NBA star torches fan base after boos rain down after first half: ‘They are not welcome anymore’
Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokić criticised fans who booed the team at half-time of its first home game, saying they should not come back. Denver recovered from an 18-point deficit to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 141-135, but Jokić’s remarks have put the spotlight on the pressure surrounding the team’s early season form.
Jokić recorded 35 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, while Denver shot 48 per cent from the floor and 32 per cent from three-point range. The Nuggets had lost their season opener to Oklahoma City and were seeking to avoid an 0-2 start; they won 54 games last season before losing to Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs.
In short
- Denver came back from 18 points down to beat New Orleans.
- Jokić said fans who booed should not return.
- The Nuggets had lost their season opener to Oklahoma City.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Jokić’s rebuke can be seen as a defence of a team that was still competing despite a poor start, and as a reminder that support need not disappear when players struggle. Boos at half-time may undermine confidence and overlook the effort required to recover from a large deficit; fans who cannot accept a difficult spell might reasonably be told their attendance is not helping.
The case against
Fans can argue that paying to attend gives them a legitimate way to express disappointment, especially after a season-opening loss and amid high expectations for a team that won 54 games last season. Their boos may reflect concern about the team’s performance rather than hostility towards the players, and telling them not to return risks alienating supporters whose engagement and scrutiny are part of professional sport.
Explained simply
The Denver Nuggets are a team in the National Basketball Association (NBA), the top men’s professional basketball league in the United States. Nikola Jokić, a Serbian centre, is the team’s leading player and a three-time NBA Most Valuable Player.
Fans often expect a team that won 54 games last season to compete strongly, but Denver was knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. That history helps explain why supporters were watching the team’s early results closely.
The New Orleans Pelicans are another NBA team, and Oklahoma City are the reigning champions. Denver’s start matters because it may shape expectations for the season and how the team responds to pressure from supporters.
Basketball Business Celebrity Entertainment Markets Sport World