The Denver Nuggets sent ripples across the league on Tuesday when they fired Head Coach Michael Malone and General Manager Calvin Booth. Malone had coached Nikola Jokic and his Nuggets to a championship just a couple of years, thus, the abrupt firing was a surprise. Is the firing a sign of a shifting tide?
3x NBA MVP Nikola Jokic shared a strong bond with Michael Malone. Their chemistry was the defining feature of the 2022 champion. Will the firing of Malone impact Nikola Jokic’s decision to retire with the Nuggets? The murmurs are picking up about his potential departure from the franchise where he became a mega superstar. Which team can Nikola Jokic potentially choose during the upcoming 2025 off-season?
Per Bovada, the Lakers have the most favorable odds of landing the Joker. If he decides to do so, his trio with LeBron James and Luka Doncic can arguably be the most stacked we have ever seen. It is a lucrative destination. Jokic’s star power will grow further while he can also increase his chances of winning a championship.
At the same time, Jokic has a rather low-key personality, and the LA lights can be too suffocating for him. Denver was a perfect destination because he got them to unprecedented heights while maintaining his unique persona.
KK Mega Basket is a part of Serbia’s Adriatic Basketball League. Jokic spent four years with Mega Basket to begin his pro basketball journey. Jokic misses Serbia a lot and can’t wait to get there once the season is over. Will he spend the second half of his prime on his native soil? Sounds unlikely, but the bookmakers are interested in this venue.
Yes, there is a club named Nikola Jokic’s nickname in Serbia’s basketball league. However, the club isn’t among the elite teams in the Eastern European landscape. But a player like Jokic can change that overnight. Isn’t it intriguing to imagine the Joker playing a club named after him, tho?
Bovada has assigned the Raptors as the second-most likely NBA team to land the best all-around center of all time. Jokic’s persona fits with Toronto. Plus, he gets to play with young talents like Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley. The speedy team may be the answer to infuse some energy. And what if the team lands Cooper Flagg in the upcoming draft? It can sway Joker’s heart, right? But the chances of the current Raptors core winning a championship look negligible, but you never know if they can relish the dream of winning it again after 2019 with Jokic.
The Clippers have built a strong core with James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Norman Powell, and Ivica Zubac. They are a much better defensive unit than the Joker’s current squad. The veteran presence also promises a chance of a championship. It is a big reason why Bovada has assigned them the third-highest odds among NBA squads.
Who wouldn’t love to watch Stephen Curry and Jokic destroy the league together? There may not be a more exciting duo out there. Per Bovada, they are the fourth most likely side where he can land. Jokic also gets the support of the defensive duo of Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green. It also fulfills Steve Kerr’s dream of having a primetime center.
This list was fun and games, but… will a personality like Jokic want to get away from the franchise that he loves with all his heart? Jokic gets attached to his home, and Denver is as much as home as Serbia, even if the latter excites him more. At any rate, anything can happen in the NBA. The Lakers fans will throw a parade if Jokic joins Doncic and James.
Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
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