The Denver Nuggets fans know all too well that Nikola Jokic is the present and future of their team. This summer, Jokic was eligible for a contract extension, but he decided to put those negotiations on hold until next summer. The decision was made to get more years and more money. Yet, still, the NBA is a dynamic league, and everything can happen. Nobody expected Luka Doncic to get traded, but that happened. So, with that in mind, the Nuggets are doing everything they can to make sure Jokic is happy and signs a new contract with the team next summer.
Latest Nuggets Move Should Make Nikola Jokic Fans Happy
Nikola Jokic has two more years on his contract with the Denver Nuggets, followed by a player option for the 2027-28 season. He can become a free agent in the summer of 2027. There are also other potential free agents that summer, but if Jokic gets to that point, he will be the best player on the market.
Of course, nowadays, teams rarely allow superstar players to hit the open market. They either re-sign them to a longer contract or, if they think they are leaving, trade them to get something in return.
With that in mind, the Denver Nuggets made an effort to support Jokic even when he is playing with his national team. Serbia started their practice for the EuroBasket 2025, and the Nuggets sent executives Ben Tenzer and John Wallace. They both attended a training session in Riga, Latvia, ahead of the EuroBasket 2025 opener on August 27th. Tenzer is the vice president of basketball operations, having previously served as interim general manager. Wallace, on the other hand, is the vice president of player development. That doesn’t mean that Jokic will re-sign with the team for sure. But it is a nice gesture to show support for their franchise player.
Nuggets Following on Jokic’s Advice
It is clear that Denver wants to make sure Jokic has everything he needs and can compete for championships. Last season, after they got eliminated from the playoffs, Nikola talked about how the team needs to get more rotational players.
This offseason, the Nuggets went out and traded Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson. By bringing in a cheaper contract, they were able to also get players like Tim Hardaway Jr., Jonas Valanciunas, and former fan-favorite, Bruce Brown.
With those moves, the Nuggets improved their depth. But what they finally did was find a backup for Jokic in Valanciunas. With that move, they can let Jokic play fewer minutes during the regular season and have a quality big man on the floor at all times.
Can the Nuggets Win the Championship in 2025-26?
The Denver Nuggets have the second-best odds in the league to win the championship in 2025-26. A lot of that will depend on the health of their players. So far, Jokic has avoided major injuries. But the team around him has been hurt. Jamal Murray has had some injuries, and last playoffs, Aaron Gordon couldn’t walk in the last game they played.
Nevertheless, if Jokic is healthy, they will make the playoffs for sure. How far they will go depends on health and matchups. In last year’s playoffs, they were the toughest obstacle for the eventual champion, the Oklahoma City Thunder. We can expect those two teams to battle for supremacy of the West this year as well.
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