Jokic and the Nuggets: A Promising Future
The Denver Nuggets have met Nikola Jokic’s expectations this offseason, reinforcing the team with the necessary depth to compete at the highest level. This strategic move not only seeks to strengthen the team’s rotation and keep players fresh for the playoffs, but also to secure the permanence of their star with a significant contract extension. Jokic opted not to sign a four-year, $212 million extension this summer, as he will be eligible for a similar extension for $293 million next year. The Serbian player has expressed his view on this topic:Although Jokic, who is entering the third year of his five-year, $276 million supermax contract, did not confirm whether he will sign the extension in 2026, he did make it clear his desire to stay in Denver: “My plan is to be a Nugget forever.” Jokic is optimistic about the changes made by the Nuggets this offseason, including the appointment of David Adelman as coach, the renewal of the management team with Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace, and the incorporation of several veterans after the trade of Michael Porter Jr. “They’ve changed the team,” Jokic stated. After winning their first NBA title, the Nuggets acquired Cam Johnson in the Porter trade, which also freed up cap space to address other team needs. In addition, they secured the return of Bruce Brown, who was key in winning the championship, and added Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas to reinforce the interior game and complement Jokic. The Nuggets will also have DaRon Holmes, their 2024 first-round pick, who is recovering from an Achilles tendon injury. “Bruce is back. We win with him. 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,” Jokic joked. Bruce Brown, who signed with Indiana after the Nuggets’ championship and was quickly traded to Toronto, expressed his desire to return to Denver shortly after his departure. “Indiana was great for me when I was there, but it was only three months. And once I got to Toronto, we were on two different paths, right? They were rebuilding… and I had already passed that stage. So, I think that immediately, as soon as I got there, I wanted to come back,” Brown commented.“I don’t think about that. Contract extensions are a reward, something natural in sports. Especially in the current NBA, with the growth of the salary cap and all that”.
Nikola Jokic
