Nikola Jokic doubles down on booing fans: “I don’t think they are real fans”

Nikola Jokic: "I'm sticking to what I said... I'm not used to that — fans booing their own team"

Oct 27, 2026, 1:01 AM

Watch: Nikola Jokic fires back at Nuggets fans for booing. Did he go too far? | Shapiro and Piro | 27 mins

DENVER — Nikola Jokic had two days and a 20-point home loss to soften his stance. Instead, he went further.

After Denver’s 134-114 loss to Golden State on Monday, the three-time MVP was asked about Saturday, when he said the fans who booed the Nuggets in their home opener “don’t need to come anymore.”

“I’m sticking to what I said,” Jokic said. “I played in a much worse environment. I played in front of 10 people, 50 people, 100 people. … I’m not used to that — fans booing their own team.”

Then a reporter asked whether fans in Europe, where Jokic has said the pressure on players is intense, ever boo their own team.

“I never heard that,” Jokic said. “… I don’t think they are real fans.”

Saturday’s message was that booing fans weren’t welcome. Monday’s was that fans who boo their own team aren’t real fans at all.

Nikola Jokic offers more of an explanation of his booing quote on Saturday.

“I never heard that (before.)”

“I played in front of 10 people, 50 people, 100 people… whatever. I'm not used to that. Fans are booing their own team… I don’t think they are real fans.” pic.twitter.com/B44i2sRX0G

— Jake Shapiro (@Shapalicious) October 27, 2026

It started in the home opener. The Ball Arena crowd turned on the Nuggets for long stretches as New Orleans built a 23-point lead and took a 108-89 lead into the fourth quarter. Denver rallied to win 141-135 in overtime. Afterward, nobody asked about the boos, but Jokic brought them up.

“If you guys follow us, you know that we never quit,” he said Saturday. “So if they ask me, they’re not welcome anymore.”

The comments went viral. Monday was a chance to both prove again that the team doesn’t quit and clarify what he said.N either Jokic nor the Nuggets did either.

Denver bowed out with a 20-point loss, their fourth of the calendar year at home in the regular season after after just eight from 2020 through 2025. Aaron Gordon’s ejection, after two technicals, was the most visible sign of life the Nuggets have shown their home crowd this season

But home fans in other countries bring a lot of pressure, so we were told. Which is why what Jokic said is so off-putting. He had said he wished every NBA player could spend six months in Europe “just to see how much pressure there is”

“If you have three losses in a row, it’s a big deal,” he said then. “People are taking it serious. They take a lot of pride.”

To Jokic, demanding wins and turning on your own team are different things. Real fans push. They don’t boo. Many Denver fans would argue that booing a team trailing a winless opponent by 23 at home is exactly what taking it seriously looks like.

Both sides have a case.

Jokic’s case rests on history. His Nuggets have climbed out of deeper holes than Saturday’s, and that night they did it again with a comeback that tied the franchise record for a fourth-quarter rally. Fans who gave up missed it. And if you’re gonna claim to be a supporter, you should do exactly that.

The fans’ case rests on context. This team is coming off a first-round exit, a sour offseason and an 84-point opener in Oklahoma City. Many in the building paid home-opener prices to watch a defense Jokic admits isn’t fixed.

On Monday, the fans didn’t boo and nobody on the team was ever sparked as the defensive lapses continued into the fourth quarter and wound up in a loss.

Jokic’s honesty is a big part of why Denver loves him. It’s also why this won’t fade quietly, with his next contract is still unsigned with the Nuggets starting 1-2.

The crowd gave him nothing to object to against the Warriors. Nobody booed. As Steph Curry finished a perfect night and the Warriors pushed their lead to 24, much of the arena emptied before the final horn.

Jokic says fans who boo aren’t real fans. This time, the real fans were in their cars midway through the fourth quarter.