Nikola Jokić arrived at Denver’s media day with the same long-view answer he has given before: he expects to make his next major commitment to the Nuggets. This time, though, the three-time MVP left a little room for the franchise to answer back.
“If they want me,” Jokić said with a smile when the subject of a long-term extension came up.
Denver’s center has opted not to sign a new contract yet, a choice that positions him for a much larger deal next summer. At that point, Jokić could be eligible for a five-year supermax worth roughly $350 million. The wait has naturally stirred concern around the team, because a difficult season could place more uncertainty around his future. Jokić, however, said he has been clear with the front office about wanting to remain in Denver and hopes the organization believes him.
The 31-year-old is not talking like a player plotting an exit. He came into the league as a 2014 second-round pick, grew alongside the Nuggets from their middling seasons into a championship club, and led Denver to its first NBA title in 2023. His preferred model is Stephen Curry, another two-time MVP who stayed with the franchise that drafted him and recently signed another Warriors extension.
Jokić said that kind of continuity matters to him. Denver has shown it can compete at the top of the West, and he sees a chance to keep chasing titles with the group around him. He framed it as a legacy decision: players become remembered by building something lasting in one place.
Last season, Jokić averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists, then finished second to Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the Kia MVP vote. He still enjoys the daily work, particularly the competitive edge of sharing a locker room with Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun. In Jokić’s words, battling other teams alongside close teammates remains one of the best parts of the job.
Denver sees another contender
Ben Tenzer, Denver’s executive vice president of basketball operations, said the organization has no concern about Jokić’s willingness to stay, even if the season opens unevenly.
The Nuggets are not treating last April’s first-round loss to Minnesota as a referendum on their ceiling. Coach David Adelman pointed to injuries and what he called a poor 10-day stretch that derailed the season. Denver instead is emphasizing its 54 regular-season wins, the No. 3 seed, and an eighth consecutive playoff appearance.
Adelman acknowledged that a strong year can still end badly, calling the finish more nightmare than fairy tale. But he said the Nuggets remain in the championship mix, just as they have been through their recent run.
Health will shape how realistic that belief becomes. Braun said the ankle issue that limited him last season has responded well to a summer of rehabilitation and work. The guard said he has put himself in position to be ready when camp turns into games.
Gordon is also entering the year focused on availability after dealing with soft-tissue problems, including a tight calf in the postseason. At 31, Gordon said the recovery habits he once watched older players use have become essential to his own routine. He now needs earlier arrivals, longer stays, extensive warmups and cooldowns to keep himself prepared for the group.
Denver’s roster has changed around its core. Promising small forward Peyton Watson was sent to Cleveland in a five-team trade late in August, while the Nuggets added DeMar DeRozan. The 37-year-old six-time All-Star enters his 18th NBA season still pursuing his first championship.
DeRozan’s reasoning for joining Denver was straightforward. With Jokić, whom he called the best player in the world, he said the Nuggets have a chance at anything.
