Nikola Jokic Reportedly Gave Speech to Nuggets Teammates Ahead of 2025 NBA Playoffs

Denver Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokić reportedly gave a speech to his teammates after the team parted ways with head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth.

ESPN's Shams Charania provided information regarding the matter on NBA Countdown Saturday, when Denver began its first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers.

"Shortly after Josh Kroenke, their owner, informed the team that they were dismissing Michael Malone as head coach and Calvin Booth as general manager, I'm told Nikola Jokic spoke to his teammates, told them we have goals this season, this year is not over. We have to stay together as a unit and get the job done," Charania reported.

"And for Nikola Jokić to speak up like that, sources in Denver tell me that they see a player that's fully comfortable now in his voice, they see a player that understands his power now not only to yield it but to also influence his teammates and impact his teammates and show them that, 'Listen, there's a reason why I'm speaking up. I feel like we have a shot.'

"One person in Denver told me if Nikola Jokić felt like we didn't have a real shot, we wouldn't be hearing from him like this."

Two years ago today, Denver was gearing up for an eventual NBA championship run, with Malone at the helm. Now Malone is gone, and the Nuggets have taken a clear step back in two seasons.

That isn't the case for Jokić, though, who just became the first big man (and third overall player) to average a triple-double over an NBA regular season.

With him at the helm, it seems like anything as possible, even if Denver had its share of struggles and just turned over its leadership with three games left in the regular season.

We'll see what happens soon enough as a team that's undergone its fair share of adversity embarks on a playoff run.