Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic hit back at his critics over his level of commitment to basketball.
Jokic is playing the 11th season of his NBA career with the Nuggets. He earned his place as one of the best players in the entire league, often making it look easy with his elite skill set.
How simple it seems has left critics debating whether the veteran superstar has cared enough about the game over the past few seasons. Jokic finally addressed those things during an interview with ESPN's Malika Andrews, and dismissed the idea that he doesn't care.
"There are a lot of people who say, 'Well how much does he care?'" Andrews asked.
Joc responded, "I care a lot. ...I think if you don't care about winning you shouldn't be in this game."
"There are a lot of people who say, 'Well, how much does he care?'"—@malika_andrews
"I care a lot. ...I think if you don't care about winning you shouldn't be in this game." -Nikola Jokic 🏀 pic.twitter.com/oASUyjZSCf
- NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) 18 February 2026
What's next for Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets?
It's clear that Nikola Jokic has proven himself to be a dedicated winner in the NBA for a long time. That was especially the case throughout his tenure with the Nuggets, leading them to the mountaintop with a 2023 championship.
Jokic continues to be remarkable throughout the 2025-26 season. He averaged 28.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, 10.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game in 39 games. He is shooting 59% from the field, including 42% from beyond the arc and 84% from the free-throw line.
Denver compiled a 35–20 record on the season and finished third in the Western Conference standings. They are one game up on the Houston Rockets and 1.5 games up on the Los Angeles Lakers. However, they trail the San Antonio Spurs by 3.5 games and the Oklahoma City Thunder by 6.5 games.
With the All-Star break over, the Nuggets will resume action with a three-game road trip. They will face the Los Angeles Clippers on February 19 at 10:30 PM ET, the Portland Trail Blazers on February 20 at 10 PM ET, and the Golden State Warriors on February 22 at 3:30 PM ET.
