Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets: A Promising Future
The Denver Nuggets have provided Nikola Jokic with the tools he needed to strengthen his roster. The franchise has added depth, a key factor that could make the difference in their quest for the NBA championship. This strategy not only seeks a deeper rotation and players with more energy for the playoffs, but also to secure a large-scale contract extension for their star. Jokic chose not to sign a four-year, $212 million extension this summer, as he will be eligible for an extension of the same duration next year, but with a value of $293 million.Although Jokic, who is in his third year of a five-year, $276 million supermax contract, did not confirm whether he will sign the extension in 2026, he did state: “My plan is to be a Nugget forever.” Jokic seems enthusiastic about the changes made by the Nuggets this offseason, including the appointment of David Adelman as coach, the replacement of general manager Calvin Booth by Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace, and the incorporation of several veterans after the trade of Michael Porter Jr. “They definitely changed the team,” Jokic said. Two seasons after winning their first NBA title, the Nuggets acquired shooter Cam Johnson in the Porter trade, which also freed up cap space to address various needs on the roster. They also got Bruce Brown back, who played a crucial role in the Nuggets’ championship before signing as a free agent. In addition, they added Tim Hardaway Jr. and negotiated for center Jonas Valanciunas to back up Jokic, and even play alongside him at times. The Nuggets will also have DaRon Holmes, their 2024 first-round pick, recovered from an Achilles tendon injury that kept him out during his rookie season. “Bruce is back. We win with him. We need to save his career again,” Joker joked. “We have Cam and Jonas, we have a lot of new guys. We have Holmes healthy. We’ll see. It’s a new energy, a new beginning for us. Hopefully we can do something.” Brown, who signed with Indiana and then was traded to Toronto, expressed his desire to return to Denver shortly after his departure. “Indiana was great for me, but it was only three months. And once I got to Toronto, we were going in different directions, right? They were rebuilding… and I had already passed that stage. So, I think, as soon as I got there, I wanted to come back,” Brown said.“I don’t think about that. I think those contract extensions come as a reward, as something natural in this sport. Especially in today’s NBA, with the growth of the salary cap and all that,” Jokic commented.
Nikola Jokic
