George Karl Sounds Alarm on Nuggets’ ‘Shaky’ Roster Around Jokic: Is Denver Wasting His Prime?

Former Denver Nuggets coach and Hall of Famer George Karl sounds alarm on Nuggetsregarding their handling of Nikola Jokic’s championship window. Drawing comparisons to the Golden State Warriors’ successful strategy of building around Steph Curry, Karl expressed concerns that the Nuggets’ approach in surrounding Jokic with the right pieces could be jeopardizing their chances for future titles.

George Karl Sounds Alarm on Nuggets’ ‘Shaky’ Roster Around Jokic

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), George Karl didn’t mince words about his uncertainty over the Nuggets’ offseason decisions. “When a team has the fortune of landing a generational player, like Curry or Jokic, it should do all it can to capitalize on that player’s greatness—and win as many championships as possible. The Warriors did with Curry. Will the Nuggets with Jokic? It’s shaky right now,” George Karl wrote. His comments come at a critical juncture, as the Nuggets face the challenge of maintaining their title-winning momentum following a lackluster offseason.

Nikola Jokic, the reigning Finals MVP and one of the most dominant players of his generation, is entering his prime with an impressive resume: one NBA Championship and three MVP awards. However, as George Karl suggests, the future might not be as bright as it appears for the Denver Nuggets, especially after several key roster changes that have left fans and analysts wondering if they’ve done enough to stay competitive in a fiercely challenging Western Conference.

The most glaring issue facing the Nuggets is the depletion of their roster depth. Bruce Brown, one of the most crucial contributors during their championship run, departed in free agency, signing with the Indiana Pacers. Jeff Green, another key role player, also exited, leaving a significant gap in the Nuggets’ supporting cast.

While Christian Braun and Peyton Watson have been lauded for stepping into bigger roles, their relative inexperience raises doubts about whether they can fully fill the shoes of their predecessors. Karl’s skepticism is rooted in the fact that building and maintaining a championship-caliber team requires not just top-tier talent but also a deep bench that can support stars like Jokic and Jamal Murray through the grind of an 82-game season and a brutal playoff gauntlet.

Karl’s mention of Golden State’s strategy with Curry underscores a crucial point: the Warriors surrounded their superstar with versatile role players like Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, and, later, Kevin Durant. This allowed them to dominate the NBA landscape for nearly a decade. In contrast, the Nuggets seem to be banking on younger, unproven talent to help carry the load, a gamble Karl clearly feels may not pay off.

In a surprising move, the Nuggets signed former MVP Russell Westbrook to address their depth issue. Westbrook, known for his explosive playmaking and high-energy performances, brings experience and tenacity, but his fit with the Nuggets remains a contentious topic. Westbrook has long been criticized for his erratic shooting and high turnover rate, qualities that could either electrify or sink the team’s chances, depending on how well he adjusts to his role.

George Karl didn’t specifically comment on Westbrook’s signing, but the broader “shaky” critique implies that relying on a player with Westbrook’s track record may not be the safest bet. To be effective in Denver, Westbrook will likely need to embrace a reduced role, either coming off the bench or operating as a facilitator alongside Jokic and Murray. However, if his playstyle clashes with the team’s system, it could lead to even bigger issues for the Nuggets.

Adding to the uncertainty surrounding the Nuggets is the reported tension between head coach Michael Malone and the front office. According to ESPN’s Zach Lowe on “The Lowe Post” podcast, there are “rumblings” that Malone is not pleased with how the offseason played out, particularly regarding the failure to retain Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a reliable 3-and-D wing who played a pivotal role during their title run.

“There are rumblings. Rumblings! That the coaching staff and front office, or at least the head coach and the front office, aren’t exactly seeing eye to eye in Denver. To a degree even unusual for the NBA,” Lowe noted. If true, these internal disagreements could compound the difficulties already facing the Nuggets this upcoming season.

Losing Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic is yet another blow to Denver’s roster continuity, and this departure has likely amplified the concerns within the organization. As the Nuggets prepare for the 2024-25 season, Malone’s frustration could manifest in how the team approaches its game plan, rotations, and overall chemistry.

What makes George Karl’s warning so timely is that Nikola Jokic is in the middle of his prime, and his talents deserve the best possible support to maximize the team’s chances of winning multiple championships. With one title already under his belt, Jokic has the potential to lead the Nuggets to more, but only if Denver can assemble a cohesive, deep, and reliable team around him.

Karl’s concerns about whether the Nuggets are fully capitalizing on Jokic’s generational talent are not just a critique of the team’s roster moves but also a challenge to the organization to recognize the fleeting nature of championship windows. Denver’s management will need to make swift and strategic decisions in the coming seasons, or risk squandering the best years of Jokic’s career—just as Karl fears.

While some may dismiss Karl’s critique as overly cautious, the parallels he draws to the Warriors’ success with Curry should not be ignored. Golden State’s dynasty was built on careful roster construction and leveraging every opportunity to win. The question now is whether Denver can replicate that formula before it’s too late.