Earlier this month, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic captured his second straight regular-season MVP award. After much talk recently surrounding the organization regarding the Serbian big man’s future with the team, it’s now reportedly a foregone conclusion that Jokic will be staying with the Nuggets long-term.
Some Denver fans may have been starting to spiral into panic mode when the Minnesota Timberwolves pried away team president Tim Connelly on a reported five-year deal
earlier this week. According to Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic, however, Jokic is still set to remain in the Mile High City. In April, shortly after the Nuggets were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in the playoffs, Connelly was quoted as saying “there’s nothing more important organizationally than making sure Nikola stays here as long as he plays the game.”
“After Jokic publicly stated his desire to sign the extension late last month, sources say the 27-year-old has reiterated his long-term commitment to the franchise this week and made clear his belief in the organization’s future in the wake of Connelly’s exit. Multiple sources tell The Athletic that when the Nuggets offer Jokic the five-year, $260 million supermax deal in July, the All-NBA center plans to sign the contract,” the report reads. “Jokic’s brothers, Strahinja and Nemanja, met with Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth and assistant GM Tommy Balcetis in recent days to discuss the team’s future. All sides, sources say, left the meeting aligned in their vision. For the new Nuggets regime, it was important to spend time with the Jokic family in person stateside in the aftermath of Connelly’s departure. Booth and coach Michael Malone have also spoken to Nikola Jokic over the phone, as the big man remains on his annual offseason respite in Serbia. Both sides reaffirmed their long-term commitment to the partnership in that conversation.”
Jokic is entering the final year of his five-year, $147 million contract with Denver next season. The four-time All-Star finished the 2021-2022 campaign averaging career highs in points (27.8), rebounds (13.8) and steals (1.5), while adding 7.9 assists per game as well.
The 27-year-old posted 31.0 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.6 steals per contest during the five-game series against Golden State.
