{"id":149469,"date":"2025-07-09T09:40:03","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T13:40:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=149469"},"modified":"2025-07-09T09:40:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T13:40:03","slug":"should-nuggets-be-concerned-by-nikola-jokics-contract-talks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/07\/09\/should-nuggets-be-concerned-by-nikola-jokics-contract-talks\/","title":{"rendered":"Should Nuggets Be Concerned By Nikola Joki\u0107’s Contract Talks?"},"content":{"rendered":"

DENVER<\/strong> \u2013 The Denver Nuggets<\/a> face an unusual question this summer: Should they worry about Nikola Joki\u0107’s<\/a> contract talks dragging into next year? Bennett Durando of the Denver Post<\/em> broke the news.<\/a> He wrote, \u201cNikola Joki\u0107 has informed the Nuggets he will not sign a contract extension this offseason, team sources told The Denver Post.\u201d<\/p>\n

Should Nuggets Be Concerned By Nikola Joki\u0107’s Contract Talks?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For now, the team doesn\u2019t seem rattled. Joki\u0107\u2019s current supermax runs at least two more years, with a player option in 2027-28. He could lock in about $206 million more if he signed now. But by waiting, he stands to gain roughly $80 million extra.<\/p>\n

As Josh Kroenke said in June<\/a>, \u201cWe\u2019re definitely going to offer it. I\u2019m not sure if he\u2019s going to accept it or not…Then he makes the best decision for himself and his family, and we\u2019ll support him in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Nuggets trust him. But Nikola Joki\u0107 delaying contract talks still casts a longer shadow than the front office might admit.<\/p>\n

The Context: Joki\u0107\u2019s Dominance Is Clear<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"Nikola
May 15, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) passes the ball under pressure from Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) in the fourth quarter during game six of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Joki\u0107 remains the engine that drives everything in Denver. Last season, he averaged an absurd 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists. That made him the first center to average a triple-double for a full year.<\/p>\n

He nearly won a fourth MVP, finishing behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a>. He\u2019s the first player since Larry Bird<\/a> to finish top-two in MVP voting five years straight.<\/p>\n

Nikola Joki\u0107 delaying contract talks could worry Denver since he openly challenged the team\u2019s championship core after another early playoff exit. He questioned the team’s depth compared to the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a>.<\/p>\n