The reason why the Nuggets failed this year is mainly because Jokic is alone

On May 29, the smoke of the 2024-2025 NBA Western Conference Finals had just dissipated, and the Nuggets fell on the road to winning the championship again. This team with Jokic as the core has shown strong competitiveness in the past two seasons, but the loss this season has exposed a cruel reality: even with a superstar like Nikola Jokic, two-time MVP winner, basketball is a sport of five people after all. When the opponent presses all the defense center on Jokic, the Nuggets' offensive system seems to be stretched and other players find it difficult to provide stable fire support continuously. The team has reached a crossroads where you have to find an All-Star helper for Jokic.

Jokic's performance this season is epic. The regular season averaged 26.4 points, 12.8 rebounds and 9.2 assists with a quasi-triple double-double, with a shooting percentage of up to 58.3% and a three-point shooting percentage of 35.8%. In the playoffs, he even raised his personal performance to another level, with a triple-double average of 28.6 points, 13.1 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game, and his PER efficiency value reached an astonishing 32.1. In the Western Conference semi-finals series against the Lakers, he almost destroyed his opponent's inside defense alone, and in the sixth game he scored 40 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists. However, Jokic's isolation is infinitely amplified when the team faces the younger, more athletic Thunder. The Thunder adopted an aggressive double-team strategy that forced Jokic to take the ball, while other Nuggets players were unable to continue to punish opponents' defensive choices.

Jamaal Murray, as the second leader of the team, has performed ups and downs this season. During the regular season, he missed 21 games due to injury, and his average of 18.9 points and 4.3 assists per game was acceptable, but his three-point shooting percentage dropped to 34.7%. In the playoffs, his form rebounded, averaging 22.4 points and 5.1 assists per game, but he still felt cold in key games. In the third game of the Western Conference Finals, Murray made only 8 of 23 shots and 1 of 7 three-pointers, which directly led to the team's defeat at home. Although Michael Porter Jr. has excellent shooting ability, averaging 17.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, and a three-point shooting percentage of 39.7%, he lacks the ability to create offense independently and is easily targeted by his opponents on the defensive end. Aaron Gordon is an important puzzle for the team, averaging 13.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, but his offensive limitations are obvious and he cannot share Jokic's pressure at critical moments. The Nuggets' bench problems have been exposed this season. Although players such as Reggie Jackson and Christian Braun occasionally have outstanding performances, they lack continuous output capabilities. During the playoffs, the Nuggets averaged only 21.3 points per game, ranking third from the bottom among all playoff teams. When Jokic went off the court, the team's offensive efficiency plummeted and was often taken away by the opponent's play. This lack of lineup depth has become a fatal shortcoming in the long playoff journey. The limitation of

The Nuggets' operating space is very limited. The total contract amount of Jokic, Murray and Porter has exceeded the salary cap, and it will be difficult for the team to have enough space to directly sign big-name free agents in the next few years. Therefore, strengthening through transactions has become the most realistic way. Although Porter is talented, his injury history and defensive problems make it difficult for him to become the real second-in-command. It may be wise to use him as a main bargaining chip to exchange for an All-Star player. Players like Dezante Murray and Zach Laven may be suitable targets. They can provide stable outside firepower and have certain organizational capabilities, which can greatly reduce Jokic's pressure.

Looking at the history of the league, there are only a few examples of single-core teams winning the championship. Nowitzki in 2011 had a help from a Mavericks with experienced veterans; Wade in 2006 had O'Neal in the inside; even Olajuwon in 1994 had Drexler in the second championship season. Modern basketball's dependence on star combinations is more obvious. The Warriors' Curry Thompson Green combination, the Lakers' James Davis dual-core, and the Celtics' Tatum Brown partner all prove the importance of multi-star configuration. If the Nuggets want to continue to be competitive in the next few years, they must build a deeper lineup around Jokic.

Head coach Michael Malone needs to reexamine the team's tactical system. Although excessive reliance on Jokic's high-level support is efficient, it is also easy to be targeted by opponents. Adding more off-ball runs and weak side covers to develop more offensive possibilities for Murray and Porter may bring new vitality to the team. At the same time, upgrading the defensive system is also imperative. This season, the Nuggets' defensive efficiency is only ranked 15th in the league, which is obviously not enough in the playoffs.

Jokic is about to turn 30 and is in the prime of his career. The Nuggets management must seize this window, otherwise the team will completely lose the opportunity to compete for the championship when Jokic declines. This summer will be a critical time point, and the team needs to show enough determination and courage to equip this player who may be the greatest player in the team history who can truly fight side by side. Denver fans have been waiting for too long and they deserve to see their teams stand on top of the league again. Basketball is a team sport. Even a genius like Jokic needs a capable left and right arm to realize his ultimate dream. The Nuggets' future depends on whether the decisions are wise this offseason.