Jokic tells Denver fans booing is a habit he does not understand

Nikola Jokic stated on Monday that fans who boo their own team are not real fans. The comment came after the Denver Nuggets suffered a 134-114 home defeat to the Golden State Warriors. Jokic used the loss to reinforce a position he took two days earlier, asserting that the behavior is foreign to how he has experienced the sport.

The dispute began after the Nuggets defeated the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. During that game, Denver trailed by 20 points before mounting a comeback to win. The crowd booed during the deficit, which sparked Jokic's initial frustration. He described the situation as a promise that the team would never quit, a sentiment he felt the crowd ignored.

Jokic's comments reflect his background in European basketball. He said he prefers the intensity of European crowds, where pressure is high but directed at the opponent. He noted that he has played in front of crowds ranging from 10 to 15,000 people in Europe. He claimed he has never heard of fans booing their own team in that environment.

In an interview with The Denver Post, Jokic said, 'I just said what I said.' He explained that he is sticking to his previous statements. He said he is not used to fans booing their own team. When asked if European fans do this, he replied, 'I've never heard (of fans doing) that.' He added, 'But I think they are not real fans.'

The Nuggets have struggled offensively and defensively since the season started. The team has fallen behind by 20 points or more in both of its home games. Both opponents were winless teams. Denver is currently 0-3 without the Saturday comeback. The team ranks 25th in net rating and 26th in defensive rating.

Defensive metrics show the team allowing 41.7 attempted 3-pointers per game, which ranks 28th in the league. Denver also allows 52.7 points in the paint per game and 18.7 second-chance points per game, both ranking 21st. Jokic said he is not surprised by these numbers. He noted that the team was ranked 20-something in defense last year. He said it is hard to change habits overnight.

Offensive issues are compounded by the absence of perimeter shooters Cam Johnson, Spencer Jones, and Julian Strawther. The Nuggets are shooting 31.1 percent from deep after three games. Jokic went 5-for-23 from the three-point line in the loss to Golden State. Coach David Adelman said he is not concerned by Jokic's shooting percentage.

Team members have different reactions to the booing. Power forward Aaron Gordon said he would rather hear booing than silence. Adelman said the reaction is individual to each player. He said he heard the booing but was focused on finding a rotation to win the game. He said the team has won the most home games in the league in the last 10 years.

Adelman said he did not think the booing had a motivational effect on the team during the comeback against New Orleans. He said he was told about the reaction after the game. He said Jokic has earned the right to have an opinion because of his success. He said the fans and players are connected and feed off each other. He said the group of players and the fans have a history together in that building.

Jokic is not under contract beyond this season. He has promised to stay, but his comments show a clear preference for a specific type of home atmosphere. The team will continue to play at Ball Arena, where the crowd dynamics are now a subject of internal discussion.