Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic has officially chosen to push contract extension talks out to the summer of 2026. According to a league source speaking to ESPN, the reigning NBA MVP won’t be pursuing an extension this summer. This decision is surprising considering the Nuggets put up a strong offer.
In an effort to secure Jokic’s future with the team, the Nuggets’ president, Josh Kroenke, previously stated that they would extend an offer to the talented center. However, Malone left the door wide open for the option of waiting until next summer to be in Jokic’s best interest.
“We’re absolutely going to extend it,” said Kroenke, underscoring the inclination of the joint ownership group to hold onto their franchise savior. He said, is being transparent about the cost of signing now versus later.
“I’m not sure if he’s going to accept it or not, because we’re also going to explain every financial parameter around him signing now versus signing later. To be completely transparent, that’s the way we always are. And then he makes the best decision for himself and his family, and we’ll support him in it.” – Josh Kroenke
By pushing the talks on an extension until 2026, Jokic will be eligible for a fourth year at an extra $77 million. Such a strategy would let him hit the highest possible salary, all while taking stock of the Nuggets’ offseason moves and long-term plan.
Even more recently, the Nuggets underwent seismic shifts within their organization. They fired head coach Michael Malone, installing David Adelman at the helm, and replaced General Manager Calvin Booth with Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace. All of these moves follow a highly successful season in which the team won its first ever championship in 2023.
Continuing their theme from the offseason of building around the core they have in place, the Nuggets retained important role player Bruce Brown and added Tim Hardaway Jr. They made a move via trade that brought Michael Porter Jr. They simultaneously traded for Cameron Johnson, Dario Saric and Jonas Valanciunas.
With these changes in place and Jokic’s delayed decision, the Nuggets aim to build a roster that can contend for future championships while ensuring their star player is happy and financially secure.
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