Kroenke made the comment during a press conference, though the scenario was clearly hypothetical. Still, the mere mention of moving the three-time NBA MVP left fans and media buzzing.

Kroenke’s surprising comment

The comment came as Kroenke addressed the media to announce the hiring of Jon Wallace and the promotion of Ben Tenzer in the Nuggets’ front office. When asked about the NBA’s new, more punitive “second apron” salary cap rules, Kroenke explained the tough decisions teams face when trying to keep a championship roster together under escalating financial restrictions.

“We really did every exercise, looking through retaining [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope] and what that meant under the new rules,” Kroenke said, referencing the team’s efforts to keep their core intact.

“For us as an organization, going into that second apron is not necessarily something that we’re scared of… But there are rules around it that we needed to be very careful of with our injury history. The wrong person gets injured and very quickly you’re into a scenario where—that I never want to have to contemplate—trading No. 15 [Jokic].”

While Kroenke was not suggesting the Nuggets are planning to trade Jokic, the hypothetical was enough to stun the room. 

Fan reactions and the bigger picture

Unsurprisingly, Nuggets fans and NBA observers were quick to react on social media. Many were shocked Kroenke would even mention Jokic in a trade context, with some calling it “the worst possible thing an owner could say in a press conference.”

Others pointed out that while the scenario is extremely unlikely, the Celtics’ recent moves—trading away key players after Jayson Tatum’s injury to avoid luxury tax penalties—show that no team is entirely immune to tough financial decisions.

For now, Kroenke emphasized that the Nuggets remain committed to Jokic, who is eligible for a lucrative contract extension this offseason. The owner said Denver will offer Jokic a new deal, though it is unclear if the Serbian superstar will sign immediately or wait until next summer for a potentially larger extension.

In the end, Kroenke’s comment was more a reflection of the NBA’s new financial pressures than any real intention to move Jokic. Still, it is a reminder that even the league’s most untouchable players can become part of the conversation.