Gave It His All! Nikola Jokic’s Maximum Effort Isn’t Enough—Is Denver’s Struggle Really All on Westbrook?

The Denver Nuggets' recent struggles reveal much more than a superficial loss column. Despite superstar Nikola Jokic’s outstanding efforts, Denver has started the season with noticeable issues in its lineup and rotations. The recent 104-109 loss to the Clippers on Denver’s home court was emblematic of their current situation—Jokic played his heart out, putting up 41 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks in 37 minutes. His shooting was impeccable, making 14 of his 26 field goals, 7 of 12 from three-point range, and 6 of 8 from the free-throw line. In the fourth quarter alone, Jokic went 7-for-5, hit 4 three-pointers on 5 attempts, and added 17 points, all while his team needed a hero. And yet, his remarkable performance could not bring Denver the win.

Jokic is not a stranger to delivering such standout performances, but his reaching the 40-point mark is still relatively rare. During last season’s regular games, he only managed three 40-point games across 79 matches. This season, however, he’s already hit the 40-point mark twice, showing just how hard he’s working to cover the deficiencies in Denver’s lineup. His opening performance was no less remarkable, achieving a triple-double in the season opener with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists. Despite his efforts, Denver lost to the Thunder by 15 points, with a final score of 87-102, illustrating a persistent problem.

Westbrook’s Up-and-Down Contributions: The Elephant in the Room

Russell Westbrook’s preseason gave fans a glimmer of hope. He put up decent numbers in three games, averaging 11.3 points, 2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game, with an impressive 55.6% shooting rate from three. However, his performance has since taken a downturn. In the first two regular-season games, his struggles have become painfully apparent:

• Against the Thunder, he played 21 minutes, going 2-for-10 from the field, 1-for-6 from three, and 1-for-4 from the line, totaling just 6 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal.
• Against the Clippers, he played 19 minutes but failed to make a single field goal in 8 attempts, including 3 three-point misses, managing only 2 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.

Westbrook’s deficiencies were on full display. He struggled with his shot, often left wide open by defenders, which allowed them to double-team Jokic and other players with ease. His back-to-the-basket mid-range shot, once a powerful part of his game, has also been inconsistent, and his finishing has faltered. Over two games, he made only one of seven attempts near the basket, with five of those misses blocked.

This lack of offensive production from Westbrook has been a major issue for Denver. When he’s on the floor, Denver’s offensive efficiency plummets to 70.6, and his plus-minus ratings from the last two games sit at -24 and -13. But while Westbrook’s struggles are a contributing factor, there’s more to Denver’s recent woes.

Key Roster Departures: Denver’s Core Has Thinned Out

The Nuggets’ championship-winning squad in 2023 was one of the best-built teams in recent NBA memory, with each player fulfilling a specific role that amplified the strengths of the roster. However, the offseasons following that championship saw Denver lose key role players who were essential to their title run.

Bruce Brown and Jeff Green were the first to depart, and their loss weakened Denver’s rotation, especially in the playoffs where depth can be a deciding factor. During the 2024 offseason, the Nuggets lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Jackson, players who provided both shooting and a “streaky scoring punch.” Despite an underwhelming playoff performance, their regular-season consistency helped maintain the team’s flow.

Normally, teams that experience this level of player loss make moves to reinforce their lineup in the positions where they’ve become thin. For instance, the Warriors added Buddy Hield after losing Klay Thompson, and the Mavericks signed Thompson and Quentin Grimes after losing Tyus Jones and Tim Hardaway Jr. The Nuggets, however, have been surprisingly inactive in addressing these gaps, which has significantly affected their lineup.

Lack of Spacing

Denver’s lack of shooting talent is a major reason for their offensive struggles. Jokic, typically a playmaker, attempted 12 three-pointers in the recent game, setting a new career high. He made 7 of them, yet even his superb shooting could not lift Denver to victory. The absence of a reliable shooter alongside Jokic and Murray has made it harder to create space, forcing Jokic into a shooting role that he shouldn’t have to assume so heavily.

Lack of Scoring Depth

Moreover, Denver’s bench scoring has been a concern, with no effective secondary scorer to relieve Jokic and Murray. The Thunder game highlighted this, as Denver managed a mere 87 points—a shocking result for a team led by a generational talent like Jokic. Denver hoped that Westbrook could fill this void by taking some playmaking responsibility, but his current struggles have only exacerbated the team’s issues.

A Bet on Westbrook and Christian Braun: A Miscalculated Gamble?

The Nuggets entered the season optimistic that Westbrook could reduce the load on Jokic and Murray, particularly in terms of ball-handling and offensive creation. However, Westbrook’s physical decline and inconsistency have been glaring, and he has struggled to add any value in critical areas for the Nuggets. On top of that, Denver placed high hopes on Christian Braun, a young player known for his hustle. While his energy and commitment are commendable, Braun is not a shooter and relies heavily on cutting for his scoring, making him a poor substitute for Caldwell-Pope’s perimeter shooting.

Denver’s once-perfectly balanced championship roster has been weakened, and as teams like the Lakers and Suns improve around them, Denver’s chance to repeat looks dimmer by the day.

Small Market Struggles and Financial Constraints

Denver’s struggles can, in part, be traced to its small-market status. With limited financial flexibility, the Nuggets committed big contracts to players like Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray. While they are both key contributors, these contracts have limited the team’s ability to retain or recruit role players. The Nuggets’ inability to hold onto players like Caldwell-Pope and Jackson due to financial constraints has left gaps that are becoming all too apparent on the court.

Jokic’s Frustration is Evident

Nikola Jokic, always the team player, addressed the situation post-game, saying, “Just because I scored 40 doesn’t mean I played well; we all need to play better.” This humbling statement highlights Jokic’s frustration—he is doing all he can, but even his stellar performances are proving insufficient to overcome Denver’s roster issues.

Late in the game, with 30 seconds left and the score tied, the camera caught a seemingly carefree Westbrook smiling on the bench. Given his 0-for-8 shooting performance, this was a surprising sight, leaving fans wondering whether his focus aligns with the team’s ambitions. For Jokic, who was visibly devastated at the loss and nearly ripped his jersey in frustration, the contrast couldn’t be clearer. Denver took a risk bringing Westbrook in, but if his commitment to winning is questionable, one has to wonder if he’s the right fit for a team with championship aspirations.