In the immediate aftermath of a dreadful Game 7, it's become abundantly clear what the Denver Nuggets need: Depth in the playmaking department. A seven-game loss to a 68-win Oklahoma City Thunder team is nothing to panic over, but the Nuggets' lack of reliable facilitators proved devastating against an elite defensive team.
Compounded by the lack of assertiveness that has even the biggest of Nikola Jokic supporters questioning how he only took nine shots in a Game 7, Denver needs to help its franchise player.
For all of the criticism that he's received, Russell Westbrook was essential to the Nuggets' success in 2024-25. He was a rare source of offensive creativity off the bench, providing a playmaking punch that Denver otherwise struggled to generate without the starters on the court.
Unfortunately, once the postseason began, the 36-year-old Westbrook struggled to find his form—and the Nuggets' offense inevitably faltered.
Some might be inclined to point the finger at Westbrook, but the result that followed his inconsistency speaks more to the structure of the team than his individual play. Moreover, it epitomizes why Denver needs to go all-in on a top-tier backup point guard.
Asking Jokic to both run the offense and dominate as a scorer has never been sustainable—and a single championship season, glorious as it was, isn't enough to mask that fact any longer.
Nuggets need to put less pressure on Nikola Jokic to facilitate
During the Nuggets' championship season, Jokic was able to alternate shots, dominant scoring performances, and even facilitating responsibilities with Jamal Murray. Murray averaged 26.1 points and 7.1 assists during the 2023 postseason, including a team-high 10.0 assists per game during the NBA Finals.
With Murray thriving in a playmaking role, Jokic was unstoppable as a scorer, averaging 30.0 points on .548/.461/.799 shooting across 20 playoff games.
Fast forward to 2024-25, however, and Murray averaged 21.8 points and 5.2 assists per game in the playoffs. Those are by no means bad numbers, but Aaron Gordon's 2.7 assists per contest were third on the Nuggets behind Jokic and Murray.
Jokic inevitably faltered—it may be by his lofty standards, but Denver needs him at his best to win—as offensive consistency effectively boiled down to his ability to do everything.
Facing this harsh reality, the Nuggets must prioritize playmaking depth during the 2025 offseason. It's a proven way to ensure Jokic is not only productive, but assertive as a scorer. More importantly, it's the best chance Denver has to win with this current core.
By adding players who can help run the offense, Jokic would be able to pick his spots more meticulously and have teammates who can help ensure that the superstar is performing at an optimal level.
Nikola Jokic makes everyone better—Denver needs to do the same for him
Jokic has done an unbelievable job of bringing the best out of the players around him. His skill set is second to none, much as his willingness to prioritize his teammates' success has become the foundation upon which the Nuggets were built.
In order to prevent situations like Game 7, however, the Nuggets need a playmaker who can facilitate a new priority: Ensuring Jokic is assertive as a scorer.
As it stands, Jokic is tasked with leading Denver in scoring, running the offense as a playmaker, and crashing the offensive glass. Many will argue that it's the burden superstars carry, but few are tasked with the workload that has been entrusted to the Nuggets' franchise player.
Denver's starting lineup truly is elite, but asking the same player who runs the offense to dominate as a scorer in big moments is a flawed approach that overextends even the greatest of players' abilities.
Denver has enough balance in other areas to keep up with just about anyone, but the time has come to embrace the need for more variety in how points are generated. Jokic's ability to scan the floor and make the right decision will remain essential, but alleviating pressure is of equal importance.
If the Nuggets want to make the most of the 2025 offseason, then creating depth in the playmaking department will be pivotal to giving Jokic a shot at a second title.