Nikola Jokić made his intentions crystal clear this week, announcing he plans to sign with the Denver Nuggets next year and potentially lock in a five-year deal worth more than $70 million per year. Most NBA teams just wrapped up their media days on Monday, September 28, 2026, kicking off the 2026-27 season’s hype a few weeks ahead of actual games, but Jokić’s declaration is easily one of the biggest takeaways from all the chatter.
Jokić’s $70 Million Play: Why He’s Playing the Waiting Game
You know how it goes nowadays, right? Superstar hits the summer before free agency and either re-signs or gets traded. But Jokić, who’s got a player option next summer making him eligible for free agency, is doing it different. After a first-round bummer against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the rumor mill was going crazy about his future. Jokić has always said he’s committed to Denver, but until that pen hits paper, you know how the speculation builds.
Well, Monday, he was as direct as you can get. “I’m gonna sign next year,” he told reporters, with a cheeky “if they want me” thrown in for good measure. Now, we all know a player’s word isn’t ironclad here; Kyrie Irving showed us that. But get this: there are some seriously smart financial reasons for Jokić to play the long game. By waiting an extra year, he could tack on another year to his eventual contract, one that should pay him over $70 million annually across a five-year stretch. That’s a huge bag, and it shows why he’s signalling he plans to stay with the Nuggets for the foreseeable future, even without the ink being dry.
Philly’s New Superteam Has No ‘Alpha,’ And That’s the Wildest Part
Across the league, arguably the biggest story rolling into this season is the absolute superteam brewing in Philadelphia. The 76ers went all out, bringing in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to join Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe. The immediate, screaming question everyone has? How are these five ballers gonna share the rock? Seriously, their combined career usage rate is a wild 134%!
When asked who the alpha on that team would be, Brown’s response was legendary: “next question.” He already rejected that whole alpha premise back in August at his intro press conference, saying, “It doesn’t have to be anybody’s team.” He’s all about “respect and work,” apparently. And get this: even LeBron seems totally cool with whatever the team needs. “Whatever they need me to do. The luxury of my game is I can do everything,” James declared. “Literally, I can do everything.” We know James’ teams can sometimes start slow, so watching how this all shakes out when games actually begin is going to be must-see TV.
The 2026-27 season is still a few weeks out, but these early media day statements have absolutely set the stage. Can Jokić keep delivering for Denver before putting pen to paper on that monster deal? And can the 76ers actually figure out how to share the rock and truly live up to their superteam hype? We’ll be watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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