![\"Denver](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AP25190131188882-1024x683.jpg\")
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) in the second half of Game 6 in the Western Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs on May 15, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski, File)<\/p>\n
Denver Gazette beat writer Vinny Benedetto takes you around the NBA and inside the Nuggets locker room:<\/p>\n
NBA Insider<\/strong><\/p>\n The face of the Nuggets\u2019 franchise eased any concerns about his future in Denver.<\/p>\n \u201cMy plan is to be with the Nuggets forever,\u201d Nikola Jokic said at the Nuggets\u2019 media day morning at Ball Arena.<\/p>\n Jokic is eligible to sign a three-year contract extension worth more than $200 million until Oct. 20. Next summer, Jokic can sign a four-year extension that will be worth nearly $300 million.<\/p>\n Denver\u2019s lead executives, Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace, declined to discuss the specifics of any negotiations but said they like where Jokic is at heading into the season. The Nuggets\u2019 front office made a trip to Latvia to see Jokic during Serbia\u2019s run in this summer\u2019s EuroBasket tournament.<\/p>\n \u201cWe feel good with that,\u201d Wallace said. \u201cWe talked to him. He\u2019s in a good head space. Obviously \u2026 we can\u2019t get into numbers or specifics, but he\u2019s in a good head space, as are we. Hopefully, we can continue to further that relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n Jokic lived up to his nickname in his first media appearance back in the states. He cracked jokes about reviving Bruce Brown\u2019s career; his brother\u2019s excitement the NBA will no longer count heaves as individual shot attempts; and the need to replace some friends in the locker room after the departures of Vlatko Cancar, DeAndre Jordan, Dario Saric and Russell Westbrook. <\/p>\n Jokic was also on brand when it came time to talk big business. The Nuggets have been clear they\u2019re ready to reward Jokic whenever the best player in franchise history is ready.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think about it,\u201d Jokic said. \u201cI think those contract extensions come as a reward \u2026 especially in today\u2019s NBA.\u201d<\/p>\n Peyton Watson and Christian Braun are also eligible for extensions on their rookie contracts, and they followed the patient lead of their leader. Wallace said they\u2019ve had preliminary discussions about an extension and hoped those conversations continue to progress, as Braun is considered a part of the franchise\u2019s core.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no frustration. I think that it\u2019s going to happen at some point. Whatever happens, happens. I think the most important part is I need to show up and do my job. That\u2019s kind of how I\u2019ve always been,\u201d Braun said.<\/p>\n \u201cI owe it to these guys. I owe it to the city of Denver. I owe it to these people to show them who I am by continuing to work hard, continuing to put the work in and all of that stuff will take care of itself.\u201d<\/p>\n Watson wasn\u2019t sweating his first opportunity to negotiate an NBA contract, either.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, it\u2019s more so about doing things the right way, having an organization that embraces me as a player and the person that I am. I think that Denver does that, so I\u2019m happy with where we are,\u201d Watson said.<\/p>\n The appreciation is mutual, but the deals still need to be finalized. If neither Braun or Watson agree to extensions before next offseason, they will both enter restricted free agency.<\/p>\n \u201cThey both have huge roles coming up this year,\u201d Tenzer said. \u201cWe feel like they\u2019re both ready to take a step. We hope they\u2019re here for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n What I\u2019m Thinking<\/strong><\/p>\n Jamal Murray acted like he was ready to break a trend this offseason and backed up his action with words Monday.<\/p>\n Denver\u2019s point guard was credited by Wallace for getting some of the team\u2019s younger players involved in offseason workouts. Nuggets coach David Adelman said Murray led the charge to get a large group of players out to UCLA to play together this summer.<\/p>\n \u201cJamal had an amazing summer. He looks good. I think mentally he\u2019s great. I give him so much credit in Los Angeles. The guys got together,\u201d Adelman said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was good to see Jamal take the lead on that.\u201d<\/p>\n Murray explained his motivation.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just trying to win a championship,\u201d Murray said.<\/p>\n In the last handful of years, Murray has simultaneously developed a reputation for being one of the game\u2019s best clutch performers despite getting off to a slow start of the season. He admitted making an All-Star Game is something he still cares about, but that\u2019s not the current focus.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just focused on having a really great November,\u201d Murray said. \u201cI think we just start there.\u201d<\/p>\n Whether it was the championship run in 2023 or last year\u2019s Olympics, it\u2019s been a few years since Murray had an offseason like this year.<\/p>\n \u201cI just feel a lot better than last summer. That\u2019s always a positive,\u201d Murray said. \u201cI just took a good period of time off and then had time to work myself back up, which was nice. So, here we are. I\u2019m ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n What They\u2019re Saying<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cOne thing I want to clarify is I\u2019m here. I\u2019m happy to be here, and I\u2019m going to dive into whatever I need to do to win more games than ever. I think it will be a great opportunity to compete for the highest level,\u201d Valanciunas said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I\u2019m not happy, I\u2019m not going to be here, right? I think we\u2019ve got to put everything behind us, because it\u2019s history. Now, we have a future in front of us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just happy to be back in Denver, man. It was a long two years, a lot of losing basketball. I\u2019m trying to win again,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe vibe is great. The vibe is at an all-time high. Everybody is on the same page. We know what the goal is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMichael Porter won a championship here and trading him was good for us financially. We got a good player back, all those things, flexibility, (but) Mike was incredible for us,\u201d Adelman said. \u201cOver the years he spent here, what he went through with his body, what he gave to the city of Denver \u2026 what he\u2019s giving to social media right now is something. We\u2019re going to miss Michael, miss the uniqueness of him.\u201d<\/p>\n What I\u2019m Following<\/strong><\/p>\n
![\"Denver](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AP25272671940379-1024x685.jpg\")
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray responds to questions during an NBA basketball media day news conference Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/p>\n\n
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