Nikola Jokic’s biggest requests were met this offseason, a Denver Post column is saying.
Denver rebuilt everything this offseason — its roster, leadership, and voice — around Nikola Jokic. After last spring’s playoff exit, the Nuggets hit reset, betting that their three-time MVP’s selfless genius can carry them back to the top.
The column by Troy Renck argues that the franchise has been reshaped in Jokic’s image: low drama, high IQ, and unselfish to the core. New head coach David Adelman, formerly an assistant under Michael Malone, is pushing a read-and-react system that leans fully into Jokic’s strengths. His message to Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon is simple: take louder ownership when things get tough. Players say that new tone has already sharpened the team’s edge.
Denver’s overhaul started in the front office, with GM Calvin Booth and Malone both moving on after the postseason. Adelman’s promotion signaled a shift toward continuity and alignment, while July’s roster shuffle reinforced that plan. The Nuggets traded Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn for Cam Johnson, signed Tim Hardaway Jr., brought back Bruce Brown, and landed veteran center Jonas Valanciunas through the Dario Saric deal.
Every move pointed toward balance. Johnson adds spacing and switchable defense, Brown’s return restores the energy that fueled Denver’s 2023 title run, Hardaway brings instant offense, and Valanciunas finally gives Jokic a dependable backup big, something the Nuggets lacked in past postseasons.
“The goal is to move the ball and play the right way,” Adelman told reporters during training camp. “That’s what Nikola does better than anyone. He makes the right play.”
It’s a philosophy that mirrors the organization’s larger reset. Denver’s hierarchy, from ownership down, wants everything orbiting Jokic’s leadership and style of play. The roster is smaller, smarter, and more flexible — an intentional shift after years of running out of depth behind its stars.
The fit appears seamless on paper. Johnson’s shooting should open driving lanes for Murray, Brown’s cutting fits perfectly in Jokic’s orbit, and Valanciunas can soak up minutes and physical matchups that would otherwise wear down the MVP. He and Jokic, too could share the court and create a new dynamic that the Nuggets have never shown before with a two-big lineup. Hardaway’s floor spacing gives Denver its best bench scoring option in years.
What It Means for Denver
Jokic has long been the league’s most consistent superstar, but last season exposed the limits of Denver’s formula when injuries and fatigue hit. The new structure aims to solve that problem — spreading creation duties, reestablishing defensive intensity, and re-centering leadership around Jokic’s voice. Adelman’s challenge is to fuse those pieces quickly enough to compete with the NBA’s loaded West, where Oklahoma City, Minnesota, Los Angeles and Golden State all improved.
The organization’s messaging is clear: no more excuses. Jokic has the roster, the coach, and the system he wants. If the Nuggets’ blueprint works, this season could bring MVP No. 4 – and banner No. 2 – to Denver. And if things go South? Well, the rumor mill is always turning.
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