Jokic on early playoff exit: Nuggets 'far' from title contention - ESPN

MINNEAPOLIS — In the disappointing aftermath of a surprising first-round playoff exit, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic made clear that his long-term view of a one-franchise NBA career remains unchanged.

«I still want to be a Nugget forever,» Jokic said.

Jokic, 31, has two years and $121.9 million remaining on his current contract, but the second season is a player option, meaning Jokic is under team control only through next season, typically generating a level of unease around an NBA megastar.

But Jokic will be extension eligible this summer for up to four years and around $293 million, giving both the franchise and its mid-prime cornerstone a chance to pledge a long-term recommitment to each other. Jokic was asked about his plan to sign it and repeated, «I still want to be a Nugget forever.»

But that doesn't mean Jokic enters the offseason in a bright mood. His Nuggets won 54 games in the regular season, entered the playoffs considered realistic title contenders and instead lost 4-2 in the first round to a Minnesota Timberwolves team that didn't have star Anthony Edwards for the final two games of the series.

«We just lost in the first round,» Jokic said. «I think we are far away [from title contention].»

Jokic led the Nuggets to a title in 2023 and knows what is necessary to be at a championship level. Does he believe changes are needed?

«That's not my decision, to be honest,» Jokic said. «Definitely, if we were in Serbia, we would all get fired.»

This was arguably the worst playoff series of Jokic's career. He had 28 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in the 110-98 Game 6 elimination on Thursday night, but even some beefed-up stats late in the series didn't fully mask an uncharacteristic start to the series, which