key players but hasn’t adapted well to the new collective bargaining rules.
Booth has also used the team’s limited salary cap poorly. He gave Zeke Nnaji a four-year contract, but Nnaji hasn’t been effective this season.
The Nuggets’ recent signing of Dario Šarić has not worked out either. Šarić has played in fewer than half of the games this season and hasn’t performed well when he has played.
Lack of Production Outside Starters
The Nuggets are off to a mediocre 11-10 start and are currently in ninth place in the tough Western Conference. This is because the players outside of Jokić, Porter Jr., and Christian Braun haven’t been good enough.
While injuries to Murray and Gordon have affected the team, they’ve still lost games they should have won. A loss to the Washington Wizards on Saturday made Jokić speak out about the team’s struggles.
Having strong bench players is crucial in the NBA. Many players get hurt every season, and having reliable backups is important.
The Nuggets are lacking depth. Some players have been so ineffective this season that they shouldn’t be on the roster. This has become clear during games when the Nuggets are missing several key players.
Murray’s lack of performance is also hurting the team. After having a great season last year, he hasn’t been able to provide the same level of play this season.
With the Nuggets already struggling with depth, having their star point guard not playing well is making things worse.
Nuggets Need a Shake-Up
One thing is clear early in the season – the Nuggets’ roster won’t stay the same by the end of the year.
The team needs to make a trade soon to focus on winning now and making the most of Jokić’s prime years. Jokić is one of the best offensive players in the league, and the team needs to surround him with talented defenders to maximize his abilities.
Brown and Caldwell-Pope were the kind of players who fit that role and helped the Nuggets win the championship.
The front office must focus on giving Jokić the support he needs by adding players who can complement his style of play. The Nuggets still have almost 60 games to figure things out, but if their struggles continue, a trade will be necessary for them to stay in contention for a championship.
Heavy dependence on Jokic a potential downfall
Reliance on Jokić’s Health
The Denver Nuggets heavily rely on Nikola Jokić, whose skill set makes him the focal point of their offense. As a two-time MVP and one of the most versatile players in NBA history, his scoring, facilitating, and rebounding abilities are crucial to the team’s success.
However, any injury to Jokić, particularly in the postseason, would severely impact the Nuggets’ chances of winning.
Predictability and Offensive Limitations
With Jokić as the centerpiece, opponents can develop defensive strategies to limit his effectiveness, especially if other players aren’t consistently stepping up.
This creates predictability, making it easier for defenses to gameplan against the Nuggets. While Jamal Murray and others can contribute, their inconsistencies and injury histories leave the team vulnerable if Jokić is contained.
Playoff Pressure and Sustainability
In the postseason, where matchups intensify, relying so heavily on Jokić becomes a greater risk. The Nuggets’ offensive depth could be exposed if role players fail to deliver.
Despite adding talent like Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon, the long-term sustainability of this reliance on Jokić remains uncertain, particularly under the pressure of high-stakes games.
