{"id":275856,"date":"2025-05-08T11:25:54","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T11:25:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/08\/nikola-jokic-gives-blunt-assessment-on-179-2m-forwards-production-getting-hindered-by-injury\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T17:08:34","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:08:34","slug":"nikola-jokic-gives-blunt-assessment-on-179-2m-forwards-production-getting-hindered-by-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/08\/nikola-jokic-gives-blunt-assessment-on-179-2m-forwards-production-getting-hindered-by-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"Nikola Jokic gives blunt assessment on $179.2M forward\u2019s production getting hindered by injury"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content\" data-postid=\"4908884\" data-slug-id=\"2509500\">\n<div class=\"vidazoo-player-container\">\n<span class=\"vidazoo-close-btn  hidden \"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/cmc-predictor\/v2\/cross-icon.png?w=40\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"close\"\/><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/basketball\/nikola-jokic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Nikola Jokic<\/a> and the Denver Nuggets hardly got any contribution from Michael Porter Jr. in Game 2 on Wednesday against the OKC Thunder. Porter finished the game with eight points, five rebounds and one steal. The starting forward played 25 minutes, the least among the starters in Denver&#8217;s 149-106 loss.<\/p>\n<p>When told about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/basketball\/michael-porter-jr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Porter<\/a> telling the media about how his injury has affected his movement and play, Jokic responded:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cHe\u2019s fighting, of course, and it\u2019s a good thing and we appreciate it, but that cannot be an excuse.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><template id=\"bets-today-poll\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"preview-card-holder bets-today-poll\">\n<p><span class=\"date\"\/> \u2022 <span class=\"time\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"march-madness-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/march-madness-logo.png\" height=\"42\" width=\"99\" alt=\"march madness logo\"\/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p><template id=\"also-read-articles-template\"><\/p>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p>The sweet-shooting forward, who signed a five-year, $179.2 million contract in 2021, has been playing through a shoulder injury. Porter did not miss any game in the first round series against the LA Clippers, but he is clearly not 100%. Still, Nikola Jokic would not accept the issue as an &#8220;excuse&#8221; for the Nuggets&#8217; blowout loss.<\/p>\n<p>Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 24.5 minutes per game against the OKC Thunder, a drop-off from his 32.4 MPG in the first round. The injury, which reportedly needs weeks to recover from, must have gotten worse after the grueling series versus the Clippers.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/basketball\/denver-nuggets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Denver Nuggets<\/a> pulled off the upset in Game 1 despite Porter hardly playing because of the stellar play of Aaron Gordon and Russell Westbrook. Neither Gordon nor the former OKC Thunder star could sustain their form in Game 2. Nikola Jokic himself struggled against Oklahoma\u2019s defense and fouled out late in the third quarter.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Nikola Jokic does not want to forget the blowout loss<\/h2>\n<p>Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets were on the receiving end of a historic beatdown from the OKC Thunder on Wednesday. Jokic said after the game that \u201cone team was playing tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The three-time MVP had this to say when asked if the Nuggets should quickly turn the page for Game 3:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cI think we should just not forget about it. We should learn from it and be much better.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Nuggets interim coach David Adelman echoed the same opinion when he said his team should not immediately &#8220;flush&#8221; out the loss.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of the mindset for the Nuggets, both Nikola Jokic and Adelman were united in saying that they have to be better. With Michael Porter Jr. likely limited throughout the series, Jokic and Co. will have to adjust to prevent another hammering at the hands of the Thunder.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-post-rating-widget\">\n<p><template id=\"post-rating-feedback-modal-template\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-feedback-box\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-content\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-data\">\n<p>Why did you not like this content?<\/p>\n<p><textarea id=\"dislike-feedback-text\" rows=\"4\" placeholder=\"Please type your feedback...\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<button class=\"close\">Cancel<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"submit\">Submit<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-widget-parent hidden\">\n<div class=\"rating-parent-container\">\n<div class=\"rating-content-holder\">\n<p>Was this article helpful?<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-action-container\">\n<div class=\"like-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-like-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"like\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"post-like-image post-rating-image\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" alt=\"like selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dislike-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-dislike-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"dislike\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"post-dis-like-image post-rating-image\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" alt=\"avatar selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\nThank You for feedback\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-author-info-parent\">\n<span class=\"about-the-author\">About the author<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"author-info-holder\">\n<div class=\"author-pic-holder\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"author-pic\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg width=\" height=\"100\"\/><rect width=\"100\" height=\"100\" style=\"fill:rgb(128, 128, 128);\"\/>&#8221; data-lazy=&#8221;https:\/\/keedag.sportskeeda.com\/user-pic\/574869-1717241309-200.jpg?w=200&#8243;<br \/>\nalt=&#8221;Michael Macasero&#8221; height=&#8221;72&#8243; width=&#8221;72&#8243;&gt;\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-bio-detail-holder\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p class=\"author-bio\" id=\"author-bio-text\">\nMichael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.<\/p>\n<p>Michael&#8217;s background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.<\/p>\n<p>Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes\u00a0Popovich&#8217;s genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.<\/p>\n<p>Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael&#8217;s reporting philosophy and he\u00a0believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.<\/p>\n<p>Aside from work, Michael&#8217;s children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.\n<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"author-know-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/author\/mikailmail051521-1\" aria-label=\"Author know more\">Know More<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tag-cloud\">\n<div class=\"tags-text\">\n<div class=\"scrollable-content-holder  article-padding\">\n<p class=\"article-p  \">Quick Links<\/p>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerLeft\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Left \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"background: none;\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-left.svg\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button><\/p>\n<nav id=\"pnProductNav\" class=\"pn-ProductNav\">\n<\/nav>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerRight\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Right \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"background: none;\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-right.svg\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<p>More from Sportskeeda<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<span class=\"publisher-name\">Edited by Michael Macasero<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/basketball\/news-nikola-jokic-gives-blunt-assessment-179-2m-forward-s-production-getting-hindered-injury-cannot-excuse\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets hardly got any contribution from Michael Porter Jr. in Game 2 on Wednesday against the OKC Thunder. Porter<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":275857,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[180],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275856"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=275856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/275856\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/275857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=275856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=275856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=275856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}