Nikola Jokic has called out Denver Nuggets supporters who jeered the team during its comeback win against the New Orleans Pelicans, stating that those fans should stop attending games. Denver erased a 23-point deficit to claim a 141-135 overtime victory on Saturday, but the three-time NBA MVP was displeased with the home crowd’s reaction.
The Nuggets had opened the season with a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring only 84 points, their lowest regular-season total since January 2024. Their sluggish start against New Orleans sparked more frustration before the team staged a dramatic turnaround.
Nikola Jokic responds to Nuggets fans booing
The Pelicans built a lead of up to 23 points in the first half and were still ahead by 16 with 7:24 left in the fourth quarter. Denver eventually forced overtime by holding New Orleans without a field goal attempt in the final 80 seconds of regulation, then outscored them 15-9 in the extra period.
The mood in the arena shifted sharply as the Nuggets completed their comeback. Fans who had booed earlier began chanting “MVP” for rookie Trevon Brazile during overtime, a reaction that did not please Jokic.
“We got booed at our first home game, and I think those fans who booed us – they don’t need to come anymore,” Jokic said. He added that people who followed Denver would know the team never quit and had bounced back from far worse situations, concluding that the fans who booed were “not welcome anymore.”
Denver Nuggets’ comeback raises questions about fan pressure
The frustration among Denver supporters followed a tough stretch for the franchise. The Nuggets lost their first-round playoff series last spring despite facing a Minnesota Timberwolves team dealing with injuries, while their offseason move involving forward Peyton Watson and the Cleveland Cavaliers was largely motivated by financial reasons.
Those events increased worries that Denver’s championship window with Jokic might be shutting. Trailing the Pelicans by more than 20 points seemed to confirm those fears, giving fans more reason to express their displeasure before the comeback changed the atmosphere.
Despite the concerns, Jokic again helped Denver secure a win. His presence gives the Nuggets a chance to compete whenever he is on the team, but his future could become a major topic as he nears unrestricted free agency next offseason.
Although Jokic has repeatedly said he plans to re-sign, that does not guarantee he will stay in Denver. Fans may therefore need to show more patience with the franchise’s star player rather than risk letting their frustration influence his future choices.