Nikola Jokić made the same point again on Monday: he is not looking to leave Denver.
For the second straight summer, the Nuggets star said he will not sign an extension this offseason, but the message behind that decision was the exact opposite of what rival teams want to hear. Jokić said, “My idea is to sign next summer and stay with Denver for the rest of my career.”
That should have settled things, but it probably won’t. When Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported that the center was again considering waiting on an extension, the speculation machine kicked back into gear. Other teams saw a possible opening and started imagining a future where Jokić somehow becomes available.
Denver, though, understands where this is coming from. Jokić has already made his stance clear, and the Nuggets are prepared to help him get where he wants to go.
Right now, Jokić is eligible for a four-year, $278 million deal. If he waits until next offseason, he’ll be eligible for a five-year deal with a no-trade clause.
So this is not about an exit plan. It’s about timing, leverage, and setting himself up for the best possible future.
The outside noise isn’t going away, either. Even after Monday’s message, teams around the league will keep watching for any sign of trouble.
If Denver starts slowly, or even if it drops its season opener, the calls will come. That’s just how the NBA works when a player like Jokić is involved.
And that’s the point: he’s not just any star. He’s the kind of player teams dream about landing, which is why even a tiny hint of uncertainty gets everyone moving. But Jokić has already said what he wants, and it’s not complicated.
He wants Denver. He wants to stay. And, as he put it, he plans to be there “for the rest of my career.”
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