This offseason, the Denver Nuggets delivered exactly what Nikola Jokic wanted—adding the depth reminiscent of the Oklahoma City Thunder team that once pushed them to seven games in the playoffs on their way to an NBA championship. The benefit of these moves extends beyond a stronger rotation and fresher legs during the playoffs; it also sets the stage for a massive contract extension for Jokic next summer.
Jokic opted to pass on a four-year, $212 million extension this summer, aiming instead to sign an even bigger four-year deal worth $293 million next year.
“I don’t really think about it,” Jokic said. “These contract extensions come as a natural reward in the sport, especially with how the salary cap keeps growing in today’s NBA.”
While Jokic didn’t explicitly confirm plans to sign the extension in 2026, he emphasized his commitment to Denver.
“My plan is to be a Nugget forever,” he stated.
Jokic also expressed enthusiasm about the organizational changes the Nuggets made this offseason. After removing the interim tag from coach David Adelman, they replaced general manager Calvin Booth with Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace, and brought in several veteran players following the trade of Michael Porter Jr. to the Brooklyn Nets.
“They definitely changed the team,” Jokic noted.
Two years after capturing their first NBA title, Denver bolstered their roster by acquiring sharpshooter Cam Johnson in the Porter trade, which also freed up cap space to address key roster needs. They re-signed Bruce Brown—an important contributor to their championship run who had left in free agency—and added veterans Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas, who will serve as Jokic’s backup and occasional teammate on the floor.
The Nuggets also anticipate the return of 2024 first-round pick DaRon Holmes, who missed his rookie season due to a torn Achilles tendon.
“Bruce is back. We won with him. Need to save his career again,” Jokic joked. “We have Cam and Jonas—we have a bunch of new guys. Holmes is healthy now. It’s a new energy, a fresh start. Hopefully, we can do something special.”
Bruce Brown, who spent a brief stint with the Pacers and then the Raptors after leaving Denver, admitted he was eager to return to the Nuggets.
“Indy was good to me for a few months, but once I got to Toronto, we were on different paths,” Brown said. “They were rebuilding, and I was past that stage. So, right away, I wanted to come back to Denver.”
