Nikola Jokic has spent two of the past three offseasons recruiting veterans who thrive as scorers and playmakers. In 2024, it was Russell Westbrook. In 2026, it was DeMar DeRozan. Both were understandable pursuits given the Denver Nuggets' offensive limitations, but they seem to represent subtle commentary about the role Jokic is asked to play.
By encouraging the Nuggets to encourage veterans who thrive on offense despite their defensive woes, Jokic appears to be asking Denver to take pressure off of him in a way they continue to fail to.
Jokic shoulders an offensive workload that both exemplifies his all-time greatness as a player and is likely difficult to carry. For as awe-inspiring as it is, it's also a bit concerning that Jokic led the NBA in assists per game and ranked No. 8 in scoring in 2025-26.
Yes, it's par for the course for the walking triple-double, but that doesn't mean it's a sustainable path to championship glory.
Keep in mind: Jokic averaged 24.5 points and 14.8 field goal attempts per game during the Nuggets' championship season. Since then, he's averaged 26.4 points and 17.9 field goals, 29.6 points and 19.5 field goals, and 27.7 points and 17.4 field goals.
Denver lost in the first or second round of the playoffs in each of those three seasons. As such, perhaps the DeRozan signing isn't ill-advised, as critics have suggested. Perhaps it's a call for help.
Nuggets need to help Nikola Jokic carry less weight on offense
Yes, signing DeRozan is just like signing Westbrook. There are clear strengths to be found in both players, but their flaws are difficult to overlook. For Westbrook, it was his erratic jump shooting. For DeRozan, it's his defensive inconsistency.
The reality in both scenarios, however, is that the Nuggets lacked the financial resources to pursue prime-year players who may have offered more well-rounded value.
The most obvious counter to that persistent issue is the one that the Nuggets refuse to embrace: Internal development. Had Denver developed scorers and playmakers who can take pressure off of Jokic, perhaps he could've paced himself more comfortably through the regular season.
Unfortunately, the one up-and-comer who appeared ready to take on that task was Peyton Watson—who attempted no more than 6.3 shots per game until his contract year and then left in free agency.
Perhaps the likes of Spencer Jones and Julian Strawther will step up in 2026-27. Neither is known for their playmaking, however, which is exactly why 30-and-over veterans with defensive flaws such as DeRozan and Tyus Jones are on the roster and likely to play fairly significant roles as Denver looks to alleviate pressure from Jokic.
Whether or not critics agreed with the DeRozan and Westbrook signings, the Nuggets aren't making the necessary progress on the internal development front to avoid relying on veterans to honor an apparent request from Jokic to lighten his workload.
Add us as a preferred source on Google