Surprising revelation from Denver: President Josh Kroenke agrees with Nikola Jokic on an important issue.

After a heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Nikola Jokić didn’t mince words. The Denver Nuggets’ superstar center was blunt, frustrated, and brutally honest.

“I mean, we didn’t (win a championship),” Jokić said. “So, obviously we can’t.”

Despite a strong regular season and another MVP-caliber campaign, Jokić’s post-playoff remarks weren’t about individual performance. Instead, they zeroed in on a single glaring issue that haunted the Nuggets throughout the 2025 playoffs: lack of depth.

And in a rare show of unified urgency, team president Josh Kroenke agreed.

Jokić’s Brutal Honesty: “We Definitely Need Depth”

Coming off a second-place finish in the 2025 NBA MVP voting, Nikola Jokić was again one of the most efficient and dominant forces in the league. His unique blend of scoring, playmaking, and rebounding kept Denver competitive in every game, including their hard-fought seven-game series against the top-seeded Thunder.

But for all his brilliance, Jokić saw a fatal flaw.

“It seems like the teams that have longer rotations, longer bench, are the ones who are winning.”

The message was clear: the Denver Nuggets’ bench unit simply wasn’t good enough to support a deep playoff run.

With veteran departures, unproven young players, and injuries disrupting rhythm, the Nuggets leaned too heavily on Jokić and Jamal Murray, especially late in games. The result? An exhausted starting five and an exposed second unit.

Josh Kroenke: “I Heard Jokić’s Comments Loud and Clear”

What’s most encouraging for Nuggets fans is that this concern isn’t falling on deaf ears.

Team president Josh Kroenke, who oversees basketball operations alongside GM Calvin Booth, made it clear that he’s aligned with his franchise player.

“I heard Jokić’s comments loud and clear,” Kroenke said. “I think I was thinking that before those words came out of his mouth.”

Kroenke emphasized that no dramatic rebuild or reset is needed. The team’s foundation—with Jokić, Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr.—is strong. But he acknowledged the need to raise the ceiling by surrounding the core with a deeper, more reliable supporting cast.

“Can they achieve that as currently constructed? I think the answer, as Jokić said after the playoffs ended, was obviously no.”

Nuggets’ 2025 Playoff Run: A Story of Talent, Not Stamina

The 2025 postseason showed flashes of what the Nuggets can do at full power. They took care of business in the first round and pushed the surging Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games. But across the series, especially in Games 4 and 6, Denver’s bench was consistently outplayed.

Outside of Jokić and Murray, contributions were inconsistent:

• Reggie Jackson struggled defensively.

• Peyton Watson showed promise but lacked polish.

• Christian Braun regressed in terms of scoring reliability.

• Zeke Nnaji and Julian Strawther were non-factors.

Meanwhile, OKC countered with Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe, each delivering impactful minutes off the bench. Over the series, the disparity in second-unit production became impossible to ignore.

Free Agency and Roster Moves Loom Large

Heading into the 2025 offseason, Denver has some key decisions to make.

• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has a player option and could seek a longer-term deal elsewhere.

• Reggie Jackson and Justin Holiday are both aging veterans, and their future roles are uncertain.

• Michael Porter Jr.’s durability continues to raise questions about his long-term fit.

If the Nuggets want to stay contenders in a loaded Western Conference, they’ll need to infuse youth, energy, and shooting into their rotation.

Options could include:

• Pursuing veteran shooters on team-friendly deals.

• Packaging young players or picks for a proven sixth man.

• Targeting free agents with defensive versatility who can guard 2–4.

Draft Strategy: Nuggets Need Readiness, Not Projects

In recent years, Denver has used its late first-round picks to develop long-term prospects like Strawther and Braun. But after the lessons of the 2025 playoffs, the Nuggets may pivot.

Expect the front office to focus on NBA-ready college seniors or international pros who can contribute immediately off the bench. Even a backup center to alleviate Jokić’s minutes load could be a smart investment.

The Jokić-Murray Window Is Now

At 30 years old, Nikola Jokić is in his prime. Though his game is built on skill and feel, not athleticism, there’s no guarantee that this level of dominance will last indefinitely.

Jamal Murray, meanwhile, is 28 and still searching for a fully healthy season. When he’s on, he’s one of the most lethal playoff guards in the NBA. But the Nuggets can’t afford to waste another season betting on perfect health without a competent third scoring option or bench unit to pick up the slack.

The message from the top is simple: Denver’s championship window is open—but not forever.

No Reset Needed—Just Reinforcement

Both Jokić and Kroenke have emphasized that Denver doesn’t need wholesale changes. There’s no need to panic or blow things up. But what they do need is smart reinforcement, especially when it comes to the bench and rotational depth.

“We need to take a hard look at how we can raise our ceiling going forward,” Kroenke said.

That means finding players who can contribute in high-stakes games, not just during the regular season. It also means identifying lineup combinations that don’t bleed points when Jokić is off the floor.

Denver’s margin for error is thin, and in today’s Western Conference arms race, any weakness gets exposed quickly.

Western Rivals Are Getting Stronger

Denver’s road back to the top won’t be easy. The Oklahoma City Thunder have arrived ahead of schedule with MVP-caliber Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, rising star Chet Holmgren, and a terrifyingly deep bench.

Elsewhere:

• The Minnesota Timberwolves are stacked with size and defense.

• The Phoenix Suns, if healthy, still feature Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.

• The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers may retool around their aging stars.

• Even the New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings have room to improve.

To stay ahead of the pack, the Nuggets must be proactive—not reactive.

Jokić Is Holding Up His End—Now It’s the Front Office’s Turn

Nikola Jokić has never been one to complain. In fact, his demeanor is famously understated. So when he speaks out—even briefly—about something like depth, it carries weight.

It signals to the front office, teammates, and fans alike that this team is close but incomplete.

“We definitely need it,” Jokić said simply. And coming from him, that says everything.

Now, it’s on Josh Kroenke, Calvin Booth, and the Nuggets’ brass to deliver.

Conclusion: Depth Is the Final Piece in Denver’s Repeat Puzzle

The Denver Nuggets still boast one of the best cores in the NBA, led by the best player in the world in Nikola Jokić. Their 2025 playoff run, though short of a championship, proved that they can hang with anyone—as long as their bench doesn’t give out.

With Jokić and Kroenke aligned, the message is clear: this isn’t about blowing it up—it’s about building it better.

If the Nuggets can hit on just a few key moves this offseason, don’t be surprised if they’re hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy again next June.