Mike Malone Blasts Critics Who Believe Nikola Jokic Is Taking Time off to Rest

When the Denver Nuggets played the Los Angeles Lakers on ESPN on Wednesday, Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic both missed their second straight game. Before the game, Jokic and Murray both attempted to play, but their varied injuries prevented them from doing so.

Tim Bontemps of ESPN said on Get Up Tuesday morning that the Nuggets’ decision to rest their stars for the nationally televised game was a “horrible look” for the NBA because Jokic and Murray did not play in Monday’s game against the Golden State Warriors.

The criticism of Jokic, Murray, and the Nuggets began to seem absurd when it became evident that both players were too injured to play two nights later. Before the game, Mike Malone, the coach of the Nuggets, was then questioned about the circumstances.

Coach Malone pregame vs Lakers: “The last 10 years Nikola Jokić has played the 2nd most games in the NBA…so if Nikola is not playing, it’s not because he’s sitting, it’s not because he needs rest. It’s because he’s hurt & he’s trying to play through things that most wouldn’t.”

— Katy Winge (@katywinge) March 20, 2025

He clarified that if Jokic isn’t playing, “it’s not because he’s sitting, it’s not because he needs rest,” according to Katy Winge of Altitude TV. He’s trying to work through things that most people wouldn’t because he’s hurt.

Guys can get hurt sometimes. It seems like this is one of those occasions.

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