Nikola Jokić himself said he doesn't see himself leaving the Denver Nuggets. It's not that fans really thought differently, but hearing him say it was still a sigh of relief. Knowing that your superstar wants to end his career where it started, especially in today's NBA, is huge. That doesn't mean the organization should take advantage of that, though.
Specifically, the part about how winning a title meant "more" to him than anything. Winning in 2023 took pressure off Denver's back, but by no means should anyone be content with winning just one.
The front office acted with a sense of urgency last summer after the team came up short in the second round of the playoffs for the second straight year. Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace created financial flexibility and added depth to a roster that desperately needed it. It turns out that depth has been more important than expected, given all the injuries.
If Jokić was even thinking about leaving Denver (and there is no indication he was), the Nuggets gave him reason to think otherwise. He opted not to sign an extension last offseason because he'll be eligible to sign for significantly more money (as in $80 million) this summer. Although that's what will most likely happen, they can't get too comfortable with having a not-so-typical superstar.
Nuggets will never have another star like Nikola Jokić
One of the main critiques in the two years after Denver won its first-ever title was that the front office didn't act like it had one of the best players in NBA history on its roster. Yes, the Nuggets finally reached the mountaintop, but they were still failing Jokić by not adequately building a successful roster around him.
The Kroenkes swooped in to fix that by firing GM Calvin Booth a few games before the end of the regular season, even parting with Michael Malone. It was a risky bet that paid off in ways the Kroenkes probably didn't even expect.
Tenzer and Wallace took note of what Jokić said at the end of last season, that teams with longer benches were still alive in the postseason, and retooled the roster to meet that requirement. That duo didn't waste time in elevating the Nuggets' chances of adding another banner to the rafters, giving fans a reason to feel confident in the front office.
Entering this offseason, the main priority should be to re-sign Jokić, but outside of that, depending on how this season ends, another roster revamp may be in store. It shouldn't matter what the big man says, as getting complacent could result in him asking out, an outcome that's unlikely, but not impossible.
As long as Jokić is in Colorado and playing at an otherworldly level, which is somehow normal for him, Denver can't afford to take its foot off the gas.