Stephen Curry’s latest extension with the Warriors is already giving life to the kind of Nikola Jokic speculation Nuggets fans know is coming.
Curry agreed to a two-year, $116 million deal with a player option for 2028-29, and the key detail is simple: he took $20 million less than he could have. That leaves Golden State with more cap space to work with next summer, which is exactly the sort of opening that tends to feed another round of chatter about Jokic and his future in Denver.
That noise has been building for a while. Jokic has now delayed signing his contract extension for a second straight summer, and because Denver’s salary outlook looks rough with the roster the way it is, people around the league have already started connecting dots. The Warriors have been floated as a possible destination, and Curry’s new deal is only going to keep those conversations alive over the next year.
Still, the speculation is just that - speculation.
Jokic has never signaled that he’s unhappy in Denver. In fact, he has repeatedly said he wants to finish his career with the Nuggets, and that should matter more than the rumor mill.
If he stays, he could sign an NBA-record extension next summer worth five years and almost $360 million. Walking away would mean leaving that kind of money behind, along with the generational security it would bring for his family.
He would also be giving up the comfort of a place that seems to fit him. Jokic appears content in Denver, and leaving would mean a new city, a new fan base, and a very different life in the Bay Area.
None of that will stop the rumors from swirling this season, especially if Denver struggles. If the Nuggets have a poor year, the chatter will only get louder, and it won’t be limited to the Warriors talk. The source of the speculation can get pretty wild, including the idea of Jokic heading to Greece to play for Dimitris Giannakopoulos and Panathinaikos.
But the basic truth remains the same: as long as the Nuggets play well, the noise should quiet down. And even if it doesn’t disappear completely, it still deserves to be treated as rumor, not reality. Jokic, by his own words, plans to stay.
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For the Nuggets, the bigger concern is what comes next. Rival teams are already keeping an eye on Jokics contract timeline ahead of next summer, when he could sign an extension or potentially head toward free agency, and analysts are already mapping out the kind of historic deal that could be waiting if he stays put in Denver. The only real question now is how long the Nuggets can keep a player of his stature comfortable enough to make staying the obvious choice. [Read more 🡒]
Jokic Just Eased One Nuggets Fear While Keeping Another Alive
Nikola Jokic gave the Nuggets something close to peace of mind when he said he plans to sign a contract extension with Denver next year, even as he heads into this season on an expiring deal. The two-time MVP made clear the delay is a business choice, not a sign of tension, and it aligns with the confidence coming from the front office, where executive vice president Ben Tenzer has spoken positively about the relationship.
Still, the story does not fully go away just because Jokic has eased one fear. The Nuggets can feel better knowing where his intent appears to be, but the calendar still leaves room for the unexpected, with circumstances potentially changing before he has the chance to put a new contract in place in July 2027. For a franchise built around him, that means the relief is real, but it is not yet final. [Read more 🡒]