“If we were in Serbia, we’d all be fired” - Jokic’s brutal verdict on Nuggets’ collapse
The Denver Nuggets were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 6, and star Nikola Jokic delivered a blunt message.
The Denver Nuggets’ season ended in disappointment on Friday night, as they were eliminated in six games by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
THE TIMBERWOLVES ELIMINATE THE NUGGETS 🐺
— ESPN (@espn) May 1, 2026
Minnesota handles Denver in six games despite injuries to advance 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ACjWLY48f6
Jokic delivers blunt message after Nuggets playoff elimination
The third-seeded Nuggets entered the postseason as one of the league’s most dangerous offensive teams, riding a 12-game winning streak and leading the NBA in scoring during the regular season. But against a younger, more physical Timberwolves team, Denver was unable to sustain their early momentum.
After winning Game 1, the Nuggets let a 19-point lead slip away in Game 2 and never fully recovered control of the series. Minnesota’s defensive pressure and rebounding edge proved decisive down the stretch, including a 110–98 win in Game 6 that sealed the upset.
Denver’s offensive identity, which had produced 122 points per game during the regular season, was repeatedly disrupted. The Nuggets failed to reach 100 points in three of the six games, including both home losses late in the series.
Despite strong individual performances from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, Denver struggled to find consistent production across the roster. Murray shot just 4-of-17 in the elimination game, while supporting contributors were unable to consistently match Minnesota’s physicality.
The loss also came amid a season filled with injuries and lineup instability, with key players such as Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson unavailable by the time the series concluded. It marked another early postseason exit after having entered the year with championship expectations.
Following the defeat, Jokic delivered a strikingly candid assessment of where the team stands.
“We just lost in the first round. I think we are far away,” Jokic said.
When asked about potential changes to the roster or organization, the two-time MVP deferred responsibility away from himself while also offering a blunt cultural comparison.
“That’s not my decision,” he said. “Definitely, if we were in Serbia, we would all be fired.”
Nikola Jokic: “We just lost in the first round. I think we are far away.”
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 1, 2026
Changes needed?
“That’s not my decision. Definitely, if we were in Serbia, we would all be fired.” pic.twitter.com/9JfZftejzt
Jokic later emphasized that head coach David Adelman should not shoulder blame for the team’s struggles.
“No, it’s not his fault that we cannot rebound. It’s not his fault that we cannot catch the ball,” Jokic said. “There is nothing to blame on David Adelman. It was all us.”
Adelman, who completed his first full season as head coach, also took responsibility for the early exit.
“I’m the head coach,” Adelman said. “I take responsibility for things that didn’t go well here.”
The Nuggets had entered the playoffs viewed as a legitimate contender after late-season success and significant roster investment in the previous offseason. However, inconsistency, injuries, and defensive breakdowns, particularly on the glass, ultimately derailed their postseason run.
Minnesota capitalized throughout the series, winning key physical battles and generating extra possessions, including a decisive edge in offensive rebounds in Game 6. The Timberwolves’ athleticism and defensive intensity repeatedly forced Denver out of rhythm.
Denver now shifts focus to an offseason filled with uncertainty. The team remains anchored by Jokic and Murray, but after another early playoff exit, the gap between expectation and result is once again under scrutiny. And in Jokic’s own words, that gap may be larger than the Nuggets hoped.
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