Nikola Jokic is expected to sign a three-year, $212 million contract extension with the Denver Nuggets this offseason. According to ESPN reporters Tim MacMahon and Ramona Shelburne, this is the general expectation across the league, even after a major leadership change inside the organization.
Recently, the Nuggets fired both head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth. This decision came with only three games left in the regular season. The move surprised many because Denver is just two years removed from winning the 2023 NBA Championship.
Although the timing was unexpected, Jokic’s commitment to the team appears unchanged. Insiders believe the extension will move forward as planned.
- Nikola Jokic is expected to sign a three-year, $212 million extension with the Denver Nuggets during the offseason.
- Jokic is averaging 30.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.2 assists, which puts him within reach of a historic triple-double season.
- Despite trade rumors linking him to the Lakers and Knicks, Denver views Jokic as its long-term cornerstone.
Jokic’s 2024-25 Season Is Among the Best in NBA History
So far this season, Jokic is averaging 30.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game. These numbers place him in rare company. Suppose he finishes the final two games of the regular season with these averages; he will become only the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season. The only two others who have achieved this are Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook.
Jokic also shoots 57.7% from the field and 41.5% from three-point range, remaining one of the league’s most efficient and consistent players.
Currently, the Nuggets have a 48–32 record and sit in fourth place in the Western Conference. However, playoff seeding is still uncertain. The fourth through eighth seeds are only separated by one game. As a result, Denver has not yet secured a guaranteed spot in the top six and could still fall into the play-in tournament.
While this season has not gone as expected for the defending champions, Jokic continues to perform at an MVP level.
Nuggets’ Internal Changes Spark Trade Rumors, But Jokic Stays Focused
After the firing of Malone and Booth, speculation quickly grew around Jokic’s future. Oddsmakers even listed the Los Angeles Lakers as the betting favorite (+500) to be Jokic’s next team. The Lakers recently acquired Luka Doncic in a surprise trade from the Dallas Mavericks. Jokic and Doncic are known to be close friends, which helped fuel the speculation.
Jokic’s agent, Misko Raznatovic, responded to the rumors on an Instagram story. He wrote:
“It’s not hard for @bcmegabasket to accept second place if Lakers are in first.”
This message refers to Jokic’s former team, KK Mega Basket, in Serbia. While the comment was lighthearted, it showed that Jokic’s camp is not taking the Lakers rumors seriously.
At the same time, the New York Knicks have also been linked to Jokic. If the Knicks exit the playoffs early for the third straight season, they may look to make a major change.
Clutch Points writer Julian Ojeda suggested a possible trade that includes Karl-Anthony Towns, Miles McBride (who has a $4.7 million salary), and several first-round picks.
These picks include:
- A 2025 first-round pick via the Washington Wizards
- The Knicks’ own 2026 first-round pick
- A 2028 first-rounder that is currently subject to a swap with the Brooklyn Nets
Ojeda said Towns would likely need to be part of the deal to match salaries. Neither team has reported this hypothetical trade as active or under discussion.
Nuggets Remain Focused on Building Around Jokic
Despite the rumors, no current reports suggest the Nuggets plan to trade Jokic. His current production and leadership make him central to Denver’s future plans. The team still has most of its championship core: Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., and Christian Braun. However, it has lost key depth players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown, and Reggie Jackson, which has hurt bench production.
Looking ahead, the Nuggets plan to hire a new head coach and general manager after the playoffs. There is speculation that Jokic may be consulted during this process, though this has not been confirmed.
Jokic’s continued presence gives Denver a clear path forward. Even in a season with internal changes and on-court challenges, the Nuggets are expected to reach at least 50 wins. For most NBA teams, that would be a success. In Denver, with Jokic, it is seen as falling short.
