Nikola Jokic had a message for fans who booed the Denver Nuggets during Saturday’s home opener at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo.
The New Orleans Pelicans took a 91-69 lead over the Nuggets on a Jeremiah Fears jumper midway through the third quarter, prompting Denver head coach David Adelman to call a timeout. As the two teams walked off the floor, boos rained down from the spectators in the stands.
The Denver Nuggets are getting booed at their home opener. https://t.co/OhT2oD90k2
— Showtime Luka (@showtimeluka) October 25, 2026
The moment lit a fire in the Nuggets. Denver outscored New Orleans 57-35 for the rest of the second half to force overtime and sealed a 141-135 victory in the extra period.
Jokic was eager to talk about the boos when asked about them during his postgame interview.
“I’m actually so glad that you mentioned that,” Jokic told reporters. “Because we get booed in the first home game. I think those fans who booed us, they don’t need to come anymore.
“Because if you guys follow us, you know that we never quit. We came back from much worse situations. So if they ask me, they are not welcome anymore.”
Nikola Jokic has a message for the fans that were booing the Nuggets in the first half:
“They are not welcome anymore.” https://t.co/cZR2cr5ku7
— Rachel Strand (@MileHighRachel) October 25, 2026
Knowing Jokic, some may wonder whether he was trolling. But multiple reporters at the press conference noted that he sounded “dead serious” in his comments. Jokic has also made it clear in the past that he’s getting tired of fan interactions as the years go by.
Jokic gave Nuggets fans something to cheer about in Saturday’s win, totaling 35 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks in the contest. Jamal Murray was equally exceptional with 42 points and 8 threes.
The Nuggets duo must have taken those boos personally.