The opening night for the Denver Nuggets was a major disappointment, as Nikola Jokic and the team struggled against the OKC Thunder at Ball Arena, losing 87-102. This defeat highlighted the impact of losing their best shooter, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. In response, the Serbian star voiced his frustrations with the front office, emphasizing the harsh reality of the situation.

Nikola Jokic emphasized that his teammates Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray are the only consistent shooters on the team. Speaking bluntly to the media after the defeat, the 29-year-old said, “I mean, we don’t shoot the ball really well. We are not a good shooting team. Except Mike and Jamal. All of us are kind of streaky. Not streaky, but you know, just average shooters. We have something else; we can probably be better and have advantages in some other areas.” This remark is sparking speculation that the three-time NBA All-Star is urging his coach and the front office to bring in a shooter who can turn things around for the Nuggets.

This outburst from the Olympian also highlights the significant loophole that Coach Malone has left open for rivals to exploit. Days before the regular season began, the head coach criticized his players, stating they were “out of shape.” However, there appears to be more at play than just Malone’s claims. The first game may have exposed the tough position Denver currently finds itself in.

Michael Malone’s past claims exposed as Nikola Jokic’s disappointment with the loss comes to light

Well, the opening game didn’t go as planned for the Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic scored 16 points with 12 rebounds and 13 assists in the 35 minutes he was on the court. Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. secured 12 and 15 points respectively. The game was a disappointment, exposing the flaws within. Meanwhile, Malone’s jab at his players earlier in October seems to have proven somewhat false. This is because Joker’s post-game press conference is exposing a bigger picture before the audience.

Michael Malone had boldly claimed: “The league has gotten so soft. Everybody’s afraid to condition and run. Well, we have to.” He also said some of his players weren’t in shape for the preseason games back then. However, the fact that the team is lacking a shooter following Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s exit. But, there are still chances for the front office to remedy this situation with a trade to acquire a shooter or two. Three prominent names are waiting to be picked. One of them is Nikola Jokic’s countryman Bogdan Bogdanovic, who is on a $17.6 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks. The other two shooters are Duncan Robinson and Aaron Nesmith.

The Nuggets have a crucial decision to make. They can either ride out this rocky start or take action to bolster their roster. Despite Nikola Jokic’s impressive contribution, the team’s shooting struggles exposed a glaring weakness that the Nuggets cannot overlook. With Caldwell-Pope’s absence felt acute, Jokic’s candid remarks underscore the urgency for reinforcements. Coach Malone’s earlier critique of his players being “out of shape” now seems inadequate in addressing the core issue. The pressure is on, and fans are eager to see how the Nuggets will respond. Only time will tell if they can turn the tide and reclaim their status as a championship contender.