The Denver Nuggets are implementing a more physical defensive approach ahead of the 2025-26 season, emulating the style mastered by defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Nikola Jokic said Friday the team is emphasizing aggressive play that tests the boundaries of what referees will call fouls.
The Nuggets ranked 21st in defensive efficiency last season and struggled in consecutive postseasons against opponents who employed physical, disruptive schemes. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ aggressive defense bothered Jamal Murray in 2024, while OKC overwhelmed Denver with paint protection and perimeter recovery in the 2025 playoffs.
Jokic explained the team’s defensive philosophy during practice sessions at Ball Arena on Friday. The three-time MVP indicated the approach focuses on pushing the limits of physicality without fouling.
“We are trying to be aggressive,” Jokic said. “We’re trying to be, like, close to a foul – testing the refs to call the fouls. That’s something that we’re gonna try to do. That was the emphasis of the practice.”
New head coach David Adelman has described the strategy as “junking it up” on defense. The term refers to creating chaos through ball pressure, zone concepts and matchup-dependent schemes.
Adelman has emphasized zone defense and situational adjustments throughout the offseason. The coach deployed zone regularly during last season’s playoffs as interim coach and plans to continue developing multiple defensive looks.
The new scheme will be less rigid than previous seasons and more heavily based on Jokic’s basketball IQ. Some matchups might require Jokic to pressure ball-handlers, while others could call for drop coverage.
“Just different ways to shrink on better players. Zone. Working all that kind of stuff, and then when we do zone, who’s on the court, what their responsibilities are at each spot,” Adelman said. “And we’ll continue to work on it.”
The Nuggets hope to narrow the defensive gap with Oklahoma City, a heavy favorite to repeat as champions. Alex Caruso pestered Jokic throughout the Thunder’s Game 7 victory last season, showcasing the effectiveness of aggressive ball pressure.
Jokic acknowledged the learning curve involved with the new system but expressed optimism about its potential impact.
“It’s something new, so we are kind of trying to adjust,” Jokic said. “But I think we see that it’s going to be really good, and it could help us a lot.”