Josh Kroenke might’ve woken up the beast. But when it came to accountability, the Nuggets’ governor/interim president of basketball operations this week looked largely asleep at the

"Jokic was privy to the decision [firing Malone] before it was announced, and there was not an objection, people familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports. The requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the team’s internal operations."

"Josh got the response that he wanted," Jokic said after the Nuggets beat the Kings. "People say that we are vulnerable. But the beast is always the strongest, or the most dangerous, when they're vulnerable. So maybe he woke up the beast."