In Malone’s defense, at the time the Nikoka Jokic-Russell Westbrook duo had a plus-11.4 net rating on the floor together, fifth among all two-man duos. Jokic-Christian Braun, at 11.3, ranked sixth. “What else does CB have to do?” a team source said. “Malone even said he’s done everything he was asked to do, and now he’s being relegated for Russ?” Nikola Jokic may not have sounded off publicly at any of this dysfunction. But he bore witness to it all season and wasn’t happy about it, sources said. “Joker is really good at letting you know how he feels,” a team source said, “without saying anything.” -via ESPN / April 11, 2025
