Nikola Joki\u0107 had roughly 80 million reasons this offseason to not sign a contract extension with the Denver Nuggets.<\/p>\n
On Monday, he addressed his long-term plans at Nuggets media day as he approaches the third year of a five-year, $276 million supermax contract. Joki\u0107 declined to answer directly if he intends to sign an extension next offseason. But he did address his long-term plans.<\/p>\n
Advertisement<\/p>\n
“My plan is to be a Nugget forever,” Joki\u0107 said.<\/p>\n
As for the direct topic of a extension next summer, Joki\u0107 offered a more roundabout response.<\/p>\n
“I mean, I don’t think about it,” Joki\u0107 said. “I think those contract extensions come as a reward, as something that is natural to the sport. Especially in today’s NBA how you see how the salary cap is growing and everything.”<\/p>\n
[Yahoo Sports TV is here! Watch live shows and highlights 24\/7<\/a>]<\/p>\n Joki\u0107 is expected to sign extension<\/p>\n There’s little to fear here for Nuggets fans. Joki\u0107, 30, is signed through the 2026-27 season and has a player option for 2027-28. He was first eligible this offseason to sign a three-year, $212 million extension, but declined. The reason? He stands to secure a lot more money by waiting until next offseason to sign an extension.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Per multiple reports<\/a>, Joki\u0107 stands to earn roughly $80 million more by waiting until next offseason to sign an extension. Nuggets governor Josh Kroenke has made clear<\/a> the team intends to offer him an extension. Because why wouldn’t they? He’s a three-time MVP in his prime.<\/p>\n And there’s little to indicate Joki\u0107 has any reason to turn that kind of money down. The Nuggets, meanwhile, are coming off a second-round playoff exit with a retooled roster in hopes of returning to championship contention.<\/p>\n Nuggets made moves to stay in contention with Joki\u0107<\/p>\n Two seasons removed from the franchise’s first NBA championship, the Nuggets hit a rough patch last season that resulted in the late-season dismissal <\/a>of head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth. The Nuggets entered the playoffs with then-interim head coach David Adelman.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n They were competitive in their second-round playoff series against the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder, but ultimately saw significant roster deficiencies exposed in a Game 7 loss.<\/p>\n Since then, the Nuggets have made Adelman their full-time coach. And they made substantial roster moves under front-office tandem Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace<\/a> to address the depth, defense and shooting flaws from last year’s team.<\/p>\n Gone is talented, but oft-injured wing Michael Porter Jr., who was frequently a defensive liability. The Nuggets acquired sharpshooting wing Cam Johnson in return for Porter<\/a> in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets that also freed up salary cap space to address their depth shortcomings.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n