The Denver Nuggets have spent the Jokic era with a built-in advantage few teams can match. Nikola Jokic has been the engine for six straight seasons, finishing first or second in MVP voting every year, and he remains the reason the Nuggets can look like a juggernaut when he’s on the floor.
The problem shows up when he sits.
That’s the real issue hanging over Denver’s ceiling: the non-Nikola Jokic minutes. Over the past five seasons, the Nuggets have posted a +10.8 net rating with Jokic playing and a -7.5 net rating when he’s off the floor. Even when Jamal Murray is on the court in a staggered setup with Jokic out, the number still sinks to -5.8.
That gap is why the Nuggets brought in new assistant coach Dave Joerger. Denver wants his voice in the room, his experience on the bench, and, most of all, his defensive know-how. He’s there to help head coach David Adelman and to push the second unit toward something sturdier than the current drop-off.
Joerger’s value starts with defense. He’ll be working with a second unit that includes DeMar DeRozan and Julian Strawther in the backcourt, and defensive specialist Alpha Diallo could be the piece that helps a scheme click. If Denver can find a better defensive structure for those non-Jokic stretches, it could chip away at the damage those minutes have done.
There’s reason to believe Joerger can help. He has nearly three decades of coaching experience, including six years as an NBA head coach, and his track record suggests he knows how to improve a defense with the pieces he’s given.
With the Memphis Grizzlies, the results were steady after he was given the defensive keys by then-head coach Lionel Hollins. Memphis went from a 109.9 defensive rating and 19th place in 2009-10 to 9th at 105.1 in 2010-11, then climbed all the way to 3rd at 102.2 by 2014-15.
He helped the Philadelphia 76ers make a similar leap. In 2019-20, before Joerger joined Doc Rivers’ staff, Philadelphia ranked 8th with a 109.0 defensive rating. The next season, that number improved to 2nd at 107.6.
If Denver is going to narrow the divide between its Jokic minutes and everything else, Joerger looks like the right coach to try. If it works, he could end up as one of the Nuggets’ most important offseason additions.
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Nikola Jokic has never acted like a superstar who wants the spotlight, but this offseason has made it clear the attention is wearing on him more than usual. He has been loyal to the Nuggets, yet the constant pull of his fame is starting to change how he navigates everyday life, and that is the kind of shift Denver fans tend to notice because it says as much about the grind of stardom as it does about the player himself.
For the Nuggets, the bigger concern is what comes next. Rival teams are already keeping an eye on Jokics contract timeline ahead of next summer, when he could sign an extension or potentially head toward free agency, and analysts are already mapping out the kind of historic deal that could be waiting if he stays put in Denver. The only real question now is how long the Nuggets can keep a player of his stature comfortable enough to make staying the obvious choice. [Read more 🡒]
Jokic Just Eased One Nuggets Fear While Keeping Another Alive
Nikola Jokic gave the Nuggets something close to peace of mind when he said he plans to sign a contract extension with Denver next year, even as he heads into this season on an expiring deal. The two-time MVP made clear the delay is a business choice, not a sign of tension, and it aligns with the confidence coming from the front office, where executive vice president Ben Tenzer has spoken positively about the relationship.
Still, the story does not fully go away just because Jokic has eased one fear. The Nuggets can feel better knowing where his intent appears to be, but the calendar still leaves room for the unexpected, with circumstances potentially changing before he has the chance to put a new contract in place in July 2027. For a franchise built around him, that means the relief is real, but it is not yet final. [Read more 🡒]