Josh Kroenke saying Nuggets might be one wrong injury away from trading Nikola Jokic reveals the team's biggest problem

Josh Kroenke saying Nuggets might be one wrong injury away from trading Nikola Jokic reveals the team’s biggest problem originally appeared on Basketball Network.

In Greek mythology, Prometheus was a titan — a being who didn’t blindly obey the will of the gods but defied them in the name of humanity. In an act of unimaginable courage and defiance, he stole fire from Mount Olympus and gifted it to mankind — a gesture that symbolized the birth of civilization, knowledge, creativity and free will.

But he paid the price. Zeus chained him to a rock where an eagle would peck at his liver every day — an eternal punishment for selfless giving.

Prometheus became a symbol of progress, creation and resistance to authority — but also of the eternal suffering of those who give more than the world is ready to accept.

How much more can one give?

Today, in a modern sports context, the Denver Nuggets have their own Prometheus — Nikola Jokic. He may not carry fire from Olympus, but his creativity, selflessness and brilliant basketball mind carry similar weight.

Jokic doesn’t just play basketball — he creates it, builds it, weaves it. His presence on the court reshapes the rules of the game, his understanding of space and time is unprecedented. He’s a gift that could form the foundation of a dynasty.

But just like Prometheus was punished by Zeus, Jokic is — in his own way — shackled by the man who should recognize and lift that gift: team owner Josh Kroenke and his father. Not as wrathful gods but as owners whose stubbornness, frugality and lack of ambition are slowly wasting Jokic’s prime. While the heart of the team beats strong, the rest of the body is starved.

Jokic, like Prometheus, gives everything — and while the chains around him are invisible, they are real. The only question remains: how much more can he give before he burns himself out?

The Serbian superstar has played a total of 839 games in his career — counting regular season and playoffs. Never — not once — has he had a teammate or coach who was on an All-NBA, All-Star or All-Defensive team.

While Jamal Murray has delivered two unforgettable playoff runs — especially in 2023 when they won the championship — he has never come close to any of those honors.

And that’s the sad truth about small vs. big markets in the NBA.

The truth lies somewhere in the middle

Only teams from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago or Miami attract superstar talent — unless a franchise decides to overpay them. And Kroenke is among the last owners in the league who’d be willing to open his wallet to build a true contender team around Jokic.

Now, apart from Serbian superstar, the Nuggets’ big contracts also belong to Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., both of whom are not guaranteed to stay in Colorado this summer.

However, those deals were signed before the new CBA rules on salary cap were introduced. The now-infamous second apron rule prevents teams from overpaying their stars or building superteams unless they’re willing to pay massive penalties.

Then again, there are guys like Phoenix Suns’ Matt Ishbia, who was willing to blow past the second apron to pair Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant. However, the “drunk millionaire” hasn’t succeeded in his mission, with Durant being traded to the Houston Rockets.

Kroenke chose three rookies to lead Jokic through his prime

This summer, the three-time MVP will be eligible for a three-year contract extension from the Nuggets, as confirmed by the team president and KSE executive, a key figure in Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Nuggets.

With that extension, the Serbian superstar would earn over €200 million, but Kroenke left things open-ended, admitting he’s not certain Jokic will accept the offer.

“We’re definitely going to offer it to him. I’m not sure whether he’ll accept or not, because we’re going to walk him through all the financial implications of signing now versus later. We’ll be fully transparent. That’s how we always operate. And then he’ll make the best decision for himself and his family — and we’ll support him,” Kroenke said.

“If the wrong person were to get injured, we could quickly be facing a scenario I never want to think about — having to trade No. 15 (Nikola Jokic),” he added.

After firing head coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth just four games before the 2025 playoffs, then handing the coaching reins to the cheapest option available — Dave Adelman, passing over a list of high-profile names — Kroenke took it even further by appointing two GMs: Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace.

Meanwhile, Bob Myers, the architect of the Golden State Warriors dynasty, was available. And Tim Connelly, the man who built Denver’s championship core, was waiting with an exit clause in his contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, hoping for a call.

Instead, Kroenke chose three rookies to lead Jokic through his prime, while the current roster — one Jokic himself admitted “has no championship potential” after this year’s playoff exit — is basically locked in under contracts.

Growing frustration is visible

Jokic most likely wants to spend his entire career in Denver — the city he’s called home for 10 years. But the growing frustration is visible. The best Serbian player of all time is clearly aware that the rest of the team simply can’t keep up with him.

This brings us to the painful truth: it’s not Malone’s fault — even though he was stubborn, he wanted to surround Jokic with a veteran presence to elevate the team. Nor is it Booth’s fault — he followed the owner’s plan with a young core of drafted players, even if he may have personally had other ideas.

The blame lies with Kroenke — or “Zeus,” if you will — who, just like with the FC Arsenal soccer club, also run by his family, locked away his team’s full potential by stubbornly clinging to his own vision.

If Jokic — after one of the Top 5 greatest statistical seasons in NBA history — couldn’t win the NBA title or even MVP, it’s clear that things have been falling apart for a while. Yet, no one seems to notice.

And so we arrive at the possibility that Jokic may have to become a modern Prometheus — not someone who blindly follows the will of the gods, but someone who defies them in the name of humanity.

Because it truly is a tragedy that humanity may be deprived of the full glory of one of the greatest ever — all because of one stubborn “god.”

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.

Josh Kroenke saying Nuggets might be one wrong injury away from trading Nikola Jokic reveals the team’s biggest problem

Tags: