Nikola Jokic wants denver nuggets to make a pay cut on his teammates salary check

The NBA season is moving quickly, and while there's still plenty of basketball left to be played, the first 20 games or so have given teams a clear picture of what's working and what needs improvement. One team that hasn't lived up to expectations - but is likely to turn things around - is the Denver Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic. The 3-time MVP and current favorite to win the award again has been putting up video-game numbers, scoring 104 points, grabbing 30 rebounds and dishing out 16 assists in his last two games.

Why Jokic Suggested a Pay Cut for His Teammates

But even as Jokic continues to rack up the stats and dominate on the court, basketball is a team sport. The rest of the players - especially Jamal Murray - have underperformed in these early games, especially in the loss to the Washington Wizards, which was only their third win of the season. In a recent interview, Jokic suggested what we might call "punishment" for his teammates, suggesting that a pay cut for the team might motivate Denver to play harder.

That's not going to happen, of course, but it's a message to the entire team. Jokic knows that this kind of news travels and is likely to reach his teammates, although it's safe to assume that he told them directly as their captain. There's still a long season ahead, but the Nuggets have been top contenders in the West for six years, winning a championship in 2022 and reaching at least the playoff semifinals in five of the last six seasons. The only exception was 2021, the year before their title, when half of their starting lineup was injured and they were eliminated by the eventual champion Warriors.

The Impact of Jokic's Rest: From the Best to the Worst Team

The Nuggets will almost certainly make the playoffs, and their record is bound to improve despite the fierce competition in the Western Conference, where eight teams currently have between 12 and 14 wins. To put Jokic's historic season in perspective, the Serbian superstar ranks second in scoring, first in rebounding, second in assists, second in three-point percentage and sixth in steals on a per-game basis. When Jokic takes breaks during games - because he's human and needs rest - the team drops from the best to one of the worst in performance, as you can see in the chart above.

There is no doubt that we are witnessing history with Jokic. His dominance on the court goes beyond statistics; he creates opportunities for his teammates and increases their potential for success. He's already an all-time great. We may see some moves from the Nuggets before the trade deadline, as the core roster has remained largely unchanged despite their consistently strong seasons. Thoughtful trades could help a team that loses key pieces every year but rarely adds fresh talent to play alongside the joker.