Nikola Jokić didn't mince words when asked if his Denver Nuggets could still win a title with the core from its 2023 championship team.

For the second straight season, Nikola Jokić's eternally resilient Denver Nuggets took a Western Conference heavyweight to seven games in the second round. And for the second straight season, Jokić's Nuggets ultimately fell short for the same reason.

Jokić played the entire second half as Denver rode it stars. But fatigue was evident as OKC rallied for the pivotal Game 5 win.

After lobbying for Nikola Jokić to win MVP in March, the former Denver Nuggets head coach has changed his mind.

Former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone is now on ESPN and he called Shai Gilgeous-Alexander NBA MVP and not Nikola Jokic.

The Nuggets did their best to push the Thunder in Game 7, but their loss highlights issues around Nikola Jokić

"Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he showed why he's MVP," Michael Malone said Tuesday during an appearance on ESPN's postgame coverage when discussing the Oklahoma City Thunder's 114-88 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.

If you’re wondering about the prospects that Nikola Jokić would request a trade out of Denver, you should likely think again. Never has The Joker indicated he would want to leave Denver, not after last season’s disappointing end or this season’s similar end.