Nikola Jokic plays music to Nuggets fans’ ears after eyebrow-raising extension delay

The contract extension delay rumors are true, confirmed by Nikola Jokic himself. BUT, he played Nuggets fans a serenade by exclaiming, yet again, that he plans on being a Denver Nugget for the rest of his career. Those "doomsday scenario" options appear to be off the table, and Jokic's loyalty to the Nuggets and Denver, once again, is affirmed.

And he proclaimed it just shortly after adding another triple-double to his basketball career ledger, mind you, this time playing for his native Serbia in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. Jokic, fresh off a 20-point, 10-rebound, 11-assist gem, said the sweet words. Thanks to the question from Marko Ljubomirovic about Jokic's extension plans, Nuggets fans can rest a bit easier tonight. We got the answer we needed.

"My idea is to sign next summer and stay in Denver for the rest of my life (career)," Jokic said, translated from Serbian.

That's exactly what Nuggets fans needed to hear. I think this puts everything to rest regarding Jokic and Denver. We don't need to worry about this anymore. Jokic's loyalty is incredible, and all he's doing is securing himself a bigger contract from an inflated salary cap in the future thanks to how the NBA's collective bargaining agreement works.

Jokic is getting himself an extra year and a no-trade clause

It's really a smart financial move for Jokic and his future to make as much money as he can, and you can't blame him. I'm glad he came out and said he's delaying signing until next summer, because it puts fans' fears at ease, but when you put into light his side of it, it makes a bunch of sense.

Jokic is eligible for an extra year, five years instead of four, and he gets a no-trade clause attached to his contract if he waits until the offseason of 2027 to sign the extension. That's smart business. It should be no surprise that the smartest basketball player on the floor is making the smartest financial and business move he can regarding his extension.

Joker would be able to take advantage of the likely increase in the salary cap next year, and his 35% of the cap max contract would only be larger because of that. Why not wait? All waiting does is save the franchise money, and perhaps Jokic doesn't care to take that route. Nothing wrong with that. The best player in the world should be paid like it.

Now, can the Nuggets land LeBron James, keep Peyton Watson

Now that Jokic has put any worries about him to rest, the focus turns to the Nuggets' free-agent pursuit of LeBron James and the restricted-free-agent retention of Peyton Watson. The Nuggets have long-shot odds to land LeBron, but they're in the hunt. With Watson, the Nuggets' plans aren't as concrete as bringing him back as it appeared.

Watson is tied to sign-and-trade rumors, and the Nuggets are keeping their options open. But at least one thing is clear now. Nikola Jokic, the best basketball player in the world, wants to stay in Denver until he hangs it up.

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