Nikola Jokic shares honest take about Nuggets owner following the victory against the Clippers

Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets punched their ticket to the Western Conference Semifinals after a hard-fought Game 7 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday. In a tightly contested series, the defending champions proved they remain determined to compete for another title, and after the decisive win, Jokic had a pointed message for team owner Stan Kroenke.

Following the 4–3 series win, Jokic addressed the media to reflect on the team’s performance against the Clippers. While praising his teammates for their resilience throughout the series, Jokic also commented on the front office’s bold decisions earlier in the season.

Late in the regular season, the Nuggets made a controversial move by parting ways with longtime head coach Michael Malone, despite being on track for a playoff berth. Assistant coach David Adelman was promoted to interim head coach, and during this postseason run, he’s shown he can guide the team through high-stakes matchups.

With that context in mind, Jokic shared his thoughts on the coaching change and the message it sent from the front office. “I think the owner wanted to change something, to change the energy, and probably he did [by letting go of Malone]. He got the result he was looking for,” Jokic told reporters.

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets.

Nuggets’ coaching staff changes prove to be a turning point

Despite some initial criticism surrounding the Denver Nuggets’ decision to part ways with Malone, the move has yielded positive results. Now in the Western Conference Semifinals, the team appears revitalized, proving that the coaching change may have been the spark they needed.

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A Nuggets executive spoke with ESPN about the front office’s bold decision, which came shortly before the end of the regular season. “If we don’t make the changes, there’s no way we’re even in a Game 7,” the executive said, emphasizing just how crucial the coaching shift was to their postseason success.

Nuggets coach Adelman reflects on championship run after Game 7 win

Following the team’s Game 7 victory over the Clippers, Rick Adelman shared a powerful message about the current squad’s mentality heading into the Western Conference Semifinals. For Adelman, this team feels eerily similar to the one that captured the title just two seasons ago.

“I thought it reminded me of the year we won it,” Adelman told reporters. “There’s a lot of humble confidence in there. You have to go into these games with great respect for who’s across the hall and what those guys are capable of. But you also can’t enter thinking, ‘We can’t do this.’ We’ve done it, we’ve seen it, and we’ve succeeded before.”