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Nikola Jokic expressed that the Denver Nuggets are 'far away' from winning another title after their first-round playoff loss to the Timberwolves. The Nuggets, who were the No. 3 seed, lost the series 4-2 despite facing a Minnesota team with key injuries.
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Nikola Jokic gives honest assessment of Nuggets' future title hopes after first-round loss to Timberwolves originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Three years removed from their first title in franchise history, the Nuggets' star player Nikola Jokic believes that the team is "far away" from another.
After entering the playoffs as the No. 3 seed, the Nuggets lost 4-2 to an injury-riddled Minnesota Timberwolves team, who were down their star SG Anthony Edwards, PG Donte DiVincenzo and explosive replacement Ayo Dosunmu. Despite these injury concerns, Minnesota still clinched the series with a 110-98 win on Thursday.
This season marks Denver's eighth consecutive postseason appearance. In that span, the Nuggets have only lost in the first round one other time, to the Warriors during their 2022 Championship run. Jokic, who has spent his entire career in Denver, has been accustomed to first-round success in the playoffs.
Nikola Jokic stated that the Nuggets are 'far away' from winning another title following their recent playoff exit.
The Nuggets lost the playoff series 4-2 to the Timberwolves, who were missing several key players due to injuries.
The Nuggets won their first championship three years ago, marking a significant achievement in the franchise's history.
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After the devastating loss, however, Jokic was asked about the team's future aspirations for a championship. And despite a respectable season in Denver, Jokic had a message that could serve as a harsh wake-up call for many.
Here's what the Serbian center had to say about the future of the Denver Nuggets.
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After the game, Jokic was asked how far the team is from being a championship contender. He was frank in his response.
"We just lost in the first round. I think we are far away." Jokic said per ESPN's Anthony Slater
As a follow-up, Jokic was asked if changes were needed for the team going forward. Jokic hesitated, emphasizing that this decision is the front office's responsibility.
"That's not my decision. Definitely, if we were in Serbia, we would all be fired." Jokic said per Slater.
While these comments are often enough to kick off a whirlwind of trade expectations, especially for someone of Jokic's caliber, the Nuggets' center shut this down.
"I still want to be a nugget forever," Jokic said per Slater.
While there is surely a laundry list of teams that would love Jokic's talents, it seems they may have to wait. Jokic is up for free agency in 2027 at the earliest, but has a player option for the 2027-28 season. He is also eligible for an extension this offseason, valued as high as 4 years and $293 million.
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