After Michael Malone's dismissal, Jokic's reaction in the locker room of Nuggets unveiled

By Joël Pütz | Sports journalist

Michael Malone's dismissal had to be an earthquake for Nikola Jokic, he who had never known any other coach since his arrival in the NBA. Insider Shams Charania, however, unveiled the internal behavior of the pivot after the announcement.

CLIPPERS winners after extension, the Nuggets have relatively well started the 2024-25 playoffs. This largely thanks to Nikola Jokic of course, who came close to the triple-double against the Californians with 29 points, 9 rebounds and 12 assists. As we could see during the end of the regular season, it is not on the prosecution that the triple MVP seems most affected by the dismissal of the coach Michael Malone.

Informed of the decision of its leaders shortly before the dismissal of the tactician was made public, he logically was entitled to a longer period than the others to digest this news. However, it should be remembered that Malone was already in office when the Big Man Serbian walked for the first time an NBA parquet in 2015. The two men had therefore forged a stronger relationship with time.

Nikola Jokic's exemplary leader's attitude with Nuggets

Now however, it is David Adelman who provides the interim and Denver has no choice but to go ahead, starting with his Player franchise. That's good, that's exactly what the Joker did according to information shared by Shams Charania, who reported the behavior of the superstar in the locker room after the announcement:

Everything related to the organization of nuggets begins with Nikola Jokic. Shortly after the team owner informed the latter that he dismissed Michael Malone from his functions as principal coach and Calvin Booth of those of GM, Nikola Jokic spoke to his teammates and told them that the season was not finished and that they were still doing the job.

For Nikola Jokic to express themselves in this way, sources at Denver tell me that they see a player who is now fully comfortable in his speeches. They see a player who now understands his power, not only to give in, but also to influence his teammates and show them that there is a reason for which he is expressed.

What was described to me is a breath of fresh air between players and staff members. Players and other people in the organization have a lot of respect for the temporary coach David Adelman.

If all the problems of the nuggets are far from being resolved, the atmosphere does not seem too bad in Colorado. That's already it, when they fight for the title.

Nikola Jokic is not the most vocal player, but he immediately took matters into his own hands after the dismissal of Michael Malone in order to indicate the procedure to follow to other Nuggets. A way also to strengthen the position of the new coach.