Nikola Jokic and the reigning champion Denver Nuggets played their first game of the season on Tuesday. You would not have known it based on one TNT promo for opening night that has since gone viral on social media.
It’s a longstanding tradition that the defending champs take part in a 2-game slate to open a new NBA season. This year’s matchups pitted the Nuggets against the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Phoenix Suns against the Golden State Warriors.
TNT released promotional material last week for the beginning of the season. The graphic featured four players. Three of them — LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant — all play on opening night. But instead of featuring Jokic as the fourth face, TNT included Jayson Tatum. The Boston Celtics don’t play until Wednesday.
Nuggets reporter Vic Lombardi posted the photo of the TNT graphic on Saturday. It has been viewed over 12.6 million times on X as of writing.
Oh, and the NBA champs.
They’re playing too. pic.twitter.com/zkFFXxWz4z— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) October 22, 2023
TNT analyst Charles Barkley made an appearance on Lombardi’s 92.5 Altitude Sports Radio show just hours before the Lakers-Nuggets tip-off. Barkley apologized to the Nuggets organization, the city of Denver, and the team’s Serbian superstar for the perceived slight.
“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,” Barkley said to Lombardi. “That’s completely stupid not having [Jokic] on that graphic. I mean, we’re here all day!”
Jokic, whom Barkley referred to as “Joker,” has felt disrespect since the moment he entered the NBA.
The 2014 NBA Draft infamously flashed a Taco Bell commercial when the Nuggets selected the 2-time MVP. The Joker has already laughed off the quesarito moment.
It’s more than likely that Jokic will shrug off this minor slight from TNT as well.
