The Nikola Jokic backlash has gotten ‘out of control’ according to Mike Evans

Nikola Jokic's comments about booing fans after Saturday's comeback win over New Orleans drew heavy criticism, but the 104.3 the Fan morning show says the reaction has gone too far

BY JOEY FREEBURG

Oct 29, 2026, 3:27 PM

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Watch: The Nikola Jokic bashing has gone TOO FAR! | Stokley and Evans with Mark Schlereth | 48 seconds

Nikola Jokic’s comments about booing fans after Saturday’s comeback win over New Orleans drew heavy criticism, but the morning show says the reaction has gone too far.

Saturday night should have been a celebration. The Nuggets erased a 23-point deficit in their home opener and beat the New Orleans Pelicans 141-135. Jamal Murray scored a game-high 42 points, and Nikola Jokic posted his first triple-double of the season. Denver trailed by 19 going into the fourth quarter and still won.

What people are talking about, though, is what happened before the comeback and what Jokic said afterward.

Ball Arena booed as the Nuggets fell further behind. After the game, Jokic was asked about the crowd’s reaction and said the booing fans were “not welcome anymore.” Coming from a three-time MVP who rarely says anything controversial, the comment spread quickly. Fans and media members criticized him, and some called for an apology.

On a recent edition of “Stokley and Evans, with Mark Schlereth” on 104.3 The Fan, Mike Evans said the reaction has gotten out of hand.

“I think the Nikola Jokic bashing of late has gotten a little out of, not a little, a lot out of control,” Evans said.

Evans didn’t defend what Jokic said. Fans pay for their tickets, and when a team is down 23 points at home in front of its own crowd, booing is a fair reaction. Jokic was wrong to suggest otherwise. Evans’ problem is with how far the criticism went.

“So he said the things about the fans booing. I don’t agree with it, but man there was this, you know, throw the baby out with the bathwater approach. Pitchforks and lanterns,” Evans said.

The backlash didn’t stay on the comment itself. Within a day, one postgame answer was being treated as a sign of much bigger problems.

“The idea that, ‘Oh my goodness, you know. I can’t believe he said this, and it’s a sign that he’s changed, and it’s a sign that he doesn’t care as much, and it’s a sign he wants out of Denver, and they better trade him now while his value’s still high.’ I’m like, ‘Whoa whoa whoa. Slow down,'” Evans said.

It’s easy to see where that anxiety comes from. This summer, the Bucks traded Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the morning show warned that Denver could eventually face the same situation. Jokic chose not to sign an extension this offseason, which Schlereth said could be a way of watching how the front office responds. The Peyton Watson trade only added to the frustration. With all of that in the background, it’s tempting to read every frustrated comment from Nikola Jokic as evidence he’s unhappy.

One answer to one question after an emotional game doesn’t prove that. Jokic was defending teammates who had just come back from 23 down. He just did it the wrong way. Treating that as a reason to trade the best player in franchise history is a big leap.

Jokic has also earned more patience than almost anyone in Denver sports history. He brought the city its only NBA championship. He has won three MVP awards and finished in the top two in voting for six straight years, a stretch only Bill Russell and Larry Bird have matched. He’s still putting up triple-doubles and still winning games. A bad postgame quote doesn’t change any of that.

Evans closed with a reminder to Nuggets fans.

“You are still lucky enough, as a Nuggets fan, to watch something that you’ll never see again. So cherish that, and do not be in a hurry to kick it out of town,” Evans said.

Fans can boo when the team plays poorly, and they can disagree with what Nikola Jokic said. Calling for an apology or a trade over one comment is a different thing. The Nuggets came back and won on Saturday, and Evans wants fans to remember who they have on the floor while he’s still in Denver.