In the NBA, keeping a superstar happy has become increasingly difficult. From Damian Lillard to Giannis Antetokounmpo, we’ve seen many stars grow unhappy with their situations over the years. In Denver, however, star big man Nikola Jokic has always been an exception to the trend.
Through his entire career, Jokic has never shown an inkling of wanting out, and that remains true after their underwhelming summer. Even after the departure of starting swingman Peyton Watson, Jokic appears unfazed.
“I’m happy for Peyton; he deserved it,” said Jokic after a recent FIBA game. “We will miss his energy and skill. I don’t think about the season yet, we have to play this, but it’s gonna be okay.”
Nikola typically tries not to discuss NBA business in the offseason, especially when he’s playing for Serbia. Today, he just finished an exhibition match against Victor Wembanyama and France, so the Denver Nuggets were the last thing on his mind. Still, in light of the Peyton Watson news, he was asked to respond, and his answer was perfectly within character: stoic and almost uncaring. Clearly, he does not see Peyton Watson as necessary for success, even as insiders use it as fuel for speculation.
But despite Jokic’s efforts to play down the loss, it’s impossible to ignore what Watson’s departure means for the Nuggets’ title odds. At 23, Peyton is not a star-level player, but he’s a valuable two-way wing capable of making a big impact on the court. Last season, in 54 games, the 6’8″ forward averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game on 49.1% shooting from the field.
Over the years, Watson has played a critical role for the Nuggets, particularly on offense as a floor spacer and sharpshooter. But now, without his services at the three, the Nuggets will have to rely more on guys like Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson, and Spencer Jones. Jamal Murray will also likely have to take on a bigger scoring load.
Alternatively, the Nuggets could also pursue a replacement for Watson, although they don’t have a lot of money to offer. Besides Jonathan Kuminga or DeMar DeRozan, options are limited for the Nuggets, and their trajectory has raised a lot of questions about Jokic’s future. After all, if the Nuggets are poised to decline, how much longer will he want to stick around? At 31, he’s running out of time, and he could become a free agent as early as 2027. Some teams (like the Lakers) are already planning a pursuit, in the hopes that the Nuggets experience a massive fall-off.
But instead of panicking or making a cryptic comment about wavering loyalty, Jokic congratulated his former teammate as he portrayed faith in the guys who are still left on his team. Between himself, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon, the Nuggets have a solid core capable of competing against any team. If they can stay healthy, Jokic has no doubt that they will be in the playoff picture next spring. If not, then the noise will only get louder as the 2027 offseason draws near.
