Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets looks on in the second overtime period against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Inset, DeAndre Jordan. Credit: Getty Images/Dustin Bradford/Isaac Wasserman/Clarkson Creative

DeAndre Jordan reveals what Nikola Jokic told him in the locker room immediately after 61 point performance

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Andrei De Guzman | Last updated Apr 4, 2025 9:30 AM ET

Nikola Jokic showed his supreme talent with a spectacular performance for the Denver Nuggets this week.

Playing without his two co-stars in Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., Nikola Jokic went on a frenzy with a 61-point triple-double masterpiece against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Unfortunately his all-time display was spoiled as the Denver Nuggets collapsed in 140-139, after a disastrous late sequence from Russell Westbrook, who instantly regained his reputation as a top subject of scrutiny.

Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

DeAndre Jordan drops major revelation about Nikola Jokic in the aftermath of Nuggets star’s all-time play

After his major 61-point performance, Jokic was absolutely running on fumes. Besides leading everyone with points, Jokic played the majority of the lengthy matchup, logging a game-high 53 minutes of action.

Right after the marquee showdown, Jokic let it be known to veteran teammate DeAndre Jordan that he needed to take a breather.

The next night he sat out, the team’s second night of their back-to-back against the San Antonio Spurs, where Westbrook had a bounce-back performance.

“I mean, he absolutely played great. He played about 53 minutes. I’m leaving the locker room then I saw him in the training room getting worked on and I’m like, ‘Yo, good game, big fellah.’

“He’s like, ‘Hey, I’m not playing tomorrow. My back hurts. You have to play,'” Jordan shared on Run It Back.

“I’m like, ‘Alright, cool.’ I knew after the game that he’s probably gonna be out.”

The Nuggets need to be alarmed over Jokic reliance

Jokic was notably out for five-straight games in late March as he nursed an ailing ankle injury. And after the big game against Minnesota, he certainly deserves a break to recover.

Jordan’s revelation about Jokic’s comments should not be taken lightly. The Nuggets have to do whatever it takes to provide Jokic proper basketball help he needs on a nightly basis.

Recently, former NBA veteran Kendrick Perkins aired his concerns about Jokic carrying Denver.

“I’m worried about Jokic,” Perkins said on ESPN’s NBA Today. “They rely on him so much offensively. “He has to do so much to provide that great offense to make guys around him better to be able to put up big buckets.

“We saw it last year. When Minnesota put them out. That was my first ever signs of seeing Jokic having fatigue.

“What I’m saying, if these others don’t really start picking it up, and here we are going into the post-season, I’m having worries that might happen again this post-season.”

With the 2025 NBA Playoffs around the corner, the Nuggets need to rally around Jokic if they want to win the title.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: