Paul Pierce Says Nikola Jokic Deserves LeBron-Level Criticism After First-Round Exit
Paul Pierce believes Nikola Jokic should not get a soft landing after Denver's first-round exit. With the Nuggets losing 4-2 to the Timberwolves, Pierce argued that Jokic has to be judged by the same brutal standard that stars like LeBron James faced in their prime.
His point was simple: if Jokic is widely viewed as the best player in the league, then losing in the opening round cannot just be brushed aside. For Pierce, this was not about denying Jokic's greatness, but about saying that the top guy in the NBA should also take the heat when his team falls short early.
Paul Pierce GOES OFF on Nikola Jokic
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) May 1, 2026
"We're not going to sugar coat this one. Because if this was LeBron at the peak of his powers losing like this because this is what we say. We say today that Joker is the best player in the game. Right? He might not win MVP, but he's the… https://t.co/oHykk9jGJdpic.twitter.com/8lrXYyR4Uj
In a recent episode of the ‘No Fouls Given' show, Pierce shared his thoughts without holding back saying, "We're not going to sugar coat this one. Because if this was LeBron at the peak of his powers losing like this because this is what we say. We say today that Joker is the best player in the game. Right? He might not win MVP, but he's the best player. We've said this for the last three or four years, right? Let this had have been LeBron at the peak of his powers. What we would have been saying? What we would have been saying about him. Like he is in his prime. If you're the best player in the league, you're not supposed to lose in the first round."
Jokic Says the Denver Nuggets Are From Championship Calibre
Denver's postseason ended with the kind of loss that usually forces a hard look in the mirror.
The Nuggets fell to Minnesota in six games, and even though Nikola Jokic's numbers were strong throughout the series, the overall feeling around Denver was messy. Jokic was still getting his points, but the Nuggets never looked like a team in control. The series had tension, shoving, frustration, and eventually, an early exit.
Jokic's comments after Game 6 made that clear. He did not pretend Denver was close to where it needed to be, saying the team was "far away" from championship level. He also joked that if this had happened back home in Serbia, everyone would probably be fired, which pretty much summed up the mood.
The Nuggets can point to Aaron Gordon's absence as part of the problem, but that excuse only goes so far. Minnesota had its own injury problems and still found a way to close the door. The Timberwolves played with more edge, talked their talk, and backed enough of it up when it mattered.
For Denver, this was more than just one bad series. It was the first time since 2022 that the Jokic-era Nuggets went out in the opening round. They bounced back with a title after that last time, but repeating that kind of turnaround may require a serious reset.
Related: Anthony Edwards Injury Update Puts Timberwolves in Tough Spot Ahead of Spurs Series
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This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 11:18 AM.