The Denver Nuggets are in turmoil right now with the 2025 NBA playoffs looming. At the very least, they can find comfort in the fact that their leading star, Nikola Jokic, remains committed to the team even after all the recent drama that has unfolded around the organization.
“Jokic is eligible to sign a three-year, $212 million extension this summer,” wrote ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Ramona Shelburne. “The assumption around the league is that he will do so. But if there’s even a slight pause in his decision-making, it will be devastating for the Nuggets.”
With averages of 29.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game this season, Nikola Jokic is one of the NBA’s most valuable players and his impact on the Nuggets is immeasurable. Many teams in the league would kill for a player like Jokic and he’s only got three years left on his current deal. As he approaches a critical offseason, Nikola’s future has become an important topic of conversation.
In the modern NBA, player loyalty is becoming increasingly rare and superstars are more inclined than ever before to seek out bigger and better opportunities. It’s not normal for players to stick with their original teams anymore but Nikola has yet to show any signs of leaving.
After being drafted in 2014, Nikola Jokic rose to stardom after three seasons with the Nuggets. His first All-Star campaign was in 2018-19 when he averaged 20.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game on 51.1% shooting. It’s been nothing but up for Jokic ever since and now he’s one of the most accomplished athletes in modern NBA history as a 1x champion, 3x MVP, and 7x All-Star.
Behind his leadership, the Nuggets have routinely been near the top of the West and they are just two years removed from their last championship win. This season, however, has been chaotic for the entire franchise thanks to a major falling out between GM Calvin Booth and head coach Michael Malone.
Their disagreements on how to build the team created a toxic environment that was starting to seep into every part of the organization. Eventually, the Nuggets decided to end the Cold War once and for all by getting rid of them both and wiping the slate clean.
Nikola Jokic says he knew this was coming but it doesn’t change how challenging these next few weeks will be for the Nuggets. With David Adelman in charge, the team will take on a brand new identity and they’ll have to figure it out quickly before losing too much ground in the series to come.
No matter what happens over the next few months, the Nuggets are going to offer Jokic a lucrative three-year, $212 million extension that could make him one of the league’s highest-paid players for the foreseeable future.
If he accepts, the Nuggets will have a route to contend for the next 5+ years. If not, it could spell disaster for the franchise as it would indicate that Jokic may be considering leaving them behind for the first time in his career. After losing their coach and GM on the same day the last thing this team needs is to question the loyalty of their leading star.
