The Denver Nuggets have been an afterthought in the Western Conference since winning the NBA title in 2023.
They have remained competitive, anchored by their star duo of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray . But they have been stuck in a limbo, good enough to contend but not good enough to win a championship.
Now, ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins is questioning how much time is left for the two to bring back the Nuggets to the NBA mountaintop.
"Denver's on the clock. Denver is on the clock," Perkins said on the Road Trippin' Show. "Out of all the teams in the league, like they are one of those teams that are under the most pressure."
Last season, Jokic finished in second in the MVP race after averaging a triple-double of 27.2 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists. Murray earned his first All-Star selection and All-NBA nod with averages of 25.4 points and 7.1 assists.
After winning the title, this high level of production from the duo has continued but has failed to yield tangible success, with the Nuggets failing to make it past the second round. In fact, last season, they had their worst postseason finish after falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round.
In Perkins' view, it's hard to keep relying on Jokic and Murray based on the recent results. For him, it's either the duo turns things around for the team and leads it to the title this season, or the Nuggets may have to part ways with one of them.
"Because at some point, you have to ask yourself how long are we going to continue to keep trying to see if this duo of Jokic and Murray can deliver a second championship," Perk said. "Like, Murray had a great regular season, but let's be honest."
Some of the core pieces of the 2023 championship team are no longer with the Nuggets, including Michael Porter Jr. and Bruce Brown. Still, Jokic and Murray are surrounded by a pretty strong supporting cast. They still have Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, and Christian Braun, who has faced heavy criticism since signing a five-year $125 million contract.
This season, the Nuggets strengthened their roster with a six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan. But after seeing the competitive landscape around the league change during the offseason, Perkins now doubts the Nuggets' ability to contend.
Their Western Conference rivals also made major moves in the summer, particularly the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers, while some teams, including the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, remain a force to be reckoned with.
"Let's be honest…teams has gotten better. Can they do it?" Perkins asked. "If they don't, it's going to be time for them to part ways."
Jokic is now playing his 12th NBA season. At 31 years old, the Serbian has won a Finals MVP, three MVPs, while earning eight All-Star and eight All-NBA selections. Despite the Nuggets' recent struggles, their franchise centerpiece is still very much in his prime.
The Joker still has several good years left in his prime, and Perkins does not want the Nuggets to waste them by failing to surround him with the right players and coaches.
"We're talking about a top 10 center of all time. We're talking about arguably the best player in the game of basketball in his prime. The Denver Nuggets can't continue to afford to waste Jokic's greatness," Perkins said . "At some point, they have to do what's right by him."
The Nuggets are now 1-1. They still have a long season ahead of them, which is plenty of time for Jokic and Murray to prove Perkins wrong.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Oct 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
