The three-time NBA MVP met with reporters Monday, Sept. 29 for the first time sincereportedly informing Nuggets officialshe would wait to hold contract extension discussions with the team until 2026, after becoming eligible to sign a three-year, $212 million extension starting in July.
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But the delay isn't a sign that Jokic's loyalty to Denver is wavering, despite speculation this offseason aftersignificant front office, coaching and roster changesmade by theNuggetsin the wake of last season's playoff exit in the Western Conference semifinals. Jokic made that clear to reporters when asked about the situation during the team's media day ahead of the start to training camp.
"My plan is to be with Nuggets forever, so that's my answer,"Jokic said.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams, Alonzo Adams Media)
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
Jimmy Butler III, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
Derrick White, Boston Celtics
(David Butler II, Imagn Images)
Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and forward Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
Caleb Martin, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
Dwight Powell, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
Kyle Kuzma, Milwaukee Bucks
(Benny Sieu, Imagn Images)
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
Derrick Jones Jr., Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
(Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn Images)
Noa Essengue, Chicago Bulls
(David Banks, Imagn Images)
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
Curtis Jones, Denver Nuggets
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs
(Scott Wachter, Imagn Images)
De’Aaron Fox, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
(Scott Wachter, Imagn Images)
Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
(David Reginek, Imagn Images)
Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers
(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)
Matisse Thybulle, Portland Trail Blazers
(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia 76ers
(Bill Streicher, Imagn Images)
Jordan Goodwin, Phoenix Suns
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
(Matthew Hinton, Imagn Images)
Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson and Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
(Matthew Hinton, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams Media)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Alex Caruso, Oklahoma City Thunder
(Alonzo Adams, Alonzo Adams Media)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jimmy Butler III, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Golden State Warriors
(Cary Edmondson, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Derrick White, Boston Celtics
(David Butler II, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and forward Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Caleb Martin, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Dwight Powell, Dallas Mavericks
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Kyle Kuzma, Milwaukee Bucks
(Benny Sieu, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Derrick Jones Jr., Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
(Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Noa Essengue, Chicago Bulls
(David Banks, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Curtis Jones, Denver Nuggets
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs
(Scott Wachter, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
De’Aaron Fox, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
(Scott Wachter, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
(David Reginek, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers
(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Matisse Thybulle, Portland Trail Blazers
(Troy Wayrynen, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia 76ers
(Bill Streicher, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Jordan Goodwin, Phoenix Suns
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
(Matthew Hinton, Imagn Images)
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NBA stars strike a pose during photo sessions for 2025 media day
Trey Murphy III, Zion Williamson and Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
(Matthew Hinton, Imagn Images)
There is an important financial incentive to not signing until 2026. Jokic would be eligible to earn a four-year, $293-million extension next summer. He has three years left on his current max contract, which includes a player option for the 2027-28 season.
Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke said in Julythe team was "definitely" going to offer Jokic the option to sign a max extension this past offseason but acknowledged he didn't expect the 30-year-old would accept the offer.Kroenke also brought up the nightmare scenarioof potentially trading Jokic given the constraints of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, which helped ignite the offseason conversation about his star.
