“Completely stupid” – Charles Barkley apologizes to Nikola Jokic and Nuggets for BLATANT disrespect ahead of season opener against LeBron James and Lakers

The network didn't include Nikola Jokic in the season opening graphic, and put Jayson Tatum from the Boston Celtics in place of Joker.

“Completely stupid” – Charles Barkley apologizes to Nikola Jokic and Nuggets for BLATANT disrespect ahead of season opener against LeBron James and Lakers

Nikola Jokic and Nuggets (Image Credits: NBA History/Twitter)

The Denver Nuggets and their superstar Nikola Jokic recently won an NBA championship in the last 2022-23 NBA season but still aren’t getting the respect they deserve on the court. With the new season around the corner, TNT network put out a graphic consisting of all the star players who are going to be present for the opening night, including Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant.

However, the network didn’t include Nikola Jokic in the graphic, and in his place, they put Jayson Tatum from the Boston Celtics even though they won’t be playing until Wednesday. Excluding the NBA champion had its own set of consequences. This drew a lot of backlash from the fanbase of the Denver Nuggets. Fans questioned the network as to how could they not include last season’s finals MVP who gave an impressive performance throughout the season.

Nikola Jokic is one of the most unstoppable players in the league averaging 10.2 points per game including 10.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists in 596 regular season games. As a result of the backlash, TNT’s analyst and former NBA legend Charles Barkley in open the media and apologized on behalf of the organization’s carelessness.

FS Video
You sent me that graphic and I showed it to Ernie [Johnson] and we just want to apologize to the Nuggets, Joker and the city of Denver. That's completely stupid not having Joker on that graphic. I mean, we're here all day!
Charles Barkley on 92.5 FM – Denver’s Altitude Sports Radio

Nikola Jokic on the Nuggets championship ring

The Denver Nuggets were last season’s NBA champions, and the most anticipated event is the ring ceremony, where all the players will be collecting their rings a few hours ahead of tonight’s season opener. The fanbase of the Nuggets is equally excited as the team for seeing them collect their well-deserved championship rings for winning the 2023 NBA season.

Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic (Via NBA)

However, the finals MVP had a unique reply when asked about his new NBA championship ring. Jokic is seen tying up his wedding ring to his shoe since his marriage in the year 2020 as a symbol of the importance of the family he has in his life. To that, the media questioned the star as to whether he plans on doing the same with his all-new NBA championship ring.

In the interview question, Jokic replied to reporters about the championship ring and whether he plans on extending the same courtesy similar to the wedding ring, to which the big man joked and said that the championship ring is too big. He said: 

I like your idea my friend, but it’s kind of too big.

In Case You Missed: