Charles Barkley praised Nikola Jokic for his unmatched responsibility but blasted Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. for not providing enough support.
As Nikola Jokic continues to carry a depleted Denver Nuggets squad through the playoffs, Hall of Famer Charles Barkley is sounding the alarm — not about the reigning MVP, but about those around him.
Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic
MIN: 37.27
PTS: 29.13 (61.91%)
REB: 12.78
As: 9.91
ST: 1.88
BL: 0.68
TO: 3.4
GM: 82
Speaking on NBA on TNT ahead of Game 5 of the Nuggets' Western Conference semifinal series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Barkley heaped praise on Jokic for shouldering what he called an "unfair" load.
"This guy has more responsibility than any player in the NBA," Barkley said. "No other player has to lead their team in scoring, rebounding, and assists. And there's a lot of great players in this league, but no player has the responsibility that the Joker has."
Barkley's comments were validated just hours later, as Jokic delivered a staggering 44-point, 15-rebound performance on 17/25 shooting in Game 5 — yet Denver still fell 112-105, dropping into a 3-2 hole. The Thunder defense again crowded Jokic with size, length, and physicality, but this time, the shots went in.
"The ball was going in," Jokic said flatly after the loss, brushing off any changes in Oklahoma City's scheme.
Jokic's performance included five made 3-pointers and one gravity-defying “Sombor Shuffle” triple over Chet Holmgren to tie the game with 1:39 remaining. But the Nuggets collapsed shortly after, scoring just six more points — all from Jokic — as his teammates went 1/15 in the fourth quarter and missed all 10 of their 3-point attempts.
That's precisely what Barkley warned about. While Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. both carry star status and expectations, they've yet to provide consistent support in the series.
"Listen, we've got to also call out Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.," Barkley said. "They've got to give [Jokic] some help. It's not his job to keep those guys fresh. It's their damn job to play better. They get a paycheck, too, you know."
Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley
Position: SF
Age: 62
Height: 198 cm
Weight: 113 kg
Birth place: United States of America
Porter has been limited by a shoulder injury — something Inside the NBA host Ernie Johnson noted — prompting Barkley to give the sharpshooter some grace. But he had no such pass for Murray.
"Jamal Murray's not hurt," Barkley said. "He's the guy. He's the second-best player on the team. But Aaron Gordon's been the second-best player."
Murray had 28 points in Game 5 but missed 17 of his 27 shots and struggled down the stretch. In the series, he's averaging 19.8 points while shooting under 42%, numbers well below his typical playoff standards.
After Game 5, Murray himself accepted blame: "If you're looking for somebody to blame, I think I need to do better. I didn't shoot the ball as well as I needed to. I could've taken command of the ball a little more."
Barkley's frustration — and Murray's self-awareness — reflect the immense burden Jokic carries. According to ESPN, Jokic is the only player in NBA history with two 40-point, 15-rebound, 5-assist games in the same playoff series. The only other player to do it twice in a postseason? LeBron James in 2012.
Now down 3-2, Jokic will need another historic effort in Game 6.
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