Jokic Tells Booing Nuggets Fans They Are 'Not Welcome Anymore'

Nikola Jokic, the three-time MVP for the Denver Nuggets, has told fans who booed the team at halftime of their game against the New Orleans Pelicans that they are "not welcome anymore." The Nuggets secured a 141-135 victory on Saturday night, overcoming an 18-point deficit.

Denver trailed 75-57 at the break, and the home crowd at Ball Arena expressed their displeasure. Following the dramatic turnaround win, Jokic addressed the booing directly. "We got booed at our first home game, and I think those fans who booed us, they don’t need to come anymore," Jokic said, according to ESPN. "If you guys follow us, you know that we never quit and we've come back from much worse situations. So, if they ask me, they are not welcome anymore."

Jokic contributed significantly to the comeback, recording 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Nuggets shot 48% from the floor and 32% from beyond the arc, while the Pelicans capitalized on Denver's 12 turnovers for 15 points.

The loss to the Pelicans marked an 0-2 start to the season for the Nuggets, who had previously lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Last season, Denver finished with a 54-28 record and secured the third seed in the Western Conference, but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite a consistent record of over 50 wins for four consecutive years, the team has won only one championship in that span.