Denver Nuggets eliminated in the NBA playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves
The Denver Nuggets were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves, a result that capped off a season below expectations. After the defeat, the team’s star, Nikola Jokic, didn’t mince words, suggesting that such a poor performance would have drastic consequences in his home country.
“Honestly, it’s not my decision. But definitely, if we were in Serbia, we’d all be fired,” the Serbian center emphatically stated, leaving open the idea that the Nuggets’ project needs a transformation for next season.
Despite the early elimination in the first round, which Jokic himself admitted leaves the team “very far” from the title race, the player reaffirmed his commitment to the franchise. “I want to continue being a Nugget forever,” guaranteed the player who, in 2023, led the team to its first NBA title.
Making a self-criticism, the MVP candidate acknowledged that his playoff performance fell short of expectations. “I had to have played better, I should have played better, especially in the first three games. They were better in those matchups,” admitted Jokic, who, however, maintained his impressive numbers as always.
Individually, Jokic caps off a spectacular year, in which he achieved a triple-double per game for the first time in his career, with 27.7 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.7 assists. However, his performance wasn’t enough to take the team further.
In the playoffs, one of the highlights was the defensive performance of Rudy Gobert of the Timberwolves against the Serbian center. Jokic himself praised his direct opponent: “He’s a great guy, he did a fantastic job on the rebounds, they were better than us.” The French center, in turn, expressed his satisfaction with the challenge. “Being able to face one of the best offensive players of all time… as a competitor, is what you dream of,” explained Gobert.
