NBA star torches fan base after boos rain down after first half: 'They are not welcome anymore'

The Denver Nuggets are two games into the regular season and three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic is already fed up.

The Nuggets eked out a 141-135 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night. Jokic finished with 35 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. It was a pretty average night from Jokic, who is known for putting up that stat line on a nightly basis.

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Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić looks to pass the ball as New Orleans Pelicans center DeAndre Jordan defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver was down 75-57 going into the locker room at halftime. Jokic and the rest of the team heard boos from the fans at the Ball Arena. The dominant center rebuked those who booed after the team came all the way back to win.

"We got booed at our first home game, and I think those fans who booed us, they don't need to come anymore," he said, via 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."

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Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray argues a call with referee Scott Foster as center Nikola Jokić looks on in overtime of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver shot 48% from the floor and was 32% from beyond the arc. The Pelicans were able to score 15 points off 12 Denver turnovers.

Nuggets fans have hoped Denver would have avoided an 0-2 start to the season after dropping the first game of the year to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Denver finished 54-28 last season and third in the Western Conference. However, the team was ousted from the first round of the playoffs in six games thanks to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Nuggets are riding a streak of four straight years of at least 50 wins but only have one title to show for it.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson blocks a shot by Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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It’s the best the Nuggets have consistently been in years and fans are hoping that more than one Larry O’Brien Trophy can come home to the Rocky Mountains before the window truly closes.