The Warriors may keep dreaming, but Nikola Jokić has already made his preference pretty clear.
NBA insider Jake Fischer said Thursday on SiriusXM NBA Radio that Golden State believes it has a shot at landing not just a star, but Jokić himself. The problem for the Warriors is that the Nuggets center has already laid out where he wants to be, and it isn’t the Bay.
At media day, Jokić said he has been “more than open” about wanting to stay with Denver. The source material says he wants to be with the Nuggets forever, all the way until retirement and a return to Serbia for good. That makes the Warriors’ pursuit feel more like wishful thinking than a real plan.
For now, Golden State can keep Jokić on its list of possible targets, at least until he signs a new contract with Denver next summer. If he waits that long, he would be eligible for a five-year, $350 million deal.
The idea behind the speculation is simple enough: he is Nikola Jokić, and if there is even a one percent chance, teams will chase it. The Warriors are hardly alone. Other suitors are waiting too, hoping he eventually changes his mind and decides to join Steph Curry.
Still, if Jokić were to ever reconsider and look for a different situation, the Warriors would not automatically be the best fit. The source points out that Golden State has not been truly relevant in years, and Jokić alone would not be enough to drag them back to the top. Yaxel Lendeborg, the piece notes, does not move the needle that much.
The cleaner path, from Jokić’s side, is staying put. He has not issued any ultimatum to Denver, and if the Nuggets are willing to pay him what he wants, there is little reason to think he would leave. He wants to stay.
Denver can help shut down the chatter by winning games, climbing the standings, and looking more like the contender it is supposed to be. Even then, the speculation probably won’t disappear until Jokić’s next deal is signed.
That moment is still months away, which means the rumors will keep rolling. The Warriors, and every other team with cap space and a big enough imagination, can keep hoping.
In Other News...
Nikola Jokic Just Entered A Conversation Nuggets Fans Will Hate
The early look at the 2027 draft board already says plenty about where the league thinks the next wave of talent is headed, and it also says something about how unsettled the future may feel around the NBAs biggest names. ESPNs Jeremy Woo put Kansas forward/guard Tyran Stokes at No. 1 on his initial big board, citing the kind of versatility that makes scouts lean in, even as questions remain about efficiency and maturity. With the class viewed as thinner than recent groups and more prospects likely to stay in college because of NIL money and shifting rules, the long-range draft picture is still taking shape.
For Nuggets fans, the more uncomfortable part is the backdrop around it. League personnel are already watching for what could happen with stars who usually seem untouchable, and Nikola Jokic is at least part of that conversation in the broadest sense. No one is suggesting a move is around the corner, but the fact that his name is even floating through future trade speculation is the kind of thing that gets attention in Denver, especially when the league is already bracing for a draft cycle that may not offer the usual quick fixes. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Rookies Are Giving Denver A Boost Nobody Saw Coming
The Nuggets have gotten an early-season lift from two rookies who have stepped into meaningful roles sooner than expected. Trevon Brazile has brought energy, defense and rebounding off the bench, giving Denver a steady presence in the frontcourt, while Bryce Hopkins has shown he can handle more than spot duty when the rotation needs a jolt.
Hopkins recently filled in for an injured teammate and responded with efficient scoring, plus work on the glass and at the defensive end. For a team that always needs depth to hold up over the long haul, the encouraging part is not just that the rookies are contributing, but that they are doing it in different ways and making it harder for Denver to ignore them as the season develops. [Read more 🡒]
Nikola Jokic Rumors Just Got More Uncomfortable For Nuggets Fans
The offseason noise around Nikola Jokic is getting louder, and this time it is coming from a team that has spent years trying to stay in the title mix. The Golden State Warriors are reportedly weighing a run at the Nuggets star next summer, a sign they still see themselves as a landing spot for elite talent even as injuries continue to test their current core.
For Denver, the uncomfortable part is not just the interest itself, but the backdrop around Jokics future. Contract extension talks have been delayed, which has only added to the speculation about where things could go from here, and the Warriors believe a player of his caliber could dramatically change their championship outlook. It is the kind of rumor that does not move the standings today, but it can hang over a franchise quickly when the league starts looking ahead. [Read more 🡒]