LeBron James is a free agent for the first time in years, and the rumor mill is wide open. Among the teams reportedly sniffing around? The Denver Nuggets. They’re being called a dark horse candidate, which feels fitting given what their star center was up to this week.
Nikola Jokic spent his day at a racetrack in Serbia. Video from Arena Sport TV showed the three-time MVP watching horses run, which is basically his version of a beach vacation. Jokic owns racehorses back home, and this isn’t just a casual hobby. The guy almost quit basketball for horse racing when he was younger. In July 2025, he was in tears after one of his horses won a race. So yeah, he’s invested.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets front office is reportedly working the phones on the LeBron front. Denver finished 64-28 last season, then got dumped in the first round by the Timberwolves in six games. That’s a short exit for a team that won it all in 2023. Jokic put up his usual absurd numbers: 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, 10.7 assists per game, shooting damn near 57 percent from the floor. He played 65 games. He was fine. The team wasn’t.
LeBron is entering his 25th NBA season, which is ridiculous to type out loud. He wants to contend. The usual suspects are in the mix: Golden State, Cleveland, Philly, Miami. But the Nuggets have a real argument. Per Vinnie Benedetto of The Denver Gazette, Denver’s winning track record, front office connections, and roster makeup make them a logical fit. Specifically, team president Josh Kroenke has a longstanding relationship with James. That matters.
And think about the on-court fit for a second. LeBron alongside Jokic and Jamal Murray? That’s a nightmare for defenses. LeBron could take some playmaking pressure off Murray, space the floor differently for Jokic, and give Denver a second closer in tight playoff games. The regular season load would ease up on everyone. It’s not a perfect fit on paper — LeBron needs the ball, Jokic needs the ball — but talent usually figures that out.
Nothing is close to happening yet. Free agency is fluid. But while Denver’s front office works the phones, their best player is at a horse track in Serbia, doing exactly what he’d be doing whether LeBron called or not. That’s Jokic. He doesn’t chase the noise. The noise comes to him.
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