{"id":862928,"date":"2026-08-21T07:10:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T07:10:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/862928\/"},"modified":"2026-08-21T07:10:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T07:10:15","slug":"jokic-openly-speaks-up-on-peyton-watson-trade-for-the-first-time-cant-be-unhappy-for-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/862928\/","title":{"rendered":"Jokic openly speaks up on Peyton Watson trade for the first time: ‘Can’t be unhappy for him’"},"content":{"rendered":"

In front of 20,000 fans in Belgrade, Nikola Jokic headlined Serbia’s 90-87 exhibition victory against France. Post-game, the Nuggets star reflected on his NBA teammate Peyton Watson being traded to Cleveland, admitting the loss will hurt Denver while shifting his current focus to the national team.<\/p>\n

Serbia<\/a> and France<\/a> played an exciting exhibition match in Belgrade, where the hosts won in front of 20.000 fans in Beogradska Arena 90-87.<\/p>\n


\n \"Peyton
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

\n Position
\n SG, SF\n <\/p>\n

\n Age
\n 23\n <\/p>\n

\n Height
\n 201 cm\n <\/p>\n

\n Weight
\n 91 kg\n <\/p>\n

\n Birth place
\n United States of America\n <\/p>\n

Nikola Jokic<\/a> put on a show, flirting with a triple-double, with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists in over 29 minutes of play.<\/p>\n

After the match, the Serbian center noted that everyone is still rusty after the summer break and was full of praise for Victor Wembanyama<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jokic opens up on Watson trade <\/p>\n

Right after the game, Jokic was asked by BasketNews.rs<\/a> to comment on the Peyton Watson<\/a> departure.<\/p>\n

Watson left the Denver Nuggets<\/a> in a sign-and-trade deal where he was acquired by the Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jokic claims that the Nuggets will miss Watson’s presence and says that he is happy for him:<\/p>\n

“I’m glad for Peyton. He’s a good man, really has a good energy, very good for the locker room. We will miss him for sure, but I can’t be unhappy for him, he’s a great guy,” he said.<\/p>\n

“That will definitely hurt us, but we will think about it when the time comes and the season starts there [in the USA]. I’m more focused on playing these games here [for Serbia] now,” Jokic concluded.<\/p>\n

Watson leaves after breakout season <\/p>\n

The financial reality helps explain why Denver ultimately allowed one of its most promising young players to leave despite his breakout 2025-26 campaign.<\/p>\n

Watson averaged career highs of 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 54 games while shooting 41.1% from the three-point range.<\/p>\n

The 23-year-old is now heading to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a sign-and-trade and will sign a four-year, $88 million contract – an average of exactly $22 million per season. Denver receives an unprotected 2031 first-round pick and a future second-rounder as part of the transaction.<\/p>\n

For Denver, therefore, the issue was not simply whether Watson was worth $22 million annually. Because of the Nuggets’ expensive roster and escalating luxury-tax penalties, keeping him at that number would have carried a real cost several times larger than his actual salary.<\/p>\n

Serbia vs. France highlights <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

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