The Denver Nuggets have a decision to make on Nikola Jokic’s next contract, but they’re in no rush. And according to multiple league sources, neither is Jokic.
Marc Stein of The Stein Line reported that Jokic and the Nuggets are expected to hold off on extension talks this offseason. Jokic still has two years left on his five-year, $276.1 million deal. There’s no urgency from either side, which makes sense given where the franchise sits right now.
Denver had a busy summer last year. They added Cameron Johnson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown, and Jonas Valanciunas — a clear attempt to reload after Oklahoma City ran away with the West. But it didn’t work. The Nuggets got bounced in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves in six games. That stung. After reaching the conference finals in 2023 and winning it all in 2022, it felt like a step backward.
But here’s the thing: Denver’s young guys made real progress. Christian Braun and Julian Strawther both took noticeable steps forward last season. Braun averaged over 12 points and shot 38 percent from three. Strawther showed flashes of being a reliable scoring option off the bench. If those two keep developing, the Nuggets don’t have to panic about their supporting cast.
Jokic himself just turned 30. He’s entering his 11th season with the same franchise that drafted him in the second round. That kind of loyalty is rare in modern sports, but it also means the Nuggets can afford to let this play out. They’re not going to lowball him. He’s not going to demand a trade. It’ll happen when it happens.
Rookie Caleb Wilson Credits Jokic for His Game
Meanwhile, Jokic’s influence keeps showing up in unexpected places. Caleb Wilson, the forward Chicago took fourth overall in this week’s draft, told Monumental Sports’ Chase Hughes that Jokic is his favorite player. Wilson said he related to Jokic’s game because he wasn’t super athletic growing up.
“I really like him, he’s my favorite player. Even before he was MVP,” Wilson said. “I really liked how he played. I really wasn’t that athletic when I was younger, believe it or not, so to just see him as a halfcourt hub and not be that athletic was really cool for me.”
Wilson isn’t wrong. Jokic doesn’t jump out of the gym. He just reads the floor five steps ahead of everyone else. For a young big man coming into the league, that’s a much better model than trying to be something you’re not.
Denver also used its only draft pick this year to take Trevon Brazile at No. 35. The Nuggets traded away their first-rounder to San Antonio, so Brazile is their guy. He’s raw but athletic, and the team hopes he can contribute right away. It’s a low-risk bet on a kid who might surprise people.
For now, the Nuggets are betting on development from within and patience with their superstar. That’s not a bad place to be.
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