Nikola Jokic doesn’t mince words when it comes to his team’s performance. After a surprising 108-102 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night, the Denver Nuggets’ MVP expressed his frustration with his team’s attitude, calling out their complacency and reminding everyone that the team’s current record isn’t the full picture.

The Nuggets, widely regarded as an NBA Championship contender, have been riding high thanks to Jokic’s stellar play, with many pundits listing him as the MVP favorite once again. Denver’s solid 12-4 record heading into the game had kept them firmly positioned as the second title favorite behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. Yet, despite these positive numbers, Jokic made it clear that the team is far from where they need to be if they want to secure another championship this season.

The loss to Sacramento, a team with a subpar record, raised eyebrows, but Jokic wasn’t about to use the back-to-back game as an excuse. Instead, the reigning MVP took a hard look at his team and issued a blunt assessment of their play. “I think the 12-4 [record], it’s not the real picture,” Jokic admitted after the game. “I think we are not that good. We need to be much better if we want to do something big. Yes, we’ve played better. We look better. But I think we need to consistently, every night, every possession. Make a mistake. Don’t make a mistake.”

Jokic’s words served as a wake-up call, one that he hopes will snap his teammates into the realization that their current success isn’t enough to bring home a second ring. His frustration is understandable—he’s been one of the league’s most dominant players for several years, and his goal is clear: winning championships. Jokic doesn’t care about the regular season’s record in November; his eyes are always on the bigger prize.

As the Nuggets look to defend their Western Conference crown, they’ve had to face a few challenges early in the season. On top of their recent loss, they’ve also been without two key players—Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun—who both missed Saturday’s game due to injury and are expected to be sidelined for several weeks. Losing two starters at once can hurt any team, but for Denver, Jokic knows they must continue to win, despite the adversity, in order to stay competitive in the tough Western Conference.

With the absence of Gordon and Braun, Jokic’s frustration grew as he saw his team lose focus, especially after the Kings went on a late-game run. Sacramento, not known for its late-game heroics, was able to capitalize on the Nuggets’ lack of energy in the final moments. Jokic himself had a spectacular individual performance, finishing with 44 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists, but even his brilliance couldn’t prevent the collapse.

“I mean, it’s a dog fight,” Jokic reflected on his own effort. “You’re just trying to do whatever. You want to win the game. And we had opportunity, we had chances, and then they executed. They scored some big points, and that’s why they won the game.” Jokic’s frustration was evident in his words. He knew the team had the talent to win, but their lack of urgency and consistency let the Kings off the hook, costing them the game.

As much as Jokic’s performance was the highlight of the night, the defeat underscored a bigger issue for the Nuggets: they need to be sharper every night. Jokic has the talent to carry the team on his back, but he cannot do it alone. The Nuggets need to show up with the same level of intensity and focus on every possession, whether it’s a top contender or a struggling team like Sacramento. As Jokic stated, they need to eliminate the mistakes that have plagued them throughout the season and ensure they stay locked in for the entirety of each game.

For most NBA teams, an early-season loss isn’t always cause for panic, especially for a team like the Nuggets, who have such a strong record and an MVP-caliber player leading the way. However, Jokic’s words reveal a deeper concern—he knows that the Western Conference is loaded with talent, and one or two missteps could prove costly in the long run.

With the Oklahoma City Thunder looking like an even more dangerous title contender this year, Jokic knows the Nuggets need to stay focused, both on and off the court. The Kings’ upset win was a reminder that the NBA season is long and filled with challenges. The Nuggets, as a team, need to prove they can rise to those challenges. Their goal is not just to have a great regular-season record, but to finish the year as champions.

The Western Conference is as competitive as ever. The Thunder, with their stacked roster, have established themselves as the team to beat, and even the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors, can never be counted out. In a conference so deep, every game counts, and Jokic is determined to lead his team with a sense of urgency to avoid falling behind in the standings.

As the season progresses, Denver’s leadership and overall chemistry will be tested, especially with key players like Gordon and Braun out. Jokic’s message was clear: they can’t rest on their laurels, and their winning record won’t mean much if they don’t improve their consistency. The Nuggets need to lock in every night, no matter who they’re facing. For Jokic, there’s no time to take the foot off the gas.

The next stretch of games will be crucial for the Nuggets, with several tough matchups on the horizon. Jokic will need to continue performing at an MVP level, but he also needs his teammates to step up and contribute in a more consistent manner. If the Nuggets are going to remain a title contender, they’ll need to match the intensity and execution of the top teams in the West.

Jokic’s leadership is as much about his on-court ability as it is about his attitude and approach to the game. He understands that winning games in November doesn’t guarantee success in June. The Nuggets have the talent, but they need to play with the urgency and commitment that champions bring every night. With the Western Conference so tightly contested, the Nuggets can’t afford to let complacency creep into their mindset. If they want to make a deep playoff run and ultimately win a second ring, they’ll need to prove they can play at the highest level consistently.

As for Jokic, the message is clear: he’s ready to lead, and he expects nothing less than the best from his teammates. The next few weeks will be a true test of the Nuggets’ resilience and determination, and Jokic will be at the forefront, pushing his team to improve with every game. The road to a championship is never easy, but with Jokic leading the way, Denver has as good a chance as anyone to come out on top.