‘Why GM got fired’ – Charles Barkley shares shocking concern about Nikola Jokic’s future with Nuggets
Nikola Jokic is an annual MVP contender and a future Hall of Famer. But the Joker’s playoff struggles have become a national story, and former NBA great Charles Barkley revealed his concern about Jokic’s status with the Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic is having a tough playoff series vs Oklahoma CityGetty “He’s wearing down,” Barkley said on Inside the NBA. Jokic’s nightly averages in points and shooting percentage have been off in the postseason, while Denver is stuck in a tough Western Conference semifinals series against the top seed Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC were 92-87 winners in Game 4 on Sunday and MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander again outplayed Jokic, who only shot 7-of-22 from the floor and was 2-of-8 on 3-pointers. Denver was even worse from the field. The Nuggets only connected on 31.3 percent of their field-goal attempts and 24.4 percent of their 3s. Barkley partially blamed the NBA for bad scheduling, with both teams facing short rest periods. But the Hall of Famer also took big shots at Denver’s roster, in-game coaching decisions, and Jokic’s overall durability. “Denver has never addressed their backup center situation or their bench,” Barkley said. “That’s one of the things that hurt them last year. Because he (Jokic) gave out of gas last year against Rudy (Gobert) and Big Kat (Karl-Anthony Towns). “I don’t think it’s fair to blame everything on the Joker. But he has not played well.” x@nbaontntCharles Barkley suggested why Jokic is ‘wearing down’[/caption] GettyOklahoma City has attacked the Joker all over the court[/caption] GettyJokic has acknowledged his tough run as of late[/caption] Jokic has acknowledged his struggles during the series. “Basically it was one team playing tonight,” Jokic said after OKC won Game 2 in a 149-106 blowout, days after taking the opener following a seven-game slugfest with the Los Angeles Clippers. Denver fired its head coach and general manager days before the end of the regular season. With deficiencies maximized in the playoffs, which feature extended series and cross-country travel, Jokic’s been exposed at the same time that the Nuggets need him more than ever. “Joker looking tired, but also Thunder have been playing great (defense) on him,” one fan tweeted. “He’s definitely looking sluggish out there,” a second fan posted. “The Thunder are also making him work for everything he gets.” “Chuck might be on to somethin’,” a third fan wrote. “Jokic lookin’ a little gassed late in games. That short bench hittin’ different when every minute matters. Denver better find some help quick!” “This is why the GM got fired,” a fourth fan said. If the Nuggets drop the series to the Thunder, SGA could win the NBA MVP and move onto the Western Conference finals. Jokic would face an offseason filled with questions, and Denver still must permanently replace its head coach and GM.
Nikola Jokic is an annual MVP contender and a future Hall of Famer.
But the Joker’s playoff struggles have become a national story, and former NBA great Charles Barkley revealed his concern about Jokic’s status with the Denver Nuggets.
“He’s wearing down,” Barkley said on Inside the NBA.
Jokic’s nightly averages in points and shooting percentage have been off in the postseason, while Denver is stuck in a tough Western Conference semifinals series against the top seed Oklahoma City Thunder.
OKC were 92-87 winners in Game 4 on Sunday and MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander again outplayed Jokic, who only shot 7-of-22 from the floor and was 2-of-8 on 3-pointers.
Denver was even worse from the field.
The Nuggets only connected on 31.3 percent of their field-goal attempts and 24.4 percent of their 3s.
Barkley partially blamed the NBA for bad scheduling, with both teams facing short rest periods.
But the Hall of Famer also took big shots at Denver’s roster, in-game coaching decisions, and Jokic’s overall durability.
“Denver has never addressed their backup center situation or their bench,” Barkley said.
“That’s one of the things that hurt them last year. Because he (Jokic) gave out of gas last year against Rudy (Gobert) and Big Kat (Karl-Anthony Towns).
“I don’t think it’s fair to blame everything on the Joker. But he has not played well.”
Jokic has acknowledged his struggles during the series.
“Basically it was one team playing tonight,” Jokic said after OKC won Game 2 in a 149-106 blowout, days after taking the opener following a seven-game slugfest with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Denver fired its head coach and general manager days before the end of the regular season.
With deficiencies maximized in the playoffs, which feature extended series and cross-country travel, Jokic’s been exposed at the same time that the Nuggets need him more than ever.
“Joker looking tired, but also Thunder have been playing great (defense) on him,” one fan tweeted.
“He’s definitely looking sluggish out there,” a second fan posted. “The Thunder are also making him work for everything he gets.”
“Chuck might be on to somethin’,” a third fan wrote. “Jokic lookin’ a little gassed late in games. That short bench hittin’ different when every minute matters. Denver better find some help quick!”
“This is why the GM got fired,” a fourth fan said.
If the Nuggets drop the series to the Thunder, SGA could win the NBA MVP and move onto the Western Conference finals.
Jokic would face an offseason filled with questions, and Denver still must permanently replace its head coach and GM.
