The Denver Nuggets are already staring at an uncomfortable question this season: what happens if Nikola Jokic isn’t quite Nikola Jokic anymore?
That’s the tension hanging over a team that has looked sluggish out of the gate and appears to be a step behind the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves. If Denver is only the fourth-best team in the West, that’s not exactly the position a contender wants to be in.
The summer didn’t help matters. The Nuggets got worse after trading Peyton Watson, and they didn’t really make a move that suggests they closed the gap in the conference. With that kind of setup, it becomes easier to wonder whether Jokic’s long-term future in Denver is as secure as it once seemed.
That concern matters because Jokic will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. In other words, one of the best players in the NBA could walk away for nothing. If the Nuggets keep underperforming, they won’t have much of a pitch to keep him around.
And there are plenty of other teams watching this situation closely, hoping he eventually leaves. Right now, Denver hasn’t done much to shut that door. The Nuggets may still be a top-four team in the West, but they’re clearly behind three others, and a deep playoff run would require a lot to break the right way.
There’s another layer to this, too: Jokic himself may not be on the same level he was last season. He will turn 32 this season and is in his 12th year in the NBA, and while his game should age well, his numbers have already dipped significantly from last year.
It’s early, of course - only a handful of games into the 2026-27 season - but the concerns didn’t begin there. During the NBA Playoffs, he wasn’t quite the player many had come to expect. If he slips even 10% from last season’s level, Denver is in major trouble.
The Nuggets were likely counting on Jokic to smooth over the cracks elsewhere on the roster. If he’s no longer able to do that, the margin for error shrinks fast. Going from arguably the best player in the NBA to merely a top-five player may not sound dramatic, but for Denver it could be the difference between staying relevant and sliding into real danger.
That’s the reality hovering over this season in Denver.
In Other News...
Peyton Watson Is Making Denver's Offseason Choice Look Smarter
When Denver moved Peyton Watson in a sign-and-trade after contract talks stalled, it was the kind of decision that could have looked risky if the wrong side of the deal got the better end. A player who had flashed enough last season to make the Nuggets think twice was suddenly in Cleveland, and the question for Denver became whether the roster could absorb the loss without creating another hole on the wing.
So far, the early returns have made the Nuggets offseason pivot look more sensible. Watson has not found the same rhythm from deep with the Cavaliers that he showed in Denver, while rookie Trevon Brazile has stepped into a similar role and given the Nuggets a cheaper option to develop. It is still early, but Denver has reason to feel better about the way it handled the situation. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets May Have Found The Frontcourt Defender They Desperately Needed
Trevon Brazile has given the Nuggets something they have been searching for early this season: a frontcourt defender who can change possessions with length, activity and athleticism. The rookie has already stood out in Denvers recent games, including a strong showing against the New Orleans Pelicans, where his presence helped make life harder for opposing shooters and added a different kind of energy to the rotation.
What has made Brazile especially intriguing is how quickly his defense has translated to the NBA level. He has been limiting opponents efficiency and giving Denver a sturdier look on that end of the floor, which matters for a team trying to build consistency around its bigger lineups. The bigger question now is whether this early impact is the start of a real role, or just the first glimpse of what he can become. [Read more 🡒]
Christian Braun Is Starting To Quiet A Big Nuggets Concern
Christian Brauns early-season jump is starting to ease one of the Nuggets quieter concerns. After working back from injury, he has looked more active on both ends, giving Denver the kind of perimeter energy it needs while also showing signs that his offense is expanding beyond the basics. The defensive impact has been especially noticeable, with Braun averaging 2.3 steals per game and looking more comfortable sliding into the role the team envisioned for him.
The offensive growth matters just as much for a roster that needs reliable two-way production around its stars. Braun has shown more variety in how he scores, including a willingness to get to mid-range spots and make plays for others, which helps explain why his recent form has stood out. If this is the version of Braun Denver gets consistently, it goes a long way toward making his contract look like a smart bet rather than a lingering question. [Read more 🡒]