May 18, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) runs down the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second quarter during game seven of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

'My Plan is to be a Nugget Forever' – Denver Nuggets Star’s Media Day Declaration Will Have NBA Fans Excited

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated Oct 5, 2025 1:08 PM ET

Denver Nuggets fans shouldn’t be panicking about Nikola Jokic’s future with the team after he bypassed the chance to sign a four-year, $212 million contract extension this summer, as the three-time league MVP reaffirmed his love for the organization during Media Day.

By waiting until next offseason, Jokic will be eligible for a mammoth extension worth up to $300 million, which he’ll probably get because of his immense impact on and off the court.

“I mean, I don’t think about it,” Jokic said via the Associated Press. “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.”

Apr 6, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) on the bench in the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

“My plan is to be a Nugget forever, so that’s my answer,” he added.

Denver Nuggets News: David Adelman reveals new lineup plan involving Nikola Jokic

Nikola Jokic has been the Denver Nuggets’ de facto center since he seized the starting job, and he hasn’t really played alongside another bruising center in the lineup. According to head coach David Adelman, that could change with the offseason signing of Jonas Valanciunas.

Mar 3, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Sacramento Kings center Jonas Valanciunas (17) is fouled by Dallas Mavericks forward Kai Jones (23) during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

“Those two guys will play together at certain points.” Adelman said of Jokic and Valanciunas via SI’s Jared Koch. “I think changing defenses allows that. I’d like to see how people guard those two guys. I think that’d be a very interesting decsion of who you put on who.”

“If you put a smaller guy on Valanciunas, he’s going to completely destroy him on the offensive glass, and we all know what Nikola can do shooting the three and spreading the floor. So, you can do different things with those two guys,” he added.