Nuggets news: Michael Malone admits Nikola Jokic is going through a 'tough stretch' for the first time

All-Star center Nikola Jokic is likely playing through the worst stretch in his young NBA career, and Nuggets head coach Michael Malone admitted as much.

Denver Nuggets All-Star center Nikola Jokic is likely playing through the worst stretch in his young NBA career. The seven-foot Serbian passing wiz is shooting a career-worst 45 percent from the floor and scored in single digits in four of his past five contests.

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone admitted as much on Friday, saying that it was the first time has has seen Jokic struggle that much.

Michael Malone on Nikola Jokic: “I think he’s going through a tough stretch, I really do. And this is the first time where I’ve seen him go through this.”

Jokic has scored in single digits in four of #Nuggets last five games.

— Mike Singer (@msinger) December 6, 2019

Jokic has averaged 8.4 points, 11.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game in the last five games. Despite his setback though, the Nuggets are still flourishing and have won three out of their last fives games during that stretch. They own a 14-5 record, good for second best in the Western Conference.

Interestingly, Malone shrugged off the “struggling” narrative around his star center this week.

“The thing I get a kick out of is here’s a young man averaging 16, 10 and 6 and everyone says he’s not playing well. I’ll take that player any day when he’s averaging that kind of points, assists and rebounds. He’s doing a lot of great things for us,” Malone said.