Part 3/8:
The conclusion of that season, illustrated by the Nuggets’ loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs, further underscores the questionable timing of Malone’s exit. The team, featuring either the top or second-best player in the NBA, Nikola Jokic, failed to meet expectations, yet Kronke’s remarks focused more on squeezing “a little bit more out of the season” than the reality of a second-round elimination.