Nuggets’ David Adelman gives snarky response to Jaden McDaniels’ comments

The Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves’ playoff rivalry took another turn Wednesday as first-year head coach David Adelman fired back at Jaden McDaniels and his postgame comments.

“I can’t wait for his podcast,” Adelman said sarcastically about McDaniels. “He’s a really good player. Everyone has a sounding board these days. It’ll help his social media.”

Nuggets coach David Adelman on Jaden McDaniels calling the Nuggets defenders out by name

“I can’t wait for his podcast.”

“It’ll help his social media.”

“What’s our defensive rating in this series?”

109

“How is that?”

Sixth best in the playoffs

“Ok. Next.” pic.twitter.com/Kr6gKTbbWf

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 22, 2026

Adelman’s response came after McDaniels called out several Nuggets players by name following Minnesota’s 119-114 Game 2 victory that evened the series. The Timberwolves forward specifically targeted Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Cameron Johnson and labeled them as “bad defenders.”

While Adelman had the sharpest retort, the Nuggets largely opted to take the high road.

Christian Braun acknowledged the rivalry without taking the bait.

“It’s part of the rivalry,” Braun said. “I don’t think it caught anybody off guard. He’s kinda speaking his truth and what he believes. We’ll allow them to do that. We kinda want to take care of our own.”

Johnson, who ironically does host his own podcast, was equally as dismissive.

“I’m not entertaining those antics,” said Johnson. “They’ve just been saying a lot. All season, all series. Let them talk.”

Adelman also defended his team with statistics rather than trash talk, pointing out Denver’s 109.3 defensive ranking. That ranks the Nuggets sixth among the 16 teams in the postseason.

The responses from Denver’s players and coaches suggest the team is more focused on results as opposed to rhetoric. The series now shifts to Minneapolis for Thursday’s Game 3.

With the rivalry already spanning multiple playoff series over the Jokic era, the Nuggets appear content letting their play do the talking rather than fire back with their own quips.

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