The news of Michael Malone’s firing as head coach of the Denver Nuggets shocked many, especially since the team still has playoff aspirations with a 47-32 record, sitting fourth in the Western Conference. According to Kendrick Perkins, a former NBA player, Nikola Jokic, the Serbian star of the Nuggets, may have played a key role in this decision. In a recent appearance on ESPN’s “NBA Today,” Perkins didn’t hesitate to claim that Malone’s firing would not have happened without Jokic’s approval.
Perkins, who knows the inner workings of locker rooms, pointed out that, given the influence of a player like Jokic, it would be hard to believe that the two-time NBA MVP had no involvement in the firing of his coach. “This firing doesn’t happen without the ‘okay’ from Nikola Jokic,” the analyst said, making it clear that decisions within the Nuggets organization are not made without considering the opinion of their star player. Although the topic is still fresh and more news continues to emerge, Perkins emphasized that Jokic’s impact on the team cannot be ignored.
Jokic’s tense relationship with the team
Jokic’s relationship with his team has been a subject of discussion, especially following the Nuggets’ recent losing streak. In their fourth consecutive loss, a game against the Indiana Pacers, Jokic showed signs of frustration when discussing the team’s performance. During the post-game press conference, the Serbian star made it clear that he was puzzled by the current situation: “I don’t know, maybe we just… I really don’t know actually. I don’t know, I don’t know what is concerning,” Jokic said, showing a lack of clarity in his analysis of the team’s issues.
Despite Jokic’s impressive stats (averaging 45 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 10.7 assists over the previous three games), he couldn’t prevent his team from falling into a series of losses. This disconnect between the star player and the team could have been a determining factor in the management’s decision to fire Malone, especially considering that the Nuggets are likely looking to keep their franchise player happy.
With the regular season winding down, the Nuggets face the pressure of getting their game back on track before the playoffs. A win in the last three games of the season could be crucial to generating the momentum needed heading into the postseason. Denver will face off against the Sacramento Kings, a team also fighting for a strong position in the Play-In tournament, followed by a matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies and closing out against the Houston Rockets.
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