NBA – Enraged, Nikola Jokic’s pressure call to his managers: “We need this in the squad!”

Par Guillaume Kagni | Journaliste sportif

The Nuggets’ season is officially over, and Nikola Jokic will have to wait for another title. Because he doesn’t lose his head, he immediately made it clear to his managers what they needed to do this summer to keep him happy.

For the second season in a row, the Nuggets were eliminated after a Game 7 in the conference semi-finals. In 2024, they fell to an in-form Anthony Edwards, determined to confirm his place as one of the best players on the planet. In 2025, Nikola Jokic and his partners were outclassed by the Thunder.

The lesson of this lost series is that Denver’s next GM will have to make some big decisions fairly quickly. Jamal Murray may be gaining in maturity, but his inconsistency continues to be a handicap on the road to a possible title. The same goes for Michael Porter Jr. who, even though he had a shoulder injury, failed to develop his game to contribute.

Nikola Jokic calls for depth in Denver

It’s pretty clear, then, that if they want to keep Nikola Jokic happy and offer him a collective worthy of his talent, they’re going to have to get busy and make the most of their limited room for manoeuvre. The three-time MVP himself made this clear in a press conference following his elimination. He would love to have a bench next season, a request that will have to be met.

It’s not up to me, but we need depth in the squad. We’re playing so much that it’s becoming difficult for guys to raise their game, especially in the playoffs against two teams as strong as the Clippers and the Thunder. You can’t ask a guy who hasn’t played in a while to jump in and be good.

Julian Strawther took on his responsibilities and was good in Game 6, Peyton Watson was also included in the rotation and showed some things. But it seems that the teams with bigger rotations and deeper benches are the ones winning this season. There’s Indiana, Oklahoma City, Minnesota…

Nikola Jokic has seen a few players like Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson try to contribute during these playoffs, but he’s well aware that it’s not enough to go further in the playoffs. The trend is towards depth in this title race, with the Knicks the only exception, and he hopes his managers will adapt quickly. The Joker needs teammates who can deliver even when he’s resting on the bench.