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WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 22: Head coach David Adelman of the Denver Nuggets reacts to a play against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on January 22, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
The Denver Nuggets are fighting to stay out of the play-in when the playoffs roll around. They currently sit fifth in the Western Conference standings. Nikola Jokic is finally back from his injury, although Denver is still missing some guys.
Jokic went viral over the weekend for his reaction to Lu Dort’s foul on him. Dort’s trip was upgraded to a flagrant 2 foul, and he was ejected from the game. Jokic clearly thought it was a dirty play, and he said as much following the contest.
Now, Nuggets coach David Adelman is weighing in on the controversy. He used some strong words to describe Dort’s actions.
GettyDenver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic reacts to a flagrant foul by Lugentz Dort. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)
Nuggets Coach David Adelman Crushes Lu Dort for Flagrant Foul
Adelman made sure to let everyone know that he thinks what Dort did was dirty.
“For Dort to take that shot, and then I guess it wasn’t that big of a deal from their standpoint, how they looked at it, is ridiculous. That was malicious. It was a cheap shot. Lu Dort’s a great player. That’s not what I’ve seen him do before, but at some point, you have to stand up for yourself, and the team does as well.”
Jokic immediately stood up for himself and charged at Dort after the foul happened. The rest of his team came to back him up. While the Thunder didn’t think that the foul was that bad, Adelman clearly disagreed with that assessment.
Denver lost that game against Oklahoma City and followed that up with a loss to the Timberwolves. Now, they have lost three of their last four games. With that being the case, the Nuggets are in danger of falling out of the top six in the West.
Jokic is not afraid to mix it up if he thinks that he is being messed with. Fans have made fun of the fact that he sometimes looks like he doesn’t care about basketball. His reaction to this event with Dort showed that it was exactly the opposite.
GettyDenver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic dribbles the ball. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)
The Nuggets add to Lu Dort’s Reputation
Dort is starting to get a reputation as someone who takes some unwarranted shots. He is an aggressive defender, but now he has had multiple incidents like this. Dort has been ejected four times in his career, including twice last season.
This incident with Denver is now adding to his reputation around the league. Dillon Brooks has a similar reputation with how he plays defense. Draymond Green is probably the best example of a player who has developed a reputation for some plays that can be perceived as dirty.
The Nuggets are trying to move on and use this incident as a springboard for some better play. They are still missing Aaron Gordon, and he is a key part of the team. Once they get fully healthy, they are clearly a title contender. Health is something they have to figure out.