The Denver Nuggets aren’t putting much stock into Jaden McDaniels’ latest critique.
After the Minnesota Timberwolves forward publicly called the Nuggets “bad defenders,” Denver responded Wednesday with a simple message: “Let them talk.” The Nuggets added that the back-and-forth is “part of the rivalry,” signaling they view McDaniels’ comments as typical of the competitive edge between the teams rather than something requiring a prolonged response.
Rivalry talk continues
McDaniels’ remarks put a spotlight on defense in a matchup that already carries added intensity, and Denver’s reaction suggested the team is comfortable letting its play do the talking. The Nuggets did not escalate the exchange, instead characterizing the criticism as routine gamesmanship between familiar opponents.
For Denver, the focus remained on the idea that verbal jabs come with the territory when rivals meet, especially when emotions run high. The Nuggets’ stance Wednesday was clear: they’re not interested in engaging beyond acknowledging the rivalry context.