Kendrick Perkins Issues Bold Prediction About Next Step For Denver Nuggets

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By JH Kubicek | Last updated Apr 10, 2025 2:00 PM ET

Earlier this week, the Denver Nuggets made the shocking choice to fire longtime head coach Michael Malone, who led them to their first title in 2023.

Malone and Nikola Jokic seemed to get along swimmingly, with Malone even going as far as to take on an advisory role with the Serbian National Team. However, as the Nuggets slid down the standings, the relationship may have worn thin.

While Jokic has a solid supporting cast around him, the reality is this: the skillsets of Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr. are all replaceable.

One former player thinks Denver will enter this season with absolutely everyone, aside from Jokic, on the chopping block.

"When it gets to Nikola Jokic, I think this was just the start of what's to come,” predicted Kendrick Perkins. “Meaning that they're starting to clean house, right? Everyone is auditioning except for Nikola Jokic, right? Everyone is under the radar, under the microscope, except for Nikola Jokic. And what he's saying is he don't want it to be fool's gold by getting to the second round of the playoffs. All of a sudden it's like, oh, bring the squad back."

Given that Jokic is a three-time MVP winner and top player in the league, it's a travesty that the Nuggets have made the Finals only once during his tenure. They are a frequent fixture of the playoffs but have made the Conference Finals only twice.

"No, we're going in a completely different direction," Perkins continued. "We want to win championships. Nikola Jokic is going to be here. We don't know who else is going to be here.”

With a championship as the clear goal, Denver knows Jokic can lead them there, but everyone else on the roster has a lot to prove and little time to do it.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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