The Denver Nuggets, who were the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference last season, are struggling over a month into the 2024-25 season. Through 16 games, they are 9-7 and own the No. 8 seed in the West. Furthermore, they have lost four of their last six games off the heels of their five-game winning streak. Denver’s recent struggles culminated in a 145-118 blowout loss at home against the New York Knicks. After the game, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone revealed what he wants to see out of his team going forward, and it starts right at the top.
In his post-game press conference, Malone said he wants to see stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray ‘be vocal.’
“Well, yeah, I mean like Russell Westbrook, he’s vocal — but we need more than Russell Westbrook,” Malone replied. “I need Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, I need guys that have been here in that starting lineup to be vocal. And you know tonight we got embarrassed. “We’re 16 games in and we’re talking about effort, we’re talking about toughness, we’re talking about physicality. … And regardless of who’s in, who’s out, who do we want to be as a team? So, yeah, leadership would be great, toughness would be great, physicality would be great, playing like you actually care would be great, and we didn’t do that tonight.”
Michael Malone Reveals the Struggling Denver Nuggets’ Biggest ‘Need’
Michael Malone Rips the Nuggets After Loss to the Knicks
Malone, who coached the team to their first NBA title in franchise history in 2023, made his frustrations known on Monday night. After the game, Malone made it clear that the Nuggets are “not flushing” the loss. Additionally, he called out the team’s lack of effort and physicality.
“F— that man, no. No, we’re not flushing,” Malone said in response to a reporter’s question. “You don’t flush when you get embarrassed, you don’t flush when you gave up 145 points, you don’t flush when you didn’t play hard, didn’t play with effort, physicality, I’m not flushing anything.”
Though they technically have a winning record, the Nuggets have been inconsistent all season. Last season, the Nuggets finished as a top-10 team on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. This season, they rank as the 17th-best defensive team and the eighth-best offensive team in the league. The season is still young, and the Nuggets have dealt with some injuries, but it is still an underwhelming start for the team.
Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray Reflect After Nuggets Loss
Malone was not the only member of the Nuggets who spoke about his disappointments with the team. Jokic and Murray also talked about the Nuggets’ struggles.
“It’s always a good punch in the face just to wake up,” Jokic said. “Coach was right. We are in the games, and we are always down 20 at a half. I don’t know [what’s going on]. We don’t warm up, we don’t wake up, or we just don’t play hard enough. I don’t know what it is, but collectively, we need to do a better job.”
“It’s a long season. Guys have lives outside of basketball,” Murray said. “We just beat L.A. in L.A. We’ve got some guys who live in L.A., so stayed in L.A. I don’t think the focus was there from everybody, and that’s what happens when you don’t have the focus.”
The Nuggets will have another chance to right the ship on Wednesday as they go on the road to take on the Utah Jazz.
